Average carcase grades have plummeted by up to 20% in certain factories over the last five years.
Analysis carried out by the Irish Farmers Journal shows that Dawn Meats has seen the biggest decline in steers qualifying for the in-spec quality bonus.
Steer grades at Dawn Ballyhaunis dropped by 12% and the Dawn-owned Meadow Meats in Co Laois saw a massive 20% drop in quality steer grades.
Over 50% of the Irish kill now fails to make the minimum in-spec quality bonus criteria.
The influence of poorer-shaped dairy-bred cattle can be seen in regions where there has been significant dairy expansion such as ABP Bandon, where in-spec steer grades fell from 59% to 47% and in-spec heifer grades fell from 70% to 57%.
However, farmers in suckler strongholds in the west of Ireland will be perplexed to see a drop in the number of quality steers at Dawn Ballyhaunis, and the large drop in quality heifers at Foyle Donegal from almost 74% to 58%.
Some factories such as ABP Nenagh and ABP Clones saw an increase in the number of cattle making in-spec quality grades, but overall there was a 4.3% reduction in quality steers and a 2.5% drop in quality heifers since 2014.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
Average carcase grades have plummeted by up to 20% in certain factories over the last five years.
Analysis carried out by the Irish Farmers Journal shows that Dawn Meats has seen the biggest decline in steers qualifying for the in-spec quality bonus.
Steer grades at Dawn Ballyhaunis dropped by 12% and the Dawn-owned Meadow Meats in Co Laois saw a massive 20% drop in quality steer grades.
Over 50% of the Irish kill now fails to make the minimum in-spec quality bonus criteria.
The influence of poorer-shaped dairy-bred cattle can be seen in regions where there has been significant dairy expansion such as ABP Bandon, where in-spec steer grades fell from 59% to 47% and in-spec heifer grades fell from 70% to 57%.
However, farmers in suckler strongholds in the west of Ireland will be perplexed to see a drop in the number of quality steers at Dawn Ballyhaunis, and the large drop in quality heifers at Foyle Donegal from almost 74% to 58%.
Some factories such as ABP Nenagh and ABP Clones saw an increase in the number of cattle making in-spec quality grades, but overall there was a 4.3% reduction in quality steers and a 2.5% drop in quality heifers since 2014.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS