Irish farmers were advised yesterday not to be intimidated by the EU's move towards further reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, with the emphasis on sustainable eco-friendly farming.
Mr John Malone, the secretary-general of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, said it would be important that such farming systems were financially sustainable.
"Do not be intimidated by this because we have a grass based system and many advantages in this area," Mr Malone told the Irish Co-operative Organisations Society conference in Dublin.
He warned beef farmers not to focus exclusively on preparing animals for the EU BSE destruction scheme.
Mr Malone said the scheme, which had been identified as a market support scheme rather than a consumer protection one, had the capacity to kill and destroy 3,000 animals of over 30 months old each day for the next six months.
"Unfortunately, there are very few other options available to farmers because of the collapse of the beef markets on the Continent and in third countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia," he said. His Department had estimated there were 300,000 surplus animals which might have to be destroyed.
"However, that will depend entirely on the recovery of the commercial beef markets abroad, and that figure could be reduced," he said.
Already, he said, 16,000 animals had been destroyed and, along with the animals under 30 months slaughtered for beef, there had been 22,500 BSE tests on cattle over 30 months, and all these had been clear.
Mr Malone told delegates the State was fortunate it could afford the SFD scheme. Destroying each animal cost £400.
He said that because this State had a low sporadic incidence of BSE, it would be difficult to target older cows or herds to put into the destruction scheme. However, the Department would look at increasing the prices paid for cows in the destruction scheme.
He said a major drive to win back lost beef markets was being mounted, and Teagasc was preparing beef production systems which would allow farmers prepare animals for slaughter at under 30 months old.
Eight Irish meat plants yesterday slaughtered 2,867 animals for destruction.
Members of the Irish Cattletraders' and Stockowners' Association ended an eight-day sit-in protest in the lobby of the Department of Agriculture yesterday following a meeting with the Minister, Mr Walsh.