According to the IFA, carcase weight and age were the major factors in specification bonuses being withheld from farmers under the Quality Payment System (QPS) last year.
IFA livestock committee chair Henry Burns said that in addition to the cuts of 10c/kg observed for carcases over 420kg and 20c/kg over 440kg, “some plants are attempting to apply cuts over 400kg on heifers”.
“If these carcase weight cuts were applied across the board for a full year, it would impact on over 133,000 cattle and cost Irish farmers €10.6m or an average of €79 per head,” Burns added.
IFA analysis shows that 89% of the cattle hit by the weight cuts come from the suckler herd.
Age was the next most common factor in the loss of the 12c/kg in-spec bonus. The IFA said that slaughter data showed 68% of steers and 82% of heifers were under 30 months of age, while only 24% of bulls were slaughtered under 16 months of age.
Grade was a factor too, with around one in four cattle missing the O= conformation a fat score of 2+ to 4=.
When all criteria are applied, only 44% of steers, 59% of heifers and 18% of young bulls qualified for the 12c/kg in-spec bonus, according to IFA calculations.
Election issue
Burns, who is running for IFA president, said the organisation has opposed the imposition of carcase weight cuts by the factories as they negatively target the best-performing quality cattle, mainly from the suckler herd. He also said that the IFA continues to push for an increase in the 30-month age limit.
The other two candidates have also addressed these issues at successive hustings around the country, criticising the lack of progress achieved by the Beef Forum in recent years.
Flor McCarthy has repeatedly denounced the lack of competition between the three beef companies controlling most of the industry. “We need to battle with the factories and the plcs. We need to take on factories and expose the cartel,” he said in Mayo earlier this month.
Joe Healy has argued that the key to lifting factory restrictions is to make them compete with live exports. “Only 11.8% of cattle are over 420kg, but kill is well in excess of 30,000, which gives farmers poor negotiating power. The problem is live exports. It is very disappointing that they fell last year by 25%,” including in trade with Northern Ireland, he said in Donegal on 10 March.
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ICOS questions validity of QPS requirements
According to the IFA, carcase weight and age were the major factors in specification bonuses being withheld from farmers under the Quality Payment System (QPS) last year.
IFA livestock committee chair Henry Burns said that in addition to the cuts of 10c/kg observed for carcases over 420kg and 20c/kg over 440kg, “some plants are attempting to apply cuts over 400kg on heifers”.
“If these carcase weight cuts were applied across the board for a full year, it would impact on over 133,000 cattle and cost Irish farmers €10.6m or an average of €79 per head,” Burns added.
IFA analysis shows that 89% of the cattle hit by the weight cuts come from the suckler herd.
Age was the next most common factor in the loss of the 12c/kg in-spec bonus. The IFA said that slaughter data showed 68% of steers and 82% of heifers were under 30 months of age, while only 24% of bulls were slaughtered under 16 months of age.
Grade was a factor too, with around one in four cattle missing the O= conformation a fat score of 2+ to 4=.
When all criteria are applied, only 44% of steers, 59% of heifers and 18% of young bulls qualified for the 12c/kg in-spec bonus, according to IFA calculations.
Election issue
Burns, who is running for IFA president, said the organisation has opposed the imposition of carcase weight cuts by the factories as they negatively target the best-performing quality cattle, mainly from the suckler herd. He also said that the IFA continues to push for an increase in the 30-month age limit.
The other two candidates have also addressed these issues at successive hustings around the country, criticising the lack of progress achieved by the Beef Forum in recent years.
Flor McCarthy has repeatedly denounced the lack of competition between the three beef companies controlling most of the industry. “We need to battle with the factories and the plcs. We need to take on factories and expose the cartel,” he said in Mayo earlier this month.
Joe Healy has argued that the key to lifting factory restrictions is to make them compete with live exports. “Only 11.8% of cattle are over 420kg, but kill is well in excess of 30,000, which gives farmers poor negotiating power. The problem is live exports. It is very disappointing that they fell last year by 25%,” including in trade with Northern Ireland, he said in Donegal on 10 March.
Read more
ICOS questions validity of QPS requirements
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