Proof €150/head cattle losses are real

The heavy losses cattle farmers are suffering have been quantified.

Teagasc’s Pearse Kelly said at the current €3.50/kg base price, suckler farmers are losing €150 on every animal they sell.

The breakeven price would be €4.17, Kelly told an IFA meeting in Kilkenny on Tuesday.

At current prices, an Angus or Hereford calf is only worth €2, with Friesian bull calves having a negative value of €130 each, if a €200 margin is to be maintained.

It all feeds into the argument of farmers on the factory gates around the country that they are going broke, and quickly.

MII said on Tuesday evening that restrictions of varying levels exist at 17 factories. Talks are occurring sporadically around the country, but the need for centralised negotiations is clear.

“The immediate challenges can only be resolved one way and that is by getting back around the table,” Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said on Wednesday.

The Beef Plan Movement has registered a producer organisation, which in theory allows collective bargaining on price by members.

A new group, Independent Farmers of Ireland, has emerged as a representative for some of the protesting farmers.