"This unprecedented practice is just a cynical way of putting downward pressure on beef prices," he claimed.

"This is just another way of forcing cattle to the factories before they get too heavy, without actually quoting lower prices," he added.

According to the ICSA Kerry farm-ers could find themselves being penalised by up to ¤70 per head if he goes just one kilo over the 400 kilo weight limit.

"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," Robin Smith suggested.

Source: The Kingdom