Farmers at a Teagasc suckler cow conference in Ballina called for a greater differential in beef prices between dairy-cross and suckler-bred beef animals.

Suckler farmers at the Castlebar meeting said that high costs and weak beef prices are crippling their business.

Farmers raised concerns over the impact that the increased dairy herd and seasonality are having on the beef trade and the quality of cattle.

Paul Nolan of Dawn Meats warned that sire choices in the dairy industry are reducing the beef carcase characteristics.

“We have seen differences of up to 40kg of carcase between some of the best and worst sires,” he said.

He added that increased numbers of Angus from the dairy herd are not getting the bonuses as they are not getting the required fat cover.

‘’We don’t want to see the suckler cow going. We have to maintain the core suckler herd and possibly look to market suckler beef as a niche product,” he said.

Asked about changing the QPS grid to payment for meat yield, Nolan replied: “I would much prefer to bone out heavier carcases as it would be more economical for us, but the market requires a lighter carcase from 280kg to 380kg.’’

Nolan said that while Teagasc has shown bull beef is the most efficient for farmers, “our experience is that there is a better return from the market place for steer and heifer beef”.

UCD lecturer Alan Kelly told the conference that it costs €635 to keep a suckler cow and calf to the weaning stage.

This rises to €782/head if land costs are factored in, and €420 of this is feed costs over the year.