“This unprecedented practice is just a cynical way of putting downward pressure on beef prices. This is just another way of forcing cattle to the factories before they get too heavy, without actually quoting lower prices.

“A farmer could find himself penalised by up to E70 per head if he goes just one kilo over the 400 kilo weight limit, and this is totally unacceptable.”

He said the cattle farmers have had no advance warning that the factories were going to move the goalposts, and so they should not be expected to take the hit.

“Farmers should not accept these cuts. The message from the factories is that heavy cattle are difficult to sell, so get rid of them now. But it’s not like the factories can’t sell the meat from heavy cattle. The market is buoyant for beef right now. Farmers should be very selective about where they sell their heavier cattle.”

Source: Sligo Weekender