The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) has said meat processors "should be ashamed" of the factory quotes they are currently offering.

ICMSA Livestock Committee, chairperson Michael O’Connell has said processors have tried to "pull the wool over farmers eyes" by quoting lower prices than what is available.

Despite prices remaining steady as animal numbers fall and factories seek cattle, O’Connell said there is 20–30c/kg more freely available to factory quotes.

O'Connell questioned how a prime underage 'P+3' Friesian steer (€7.00/kg base price) could have same nominal value as a 'P' grade cow (€6.70c/kg flat).

The ICMSA representative noted the pressure factories are experiencing with limited cattle and stated that "farmers are holding all the cards".

O'Connell pointed out that with the favourable weather, cattle are thriving and farmers are under no pressure to kill.

He also drew attention to the reduction in mart numbers, which will put further pressure on factories as agents struggle to source beef. 

O'Connell said factories would be "much better off just acknowledging the reality that we all see and go out and buy the cattle from farmers as opposed to going into the farmers’ yards and looking foolish by offering obviously below-par prices.

""We’re telling farmers to stand their ground on beef prices in the coming weeks," he added.

The ICMSA Livestock Committee chairperson said that factories have significantly reduced their beef kill, as cattle numbers continue to get tighter.

He added: "In certain beef cattle ‘dense’ areas of the country - such as the midlands - a notable number of cattle are still coming out of sheds and although we would expect the numbers of cattle starting to come off grass to increase, it is likely to be lower than previous years.

"The talk of numbers of cattle coming off grass at present is ridiculous; any steer, heifer or cow that was in any way forward this spring went into sheds to be finished, or in other cases, slaughtered straight out of marts."

He stated that large numbers of 2023 and 2024-born calves were exported, saying this added extra pressure to processors on sourcing cattle.

O'Connell said: "Demand for Irish cattle is off the charts and is going to continue with predictions of the EU herd falling by a further 5-7% this year.

"What the ICMSA and Irish farmers are concerned about is that Irish farmers receive a fair, competitive price for the cattle they work hard to produce to environmental and legislative regulations unheard of in any other country.  

"We are producing the best live cattle and beef in the world and that reality is recognised across Europe and the world," O'Connell added.

O'Connell said that it is time the ‘big players’ in the processing business across Ireland recognised that quality too.