Farmers protest over closures

THE delay in the reopening of the country’s main pig processing plants led to a protest by farmers outside the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food yesterday.

Irish Farmers Association members demanded an immediate re-opening of the plants which have not slaughtered pigs since the weekend product recall. Pigs committee chairman Tim Cullinan said producers whose herds are clear of any contamination, have been unable to move their perfectly healthy animals to processors.

“They are losing sales of €1 million per day, which is putting their livelihoods in jeopardy,” he said.