The need for having increased numbers of live exports to Northern Ireland was stressed by ICOS at a meeting with Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney today (Thursday 17/07/2014)).
ICOS representative Michael Spellman and Seamus O’Donohoe with Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney
Chairman of ICOS’ marts committee Michael Spellman that with the crucial autumn weanling trade only around the corner there is a need to have northern buyers at mart rings in the Republic.
He said there is “an effective ban by Irish owned meat plants in Northern Ireland on killing live cattle from the Republic of Ireland”.
“The maintenance of a vigorous live trade with Northern Ireland is a vital source of additional competition for livestock which helps underpin the autumn trade in marts,” Spellman said.
Spellman stressed to Minister Coveney that fines being imposed by factories on Irish cattle being slaughtered in the North is making northern buyers think twice about buying at marts in the south.
“Farmers in Northern Ireland who bought cattle from the south last autumn are facing a major financial hit as they now go to sell these animals into the factories. It is a case of ‘once bitten, twice shy’ and unless the irrational and unwarranted €150 fine is removed by the factories, Northern Ireland farmers won’t buy cattle from the south again this year
“The immediate priority is the restoration of the traditional autumn trade. Without this trade it is not an exaggeration to state that the future of suckling enterprises in the Republic is under serious threat,” he added.
(Source – Irish Farmers Journal – 17/07/2014)