Farmers urged to oppose beef cuts
FARMERS need to resist ongoing pressure by the meat processors to cut cattle prices over recent weeks – despite a buoyant international market for beef.
According to the IFA, the meat plants over the past couple of weeks have had to pay well above their official quotes to get the flow of cattley they needed.
Galway IFA Livestock representative, Micheál Haverty, told the Farming Tribune, that the last thing farmers should do was to have a ‘panic reaction’ to a ‘tactical move’ by the factories to try and get cheaper cattle.
“They normally use this tactic around August but this year they have moved a month earlier to try and put a sense of fear in farmers about prices. The meat plants want to instill that sense of panic with farmers to force a type of artificial glut of cattle on the market,” said Michael Havery
He added that tight supplies of suitable cattle – as well as strengthening UK beef prices – were underpinning the trade. Despite recent attempts by factories to offer lower quotes, strong resistance from farmers had resulted in actual ‘paid prices’ of up to 15c/kg above the quoted price, according to the IFA.
“Factories have been paying €5 to €5.15/kg base price for steers and €5.05 to €5.20/kg for heifers with higher prices for larger and specialist lots.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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