Teagasc director Gerry Boyle has landed himself in hot water with the Irish Pedigree Breeders Council of Ireland.

Speaking at the Oireachtas Committee for Agriculture last week, Professor Boyle said that, unfortunately, many suckler farmers would not make a living without direct subsidies and should consider more profitable ventures such as contract rearing heifers for dairy farmers.

We see a positive future for many suckler farmers, albeit not with the same level of suckler cows that are in the country currently

“There is no point in having a herd of suckler cows if farmers are not making a decent income for themselves and their families.

“Unfortunately, the data from the national farm survey shows that only a tiny percentage of suckler farmers are making a sufficient livelihood.

“In most situations, were it not for the basic farm payments and other direct payments, those farmers would be making a net loss per hectare,” the director said.

Backtracked

He later backtracked slightly, saying: “We see a positive future for many suckler farmers, albeit not with the same level of suckler cows that are in the country currently.

“There will be a strong core of suckler farmers who, through their excellence in managing their herds, will be profitable. There will be other opportunities as well.”

His comments have been met with fury by the Pedigree Breeders Council of Ireland.

Dairy calf-to-beef is an oxymoron

It said it was “very disappointed in the stance taken by Teagasc and Professor Boyle in their degradation of the suckler herd”.

It also poured cold water on the idea of contract rearing or dairy calf-to-beef systems.

“Dairy calf-to-beef is an oxymoron, as the Teagasc advice to dairy farmers over the last number of years has guided them to breed animals that are completely devoid of any beefing abilities,” it said.