6th August 2014

ICSA beef chairman Edmond Phelan has called for an end to the 30-month age specification for beef cattle.

“The 30-month rule is a relic of the past, introduced as an emergency measure in the fight against a disease which has long-since been contained,” said Mr. Phelan. “It is now being used by the meat industry to dampen the market through over-supply.”

“Peak calving months are March and April, and this issue will be particularly evident over the next few weeks, as more than 500,000 beef calves born in March and April 2012 are now approaching 30 months and there is an artificial urgency to sell these animals now to avoid penalties.”

“This is an example of the manipulation of the Quality Payments System to penalise rather than reward farmers, and ICSA intends to ensure that this artificial market impediment is raised at the next beef roundtable meeting.”