Bord BIA has been urged to follow the move by Ornua to suspend farmer levies due to the difficulties in the sector.

The ICSA beef chairman Edmond Phelan urged Bord Bia to follow suit.

He said the levy should be suspended until “viable” markets for heavier cattle carcasses over 420kg can be found.

“The reality of the situation is that the meat industry needs to contribute more to Bord Bia as farmers feel they are getting less and less benefit from the promotion and marketing of beef,” he said.

Mr Phelan said farmers want to see efforts made to help dairy farmers replicated in the beef sector.

“If a dairy farmer can’t afford to pay a marketing levy, then it is clear that a beef farmer has even less ability to pay it,” he said.

Ornua will suspend the milk levy from May 1 and will reconsider it when the Purchase Price Index returns to 103 or 30.5c/l including VAT for three consecutive months.