June 24th 2014

In the light of recent Teagasc figures showing that a farmer with 70 sucklers on 40 hectares can expect to generate €100 per hectare net profit on this enterprise, ICSA Suckler Chairman Dermot Kelleher has called on farmers to examine their profits and consider whether their businesses are viable or not.

“It can cost up to €700 per annum to keep a cow,” said Mr. Kelleher. “It seems to me that the vast majority of weanlings going through West of Ireland marts are not covering the cost of the cow, and farmers are forced to plough most of their Single Farm Payment straight back into their suckler herd.”

“Any farmers who are losing money on their cows need to ask themselves whether or not it’s worth continuing with what is then essentially an expensive hobby.”