Sir, - Philip Lynch, Chairman of An Bord Bia, advises farmers (The Irish Times, January 19th) to finish cattle for Euro markets, rather than export stores. This would help the processing industry.
Does Mr Lynch not yet realise that the industry he suggests should prepare cattle for export to European markets is in near collapse. These finishers are presently being offered the lowest prices in Europe for their product. Until Mr Lynch and those who live in ivory towers realise that there is no money to be made in recent times for finishing cattle for any markets, and until they seek to rectify this situation, there is no hope that the cream of our Irish calf crop can be reared to maturity in this country.
Maybe Mr Lynch might advise farmers how to produce a product at less than cost. Can the Chairman of An Bord Bia suggest how returns to Irish beef producers be raised above the present intolerable prices being offered by our processing industry? Farmers have always been the first to respond to positive trends in product pricing.
Could I remind your readers that Irish feeder cattle or stores, when exported to European market, immediately take on a new identity and can then be sold when mature as the product of that country. -Yours, etc., Robert Roe,
Roscrea, Co Tipperary.