Beef Restrictions Unjustified and Unnecessary
IRELAND – Beef roundtable negotiations on Irish cattle specifications should review the 30 month requirement and weight limits on bulls, insists a farm spokesperson.
30 October 2014
1 minute read
Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA) President Patrick Kent’s message to the sector is that the restrictions are unjustified and “not necessary for the marketing of Irish beef.”
The roundtable group now has two weeks of negotiations following yesterday's meeting.
On top of ending the 30 month bull age limit and making weights ‘realistic’ the ICSA is calling for relaxation of the four movements/residency requirements and a Quality Assurance bonus to be paid on all cattle from Quality Assured farms.
Speaking after Wednesday’s beef round table meeting Mr Kent said: "ICSA is adamant that farmers must get a much improved price in order to be viable, and movement on these specs would go some way towards increasing returns.
"ICSA's call for the inclusion of retailers in the roundtable talks was heeded by the Minister, with both Tesco and McDonald's present. Tesco outlined their specification requirements, and it appears to us that 30-month restriction might not be set in stone."
He spoke of farmer frustration at ‘artificial impediments’ ‘put in their way’ by processors.
And, until such issues are addressed, real progress is ‘impossible’, he added.
TheCattleSite News Desk
