NI suckler cow herd down 9% in 2007

NORTHERN IRELAND’S suckler cow herd is dwindling, falling by 9% in 2007 compared to 2006.

This was reflected in a 19% jump in the cull cow beef supply last year, and the surge in cull cow beef throughput at processing plants has continued this year, 6% ahead of 2007 for January and February.

The Northern Ireland Red Meat Industry Task Force calculated last year that cattle farmers were losing about €390m per year, and were kept going only by the Single Farm Payment.