The live export trade is vital to Irish farmers to ensure competition for the livestock sector, rather than being completely dependent on a number of large-scale meat plants – which have a long record of paying beef farmers the lowest price possible.
This is the view of the President of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA), Patrick Kent.
“Also, factories are increasingly using their own feed lots and rented sheds to undermine the chance of independent farmers making a profit,” Kent said.
He was speaking in response to plans by Compassion in Ireland to hold a protest against live exports outside the Department of Agriculture’s offices in Kildare Street, Dublin, on Tuesday, September 26.
Compassion in Ireland’s petition against live exports had 21,689 online signatures as well as a couple of hundred manual signatures at the time of writing, according to Caroline Rowley, founder of the support group for Compassion in World Farming. She said a number of TDs had indicated they would attend the protest.
The protest will be promoted during ‘Stop Live Transport International Awareness Day’ on September 13, she said. There are numerous reasons behind it, all based around animal welfare, she said.
So far this year 100,000 young calves have been exported to the Netherlands, Spain and Italy.
“It is difficult to give them adequate food and liquid on board the trucks and they are too young to embark on such journeys.
“Instead of exporting the calves, why not have more veal farms in Ireland and export the meat instead?” Rowley asked.
Rowley contended that only a handful of farmers are benefiting from the exports and that live exports account for a very small percentage of the agri food export industry. “In 2016, €2.4 billion worth of beef was exported and €100 million of live cattle – that’s hardly propping up the industry.
“Furthermore, I have looked at factory prices and export volumes and there is little correlation. In fact prices have dropped recently, despite the increase in exports and reduction in kill rates.
“I don’t want farmers to struggle but there are ways around this. Exporting veal and beef rather than the animals would create more jobs in Ireland and improve Ireland’s reputation – not just for its high-quality beef but also its animal welfare standards.”
Patrick Kent, however, said that the ICSA has been pushing for live exports to be increased and for new markets to be explored. “This involves expanding the market to include heavier cattle than the typical 300kg limit.
“The reality is that the only future for farmers is to see as much live exports as possible. Indeed the survival of the suckler herd in this country is totally dependent on live exports.
It has also never been more imperative for farmers to have the option of live exports given the uncertainty of the UK market post Brexit.
“The Department of Agriculture is scrupulous about ensuring the highest possible level of welfare for animals travelling by ship.
“There are no markets for animals that are not in top-class condition on arrival and we know that, with department oversight on nutrition and veterinary care, cattle reach their destination markets in prime condition,” Kent said.