Beef
Average carcass weights in the first quarter of 2025 have declined in all categories except young bulls when compared to 2024.
'Overweight' beef cattle were recently described as "a rarity" at meat plants now, with light carcass weights perceived as more of a problem
Subject to the result of an inspection from authorised officers, meat factories can be instructed to cease using carcass grading machines for mechanical classification.
Fines have been paid by a meat factory that breached carcass trim requirements in 2024, the DAFM has confirmed.
One meat factory has been fined for breaching carcass trim specifications to-date in 2024, the DAFM has confirmed.
Beef Technical
The factory supply of prime cattle is expected to increase over the winter months, according to a cattle supply forecast from Bord Bia.
Beef News
In the week ending October 23, over 40,200 adult cattle were processed at DAFM approved beef processing factories.
Agri-Business
One meat processing plant has been penalised for non-compliance regarding carcass trimming so far this year, according to the department.
There has been one case of non-compliance by a factory in relation to carcass trimming in 2019, according to Minister Creed.
The Beef Plan Movement is calling for "100% farmer supervision" on carcass trimming on factory floors in light of a recent controversy.
Meat Industry Ireland (MII) has defended the inspection and standards system in place in meat plants across the country.
Kepak has released a statement confirming that it was one of the factories found to have not been in full compliance with trimming standards
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has published the list of meat factories which were guilty of excessive carcass trimming.
Calls have been made to impose the same checks on meat factories as are imposed on farmers in factory lairages by the Beef Plan Group.
Farmers should be given access to the digital image of their animals carcass, according to ICMSA Livestock Committee Chair, Michael Guinan
