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Ireland: Farmers protest abattoirs 14 Nov 2008

Farmers For Action (FFA) protested against the treatment of beef farmers by Northern Ireland abattoirs, on Tuesday this week.
According to reports, abattoirs were paying nearly 50 per cent below the Livestock and Meat Commission cost of production figure of £3.70/kg.

Cut prices paid to farmers
The FFA stated that they were concerned to hear that the price of beef from abattoirs to butchers was being pushed up in the lead up to Christmas, while there was an attempt to cut the price paid to farmers.

"It's the oldest trick in the book that the Northern Ireland abattoirs are trying to bring the price of beef down to panic farmers into believing beef cattle numbers are high and demand is low. The truth is quite the opposite according to the GB and Southern Ireland market.

Northern Ireland Beef Farmers are applying pressure on their abattoirs by taking finished animals where possible to the live market and getting much better prices for export to GB. While Northern Ireland abattoirs have to incur huge haulage charges to lorry in replacement cattle from far down Southern Ireland. This is pressure but more is needed, Northern Ireland beef farmers must continue to persuade their neighbours to go to the live market in their droves until Northern Ireland abattoirs get the message, which is, learn to take your profit from the retail sector not farmers," FFA co-ordinator William Taylor said.

Abattoirs not willing to pay
Taylor further said that "The protest message is clear, the money is available just needing pressure to extract it and if Northern Ireland abattoirs are not willing to pay £3.38/kg this month then they should not receive supply from NI farmers, instead take your cattle where possible to the live market or contact those exporting to GB for a much better price."

 

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