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The Irish Farmers Journal understands that a number of pedigree breed societies will boycott Tuesday's national beef open day to be held at Teagasc, Grange, Co. Meath.
It had been planned that the breed societies would share a marquee tent with ICBF and the AI stations at the Teagasc event, as was the case in BEEF 2014 and BEEF 2016.
However, at a meeting of breed society representatives last week a decision was taken that they would not take any part in BEEF 2018, especially if pitched in the same tent as ICBF.
It is a big call from the breed societies involved who will turn down the chance to talk with thousands of beef farmers and potential customers that will visit Teagasc, Grange on Tuesday. Relations between some of the breed societies and ICBF have hit a low point in recent weeks following the Irish Charolais Cattle Society’s appearance before the Oireactas Committee on Agriculture where they criticised the ICBF on a number of points, including breed society representation on the ICFB board.
In late-May the Irish Limousin Cattle Society also suspended their participation in the ICBF Whole Herd Performance Recording (WHPR) Programme pending an internal review of the programme. This recent move has driven a further wedge between the societies involved and the ICBF.
A meeting of breed society personnel is due to take place in two weeks to determine the next course of action.
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