Farmers questioned Cormac Healy of Meat Industry Ireland at the Irish Farmers Journal Beef Summit last week on the amount of money processors make from the fifth quarter of each cattle carcase.

Addressing 1,300 farmers, Healy said that “returns from the fifth quarter are an integral part of the price paid to farmers for the animal”, a statement which provoked a loud and angry reaction from farmers in the room.

Reaction

Kerry suckler farmer John Flaherty reacted, saying: “Cormac Healy says farmers were being paid for the fifth quarter. I’m glad he thinks that, because he’s the only one in the room who thinks it.”

Flaherty said unless farmers are paid for their cattle, suckler farmers will be “going the way of the corncrake in Ireland, destined for history”.

Feedlots

Another statement from Healy which provoked the ire of farmers related to feedlots.

“I have no reason to dispute the DAFM figure that 18% of cattle came from herds that have been granted “controlled finishing unit” status – but these are not all factory owned or controlled feedlots,” said Healy.

“Most are producer-owned. Factory-owned, or controlled, feedlots represent maximum 5% of the cattle,” Healy said.

In response, Roscommon suckler farmer Padraig O’Connor said suckler animals are grass-fed. “Market our animals as grass-fed, put the feedlot cattle in a different category.”

It is believed that 3% to 5% of the 338 feedlot status herds are owned by factories.

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