DEAR SIR:

Whilst it is encouraging to read in recent editions of the Irish Farmers Journal that Bord Bia, alongside the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, is investigating the potential to secure PGI status for Irish grass-fed beef from the European Commission, I would suggest it would greatly enhance their chances of a successful outcome if they apply for a PGI designation for beef from Ireland’s suckler herd for a start. A PGI designation indicates products to customers that have specific characteristics that are linked to a certain region and have earned a reputation in the marketplace which allows them to be identified and protected as quality products. I believe that beef that has been produced from Ireland’s suckler herd, reared outdoors and extensively on family farms is tailor-made for PGI status. Such animals spend up to nine months of their lives consuming their dams’ milk whilst gradually increasing their intake of biodiverse grasses as nature intended. This practice is widespread in rural Ireland where the land is not suitable for dairying or tillage.

The Irish suckler herd of almost 1m cows has been of importance in developing Ireland’s reputation as a producer of high-quality prime beef. Furthermore, the rural economy and in particular the future of the counties all along the western seaboard are very dependent on a thriving suckler industry, which unfortunately doesn’t presently exist.

Recently we hear Bord Bia has submitted an application for a three-year €3.2m promotional campaign around suckler beef to be co-funded by the EU. This is an acknowledgement that suckler farming needs urgent help. Rather than trying to appease all those producing dairy beef at the expense of our highest quality beef from the country’s suckler herd, Bord Bia and Minister Cowen should now apply for PGI designation for Ireland’s suckler beef. Applying for PGI designation for all grass-fed beef will dilute our application and will do nothing for Ireland’s suckler farmers who are fighting for survival. Just as Sneem black pudding has been granted PGI status because it has specific characteristics, so has prime beef from Ireland’s suckler herds.

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Letter re sustainable suckler beef - PGI status