The beef industry is anxiously awaiting the outcome of this month's BSE figures on Thursday, following a year of rising figures in the Irish herd and leading to the loss of valuable markets abroad.
Last July Irish BSE figures began to increase at an alarming rate, having remained at previous year's levels until the end of June. By the end of December there were 74 cases, nearly four times the previous yearly average.
This led to a Russian ban on beef from Cos Cork, Tipperary, Monaghan, Limerick, Cavan, Wexford, Meath and Donegal. It also led to a ban on the export of live Irish cattle to Egypt, and caused great difficulties in a market which was beginning to recover from the BSE scare which began on March 20th, 1996.
Veterinary sources have indicated that the July 1997 figures could be half the 1996 figures, when seven cases were recorded.
However, the Department of Agriculture has changed its reporting system and does not release details of the cases as they emerge to the media, opting instead for a monthly report which reduces media coverage. Up to the end of June 37 cases had been reported officially. The industry is hoping the annual figure will be less than last year's total of 74.
Despite these problems, beef sales have been buoyant, with over 100,000 more cattle slaughtered this year than in the same period last year. Russia has continued to take substantial quantities of beef, with 40,000 tonnes already sold. The Egyptians, too, although they are not taking live cattle, have purchased 17,000 tonnes of beef.
Predictions that Ireland would have to rely heavily on EU intervention have also failed to materialise. Only 34,000 tonnes of Irish beef has gone into EU coldrooms and more than 4,000 tonnes of this has been sold to commercial outlets.