The two-hour journey limit prior to slaughter will have the effect of inhibiting free choice in which factory a farmer chooses to do business with, livestock and environment executive with the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) Ray Doyle said.
Ireland’s application for an EU-approved protected geographical indication (PGI) for Irish grass-fed beef includes a two-hour journey limit prior to slaughter.
Concerning proposal
ICOS has described the proposal as very concerning. Doyle continued: “Some factories specialise in receiving particular weights and sizes of animals and not all of these will be within a two-hour drive of a relevant farm.”
“There appears to be a stipulation in the proposal that animals must be transported by a licensed haulier, which is limiting.”
ICOS has said it will be contacting Bord Bia to seek further clarification on the proposed two-hour journey limit prior to slaughter.
Doyle concluded: “We appreciate that Bord Bia is seeking to promote the natural and sustainable origins of Irish beef but this particular measure, should be ruled out.”
Defining grass fed
Irish grass-fed beef is the name given to beef raised on a grass-based diet on pasture-grazing farms and applies to cattle born, raised, finished, slaughtered, chilled and quartered in Ireland.
The PGI will only include cattle that derive at least 90% of their feed intake from grass and spend a minimum of 220 days per year throughout their lifetime grazing pasture, as determined by the Bord Bia Grass Fed Beef Standard.
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The two-hour journey limit prior to slaughter will have the effect of inhibiting free choice in which factory a farmer chooses to do business with, livestock and environment executive with the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) Ray Doyle said.
Ireland’s application for an EU-approved protected geographical indication (PGI) for Irish grass-fed beef includes a two-hour journey limit prior to slaughter.
Concerning proposal
ICOS has described the proposal as very concerning. Doyle continued: “Some factories specialise in receiving particular weights and sizes of animals and not all of these will be within a two-hour drive of a relevant farm.”
“There appears to be a stipulation in the proposal that animals must be transported by a licensed haulier, which is limiting.”
ICOS has said it will be contacting Bord Bia to seek further clarification on the proposed two-hour journey limit prior to slaughter.
Doyle concluded: “We appreciate that Bord Bia is seeking to promote the natural and sustainable origins of Irish beef but this particular measure, should be ruled out.”
Defining grass fed
Irish grass-fed beef is the name given to beef raised on a grass-based diet on pasture-grazing farms and applies to cattle born, raised, finished, slaughtered, chilled and quartered in Ireland.
The PGI will only include cattle that derive at least 90% of their feed intake from grass and spend a minimum of 220 days per year throughout their lifetime grazing pasture, as determined by the Bord Bia Grass Fed Beef Standard.
Read more
Restrictions on bulls and journey time in 'Irish Grass Fed Beef' standard
Beef finisher payment opens to 42,000 farmers
Restriction on journey time in ‘Irish Grass Fed Beef' is anti-competitive - ICSA
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