Over the last week, the IFA mounted five protests at retail distribution centres around the country, blockading each of them for 12 hours in a campaign over poor beef prices.

On Wednesday morning, it blockaded the Dunnes Stores “goods in” depot in Cornelscourt, Dublin, in the latest protest of the campaign.

On Tuesday, it hit Musgraves in Kilcock, Co Kildare, on Monday it hit Tesco in Donabate, on Friday it was Lidl in Charleville and the first protest was held last Thursday outside the Aldi distribution centre in Naas.

Up to 30 farmers were present at each of the protests, with some taking it in shifts. Truck drivers were stopped from entering and, in some cases, leaving distribution centres.

IFA president Joe Healy said that the blockades would continue until there was a rise in beef price.

“There’s no reason why there isn’t a price increase. What was offered last Friday is derisory and anyway what was offered last Friday?” he asked.

“A statement came out first that had no figure on it. A statement was leaked to some sections of the media that had 5c/kg on it.

“Talking to agents, they were of the opinion it was 10c and I think the fourth answer is probably the right answer, 5c on heifers and 10c on steers. But it just smacks of the typical lack of transparency that’s in the beef sector and we need to get beyond that,” he told the Irish Farmers Journal.

In relation to Tesco and SuperValu cutting the price of beef in store, he said “this unsustainable discounting puts downward pressure on beef prices and is an insult to farmers and the work they do”.