The European Commission must establish a high-level expert group on sustainable livestock, according to an Irish MEP.

Maria Walsh, who is a member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, made the call in response to "the challenges facing livestock farmers across the EU and in particular in Ireland".

The Fine Gael Midlands-North-West MEP has called on the EU Commission to prioritise the formation of a livestock group, following the recent establishment a similar group for the wine industry.

"We urgently need to see the commission's equal commitment to this sector by creating a similar dedicated stakeholder group," she said.

MEP Walsh said that farmers across Ireland and the EU have "serious concerns regarding the future of their sector".

"Irish farmers in particular are uncertain as to the future of their business given recent discussions on Mercosur.

“The outbreaks of various diseases, including bovine tuberculosis (TB), along with economic uncertainty [which] have resulted in a recent decrease in Irish livestock production," she said.

In the EU Parliament this week, the Irish MEP called on the commission to bring together experts from the livestock sector and "develop effective policies that will tackle economic, climate and political challenges".

Walsh believes that establishing such a dedicated group would be a "slam dunk", given the number of livestock farmers across Europe.

“I look forward to hearing from the commission regarding their plans to pursue the establishment of this much needed group for the betterment of our planet, our farmers and our animals," Walsh added.