NI suckler cow herd down 9% in 2007
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.
A survey of 1,000 farmers suggested they planned to reduce their herds. The 80% uptake of the suckler welfare scheme, worth €80 per cow for five years, indicates strong commitment to suckler farming south of the border.
