IFA president Tim Cullinan has questioned the merits of allowing Friesian dairy-bred stock to be included in an application for protected geographical indicator (PGI) status for Irish grass-fed beef.

According to Cullinan, Bord Bia’s proposal on a new grass-fed standard and the proposed criteria for PGI status for Irish grass-fed beef needs a lot more consultation with farmers.

Concern

Suckler farmers have expressed concern that currently young bulls will be ineligible from the grass-fed standard, yet plainer O- grading steers and heifers will be eligible.

According to Cullinan, the criteria currently proposed by Bord Bia risks “ghettoising” bull beef.

Meanwhile, Bord Bia has clarified to the Irish Farmers Journal that the exclusion of the first nine months of an animal’s life applies solely in relation to residency requirements on a Quality Assured farm and that this period is included when calculating the level of grass within the diet.