Record feed costs are set to drive down cattle farmer margins this winter.

An exclusive all-island Irish Farmers Journal survey shows that feed costs are up by €120/t to €130/t on average compared to this time last year.

An extra €2,000 will be added to the feed bill of a 35-cow suckler farmer keeping weanlings. A winter finisher will carry an additional €8,450 in feed costs for every 100 cattle sent to the factory next spring. Teagasc figures show that farmers will need beef prices to rise by close to €6/kg in order to just breakeven this winter.

Many farmers commented in the survey about the long-term viability of their farm in light of higher input costs.

Some are planning to cut stock numbers and/or cut feed usage to help manage costs.