Brazilians hit back at Irish and British beef farmers

A BRAZILIAN beef industry leader has described Irish and British farmers who object to beef from South America “as if they were still in primary school, kicking and screaming to attract attention and achieve their objectives”.

“It now remains to be seen how long the ‘Irish child’ will take before it matures and becomes a competitor up to our standards,” said Association of Brazilian Beef Exporters executive director Otávio Hermont Cançado, in a statement issued to the media.

He defended Brazil’s foot-and-mouth disease record, and said, “On the other hand, Ireland has a very unfavourable track record, especially when it comes to mad cow disease.”