The Department of Agriculture, Bord Bia and ICBF came in for heavy criticism at a Beef Plan Movement meeting attended by over 400 farmers in Balinasloe on Tuesday night.

“Our industry is on life support and the machine will soon be switched off if we don’t stand up and fight,” said David Whelan of the Beef Plan Movement.

Issues raised included profitability, live export restrictions, anti-competiveness and BDGP. The group now claims to have 12,000 members on WhatsApp.

“I’m here tonight to see where the priorities for this group lie. I want to see how they are going to amalgamate everybody together and make sure farmers don’t split up, because that’s what factories would love. I’ll stand firm and hold back cattle if I’m asked. I don’t want to see the suckler cow disappear from the west of Ireland” – Enda Keenan, Kiltoom, Co Roscommon.

“I have come tonight to air my views on the genomics scheme. The stars are not working on my farm and the quality of cattle is dropping in my local mart. I think the scheme was rushed in by Simon Coveney and the make up of the scheme needs to be revisited before it’s too late” – Thomas Daly, Athlone, Co Roscommon.