Certified Angus farmers earned €697,000 beef bonus in 2006

A PREMIUM of 22 cents/kg (8p/lb) is to be offered to producers of Angus beef for off season-production to the end of the year.

Mitchelstown dairy farmer Tim Dunne, chairman of the Irish Aberdeen Angus Producers Ltd, announced that the premium on top of set factory prices will be paid for U and R grades, fat scores 3 and 4, during November and December.

He said the group, formed in 1995, now slaughters more than 20,000 cattle per annum from the 1,750 members, peaking at up to 500 per week, to cope with increasing demand for Certified Angus beef in Irish supermarkets and export outlets.