Kevin O’Brien

Suckler farmer, Galway

“Farmers need their fair share of the retail price to make current production sustainable. Just take a look at the Tullamore Show. This is a representation of the strength rural Ireland has to offer. There won’t be a future for days like today if we can’t get a fair price for our produce. I feel beef certainly has a future in Ireland looking towards the next five to 10 years if we can come to an agreement on a fair price for our cattle. Beef consumption is only going to increase and we should be the country to provide it. There shouldn’t be any talks of a reduction in stock numbers.”

Martin Flinter

Suckler farmer, Kildare

“We stopped taking our cattle to shows and the plan for the future is to reduce our numbers. The work that we have to put in simply doesn’t match the money we receive in return. We have a few options but the main aim for the next three years is to wind down the suckler cow enterprise. We may use the land for forestry but I’m not too sure how happy the neighbouring farmers would be about that. Alternatively, we might lease it out or just take cuts of silage every year and sell the fodder off.”

Aidan Gallagher

Beef finisher, Mayo

“From where we are standing, I can’t see a future for beef in the next five to 10 years. The money is in the factories while the farmers are barely making enough to survive. The harsh reality of our current situation is if the beef farmers hang up their tools, rural Ireland will follow soon after. It’s very hard to know what will come of it in the next few years but we certainly need better prices if it’s to have any chance of surviving.”

Ian Stewart

Vet and beef finisher, Co Tyrone

“Farmers should be receiving twice the price for their beef than what they are getting currently.

“Beef-bred cattle should be seen as a premium product in comparison to dairy-bred beef. It should be seen in the same way as free-ranged versus caged hen eggs. The two products are miles apart in quality. Reward should be given to the production of meat from our superior beef breeds.

“Our consumption of beef will have to decrease over the next 10 years and be seen as more of a luxury meal.

“It should be quality over quantity with emphasis on genetically superior beef cattle.”

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Failure of talks could see more protests - Corley

In pictures: thousands throng to Tullamore Show 2019