Less than 1% of farmers with dirty cattle but 40% traced to feedlot

The Department of Agriculture has said the vast majority of farmers supply cattle that are clean and acceptable for slaughter under the Clean Livestock Policy (CLP).

Amy McShane

26 August 2016

Less than 1% of farmers with dirty cattle but 40% traced to feedlot

Beef cows grazing in Co Cork.

Only a very small number of cases of producers are having problems, at just 0.16%. However, analysis by the Department revealed that over 40% of problem cases were related back to feedlot cattle.

IFA national livestock chair Angus Woods met with the Department and said it had analysed the problem cases as “a very small number of producers and a very small number of cattle”.

Excessive charges

He said it is important all stakeholders work together on this issue in a fair way so as to make real and worthwhile progress. He said, at certain times of the year, the charges imposed in some meat plants under the CLP are excessive and need to be examined by the Department.

Woods also added that the IFA will continue to work with the Department of Agriculture, the processors, Teagasc and farmers to highlight the importance of the policy and to ensure farmers are treated fairly.

Factories don’t want dirty livestock