Farmers in Clare are shocked at the news of the Kepak closure as it broke on Thursday morning. They see at as a big loss of jobs to the region and an important route to market gone for smaller operations in the west.
The Irish Farmers Journal understands that the factory was currently killing 40 to 50 cattle/day or 200 to 250/week, with throughput declining in recent months.
The factory claimed number one position for paying for U3 young bulls in 2018 and took the top position this year for R3 young bulls in the Irish Farmers Journal factory price leagues.
Options for farmers for nearby factories include ABP Rathkeale, ABP Nenagh, Dawn Meats Charleville and Kepak Athleague.
Kepak Clare closure - factory options
It's seen as a big blow to smaller farmers. Farmers in Ennis Mart on Thursday described it as being very handy for farmers with two or three cattle to go in and get them killed, avoiding the need for lorries or killing big batches of cattle. Cattle could be drafted as there were fit.
The Irish Farmers Journal understands the option could be looked at of making the factory an assembly point for cattle to go to be slaughtered in another Kepak location.
When Kepak closed its plant in Hacketstown, Co Carlow, in 2014, it set up an assembly centre and sheep have been transported to Athleague successfully since then.
Numbers moving have waned over time, with some opting to go to ICM or Kildare, but there are still significant numbers of farmers using the facility.
It’s understood that Kepak wishes to maintain its current supplier base, although no correspondence has been received on the closure by the farmers that we spoke to.
Since Kepak took over the factory in 2017, significant investment has been put in, but the next stage of investment to bring it up to modern standards has been seen as too big based on throughput and margins.
The factory was one of the hardest hit during the beef protests in autumn when it was closed for seven weeks.
Farmer reaction in Ennis Mart
Colm Gregan, beef farmer, Clare
Colm Gregan
It’s a disgrace and it’s another blow for rural Ireland. It’s a very big loss to Co Clare. It’s a very handy place for smaller farmers to bring two or three cattle and these farmers are now going to have to travel longer distances to get their cattle killed. It leaves a lack of competition in the area and gives more buying power to other factories. It's 40 jobs less in the area, so it’s a concern for local people who aren’t able to travel longer distances for work.
Michael Kelly, beef farmer, Galway
Michael Kelly
It’s not good for farmers in Clare and south Galway. I kill cattle down there on a regular basis and I was happy with it, very handy place to get into and out of and I’ll miss it. It’s a big blow to people working there. There isn’t an awful lot of other employment in that area, so it will be hard for some of them to find jobs locally.
Gerry Kenny, beef farmer, Clare
Gerry Kenny
I’m very disappointed to be honest. It was great to have a place so local to go with cattle. It's going to cost us more now to get cattle up the country. It comes as a big surprise to us all, as there was a lot of work went into it doing it up and we thought they were here long term.
Martin NcNamara, mart manager, Ennis Mart
John Hannon from Quinn and Ennis Mart manager Martin McNamara at the mart's sale this week. \ Hany Marzouk
It’s a big shock to everybody here in the mart today. While there were questions as to whether it would continue killing cattle after the beef protests last autumn, I don’t think anybody saw this coming so quickly. It’s another bit of competition taken out of the market and that’s not good for farmers. The nearest factory is 1.5 hours away with a jeep and trailer, so it’s going to mean extra hassle and costs for farmers who slaughter their cattle.
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Kepak to close Clare plant this week
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Farmers in Clare are shocked at the news of the Kepak closure as it broke on Thursday morning. They see at as a big loss of jobs to the region and an important route to market gone for smaller operations in the west.
The Irish Farmers Journal understands that the factory was currently killing 40 to 50 cattle/day or 200 to 250/week, with throughput declining in recent months.
The factory claimed number one position for paying for U3 young bulls in 2018 and took the top position this year for R3 young bulls in the Irish Farmers Journal factory price leagues.
Options for farmers for nearby factories include ABP Rathkeale, ABP Nenagh, Dawn Meats Charleville and Kepak Athleague.
Kepak Clare closure - factory options
It's seen as a big blow to smaller farmers. Farmers in Ennis Mart on Thursday described it as being very handy for farmers with two or three cattle to go in and get them killed, avoiding the need for lorries or killing big batches of cattle. Cattle could be drafted as there were fit.
The Irish Farmers Journal understands the option could be looked at of making the factory an assembly point for cattle to go to be slaughtered in another Kepak location.
When Kepak closed its plant in Hacketstown, Co Carlow, in 2014, it set up an assembly centre and sheep have been transported to Athleague successfully since then.
Numbers moving have waned over time, with some opting to go to ICM or Kildare, but there are still significant numbers of farmers using the facility.
It’s understood that Kepak wishes to maintain its current supplier base, although no correspondence has been received on the closure by the farmers that we spoke to.
Since Kepak took over the factory in 2017, significant investment has been put in, but the next stage of investment to bring it up to modern standards has been seen as too big based on throughput and margins.
The factory was one of the hardest hit during the beef protests in autumn when it was closed for seven weeks.
Farmer reaction in Ennis Mart
Colm Gregan, beef farmer, Clare
Colm Gregan
It’s a disgrace and it’s another blow for rural Ireland. It’s a very big loss to Co Clare. It’s a very handy place for smaller farmers to bring two or three cattle and these farmers are now going to have to travel longer distances to get their cattle killed. It leaves a lack of competition in the area and gives more buying power to other factories. It's 40 jobs less in the area, so it’s a concern for local people who aren’t able to travel longer distances for work.
Michael Kelly, beef farmer, Galway
Michael Kelly
It’s not good for farmers in Clare and south Galway. I kill cattle down there on a regular basis and I was happy with it, very handy place to get into and out of and I’ll miss it. It’s a big blow to people working there. There isn’t an awful lot of other employment in that area, so it will be hard for some of them to find jobs locally.
Gerry Kenny, beef farmer, Clare
Gerry Kenny
I’m very disappointed to be honest. It was great to have a place so local to go with cattle. It's going to cost us more now to get cattle up the country. It comes as a big surprise to us all, as there was a lot of work went into it doing it up and we thought they were here long term.
Martin NcNamara, mart manager, Ennis Mart
John Hannon from Quinn and Ennis Mart manager Martin McNamara at the mart's sale this week. \ Hany Marzouk
It’s a big shock to everybody here in the mart today. While there were questions as to whether it would continue killing cattle after the beef protests last autumn, I don’t think anybody saw this coming so quickly. It’s another bit of competition taken out of the market and that’s not good for farmers. The nearest factory is 1.5 hours away with a jeep and trailer, so it’s going to mean extra hassle and costs for farmers who slaughter their cattle.
Read more
Kepak to close Clare plant this week
Dawn Meats changes in-spec bonus rule
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