The first nationwide demonstrations at meat factories for almost 15 years began yesterday with thousands of farmers assembling at 30 meat plants around the country in support of IFA’s 24-hour beef price protest.

Farmers yesterday staged protests outside retail outlets in Kerry, accusing supermarkets and processors of "profiteering" on the back of excessive beef and lamb price cuts to livestock farmers.

A SENIOR farming leader has alleged widespread non-compliance with the statutory regulation on traceability of food sources, and has called for the transfer of the SFP inspectorate to monitor food labelling compliance.