Processors say they didn’t push bull beef
“If producers want to sell older product, they have to work with their processors at the time when they get the calves,” said Meat Industry Ireland chair man Ciaran Fitzgerald.
One in five animals now being supplied to beef factories is a bull, but Meat Industry Ireland (MII) Director Cormac Healy said, “The industry has not been out there encouraging bull production.” During the recent bull beef discussion in the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, both spokesmen pointed to the Food Harvest 2020 report, and the beef activation report, as clearly stating the industry view that steer heifer, grass-fed beef is the direction for the Irish beef sector.
“It has been the mainstay of its progress in European markets, and will be for the future,” said Mr Healy.
“In regard to bull production, recognising that farmers were moving in that direction to some extent, looking for the obvious efficiencies that go along with it, and also recognising the fact that we are going to have an increasing dairy herd in the country, it was clearly stated that this should be done in conjunction with processors.” Mr Fitzgerald said, “Very strong statements, in black and white, were made in 2010 and before that about what the specifications were for young bull beef, that they were for 16 months and younger, and that if anybody was doing something more than that and wanted to talk to particular processors, that they should do so.”
Mr Fitzgerald said the industry did not draw up a specification with Teagasc’s Derrypatrick suckler beef research section for an 18-month animal.
Mr Healy said some processors have worked more on bull beef sales, because they have particular customers on the Continent.
“They engage from the very earliest days with producers. They advise them on nutrition and the production system, and they schedule in producers.”
He said there is significant work, co-operation and co-ordination between these producers and their local factories.
“If producing outside the under-16-month age guideline, which reflects the retail specification in our largest market for beef, the United Kingdom, production should be carried out in conjunction with the processor.
“This must be achieved at an early stage, not a month before the animals need to be slaughtered. “Other markets may take older beef, depending on their customer profiles. The reality is that producers have for many years successfully raised young bulls to ages above 16 months in co-operation with individual processors. The opportunities in this regard are limited, however, and the market can only be developed by producers working with processors.” IFA President Eddie Downey said the established practice for the UK market was 16 months of age, but this system did not suit grass based production in Ireland. He said 18 to 24 month old bulls were much more suited to Irish conditions and European markets. “Contracts are very important for bull beef producers and processors need to work with farmers on expanding this. Bull beef is essential to keeping a year round beef supply in the chain”.
