Dairy calf action plan 'will not provide long-term solution' without 'targeted funding'
IFA livestock chairman Declan Hanrahan said that a "guaranteed return for the financial and labour investment required of farmers for almost two years" is needed.
The action plan to support dairy calf-to-beef systems in Ireland "lacks the first and most fundamental component" of funding, according to the Irish Farmers' Association.
IFA livestock chairman Declan Hanrahan said that a "guaranteed return for the financial and labour investment required of farmers for almost two years" is needed.
Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue launched the plan in recent days, saying that there are important measures "that can be undertaken at farm and processing level, to ensure optimal calf health and welfare and to facilitate greater uptake of dairy calf to beef systems".
This action plan, which is based on 10 core themes including knowledge transfer, breeding and improved animal health, was developed through a consultation process with stakeholders.
Despite encouraging results from optimum trial conditions on a select few farms, over 60% of farmers exit this production system in five years, according to the IFA.
Without "meaningful targeted funding, the plan will not provide a long-term sustainable solution for dairy calf-to-beef systems", Declan Hanrahan said.
The IFA has called for a minimum of €100 per calf payment for farmers taking on the rearing of dairy-beef calves.
"This is the minimum level of funding that will be required in order for the system to be adopted on enough beef farms," the IFA said.
"This payment must then be built on for the finishing stage and include calves from the suckler herd with another €100/animal payment."
The 10 actions in the plan are focused on sexed semen; breeding and genetics; knowledge transfer; demonstration farms; marketing beef; and capital grants available under TAMS.
Within these, there are almost 40 sub-actions outlined with the ambition to create a more vibrant dairy beef sector.
"We were forthright in our position that additional funds were needed to support this sector," IFA dairy chairman Stephen Arthur said.
"Without financial support, all other actions become meaningless.”
The IFA has criticised the consultation process, which it said was launched "without the input of farm representatives in January, with only an online meeting provided to gather the views of farm organisations in February".
"Clearly the key points put forward have fallen on deaf ears and what we have now been presented with is a plan with the same failings as the one originally put forward for the consultation process," Mr Arthur said.
"We need a long-term sustainable plan for rearing dairy beef calves in this country which must in the first instance include maintaining and building on the key live export trade for these animals.
"There is a need to have sustainable rearing systems for the calves that are not exported and critical to this is a financial support system for the farmers involved in rearing and finishing dairy-beef calves."
Mr Arthur said that Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue must come forward with a "meaningful budget to support this plan" and ensure that farmers have a "sustainable and economically viable system for rearing and finishing dairy beef calves for the farmers involved".
Teagasc's head of research Pat Dillon said that the beef sector remains "one of the most important industries in the national economy".
"One of its key strengths is its grass-fed steer/heifer beef output with its strong sustainability credentials. Research carried out at Teagasc Grange has established profitable dairy-beef systems using key technologies in relation to beef genetics, grassland management and calf rearing," he said.
Bord Bia's chief executive Jim O'Toole said that producing calves with superior beef merit "represents a significant opportunity for both the Irish beef and dairy sectors".
"By embracing these important developments, we can promote the production of animals which meet key market requirements, while providing a profitable enterprise for farmers," Mr O'Toole said.
"It is imperative for both sectors to work together and utilise the expertise that we have available to further enhance our market position."
The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation's chief executive Sean Coughlan said that genetic improvement and the use of indexes such as the Dairy Beef Index (DBI) and Commercial Beef Value (CBV) are "low-cost, high-impact tools that can help drive the profitability of the dairy calf to beef sector".
"We look forward to working with farmers on increasing the uptake in the use of these tools for breeding and purchasing decisions," Mr Coughlan added.
