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Concessions made by factories at beef talks represent baby steps in the distance factories need to go in supporting the farmers they rely on, according to the body which represents livestock marts.
The Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) welcomed the reduction of the final residency period for quality assured (QA) animals from 70 to 60 days.
However, it stated factories needed “to be dragged reluctantly towards this compromise rather than recognising the illogicality of their position”.
It said the 60 days were still an “unproven, unscientific and arbitrary period selected by the factories for their own purposes”.
The extension of the in-spec bonus to cattle grading with O- conformation and 4+ fat score was welcomed by ICOS.
However, it stressed the QPS was "generally dysfunctional" and various measures together were still only the minimum steps.
Viability
“If people want a beef industry in Ireland, then primary producers and their economic viability must be supported or there simply won’t be any industry, and the rural and national economy will suffer, along with farming families,” ICOS said.
It repeated that no scientific evidence has ever been provided for the four-movement rule or the QA residency requirement of 70 days.
ICOS said citing an animal as inferior because it moved to or from another farm was wrong.
This has subverted fair competition for livestock and has distorted trade and pricing in Ireland and the UK
It said the criteria for the in-spec bonus exceeded the requirements of Bord Bia and stopped the free trade of animals.
ICOS stated: “This has subverted fair competition for livestock and has distorted trade and pricing in Ireland and the UK.
"It has also discriminated directly against open, transparent and competitive livestock sales in marts.”
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