Backlog costing €500 per week

- Tommy Holmes, Ballina, Co Mayo

“I’ve been trying for the last five weeks to get cattle killed. I’m told there are four loads of cattle to be killed in front of mine but those keep getting pushed back so it’s hard to know. I’m hopeful I’ll get them gone early next week. But the cost involved in this backlog is massive. I’m feeding 55 bulls in the sheds at the minute and all of these are on ad-lib meal – probably 12kg/head/day. Twenty of these should be gone.

“With my meal price currently at €270/t and then straw, I was working out that it’s costing me close to €500 per week not getting them sold. The other issue is of course weights. I’d always have heavy bulls but at this rate there’s going to be bulls pushing over 470kg carcase – there’s every chance I could get a hit on them but there’s nothing I can do.”

John Dunne

Rewarded for my loyalty

- John Dunne, Portarlington, Co Offaly

“There is of course a delay in getting cattle killed but to be fair, I haven’t been messed around with or I haven’t been pushed back. I have a load to go this week.

“I think my policy of doing business with the one factory is of benefit now. I’d like to think I’m being rewarded for my loyalty. I don’t get any more money for it, but at least there’s a relationship there. The people that shop around from factory to factory might get an extra 5c/kg from time to time but when the pressure comes on, they have nowhere to go to.

“In my opinion, the beef protests did more harm than good – they are coming back to bite all beef farmers. The reality is, there’s a backlog of cattle on waterlogged soils and a lot of that is down to the actions of a small number of people protesting.”

Denis Large.

Penalised for overweight cattle

- Denis Large, Urlingford, Co Tipperary

“The power has definitely shifted back to the factories. It’s supply and demand and it’s a direct result of the backlog that is there from the protests in September. In a continental system it pays to push animals to the weight the factory is happy with. The problem now is as I am delayed getting cattle killed, I run the risk of getting penalised for overweight cattle.

“Another issue is feed costs. At €3.45/kg for steers, even an animal putting on 1.4kg/day will struggle to cover feed costs this winter. We are working away getting a few cattle killed every week. I know a few feeders who have scaled back purchasing because of the killing delays. It’s going to hit everybody before long.”

People getting more desperate

- Leinster cattle agent

“The backlog is a disaster. As a result of the stoppages during the protest about 80,000 to 100,000 cattle were backed up in the system. In most cases it’s taking 10 days to a month to get cattle away due to the backlog.

“In my time as an agent, it’s certainly one of the most difficult periods I have ever seen and a lot of this backlog could have been avoided. With the change in the weather and ground conditions, people are getting more desperate. I have men ringing me day and night trying to get cattle away. They are very angry with the fallout from the protests.

“I was talking to a farmer today who had his heifers booked in and ready to go at the time of the first protest in August and he still has those cattle today. He is desperate to get those cattle away.

“For some, price is no longer the issue at this stage. They just want to get their cattle killed. On top of these problems we are trying to deal with the impact of the backlog with weight limits and over 30 months.”