TWO meat plants in Northern Ireland have this week offered a bonus payout of six pence per kilo to encourage more farmers to sell them higher specification cattle suitable for tighter retailer demand.
Both meat plants are offering a base price of 260p/kg for U3 grades but with a bonus incentive of six pence per kilo on top of that if the animal meets certain criteria.
However, the move has been scorned by the National Beef Association (NBA) and been classed as a 'worthless bribe' by some beef finishers.
The NBA said it is an incentive directed at ensuring farmers sell cattle to meat plants and not through live markets or indeed onto the mainland at much higher prices.
According to industry sources two meat plants are offering the six pence per kilo bonus if cattle kill out between 280kgs and 380kgs.
Other parameters such as age and number of days on one farm are also stipulated as bonus payout requirements.
The reasoning behind the bonus, according to sources, is to attract higher quality cattle for specified demand. It is thought more meat plants will also offer the incentive later on this week.
However, Oisin Murnion, chairman NBA Northern Ireland, said: "Beef farmers are still selling their cattle to meat plants at a loss, while farmers on the mainland are enjoying almost 40 pence per kilo more for the same grade animals."

Full story available in FARM WEEK - see your local newsagent
Click here for previous stories

October 30th 2009
October th 2009

example flipper