Farmers call off meat-factory protest

Farmers called off their protest outside the Kepak Meat factory in Athleague, Co Roscommon, last night after the factory agreed to reverse its decision to cut beef cattle prices.

The protest had been in place since last Tuesday after the factory cut the prices it was paying to farmers for beef cattle.

Farmers are expected to resume supplying cattle to the plant from Monday.

Kepak management agreed to raise the prices to €2.50 per kilo (90 pence per lb) for O grades and €2.62 per kilo (94 pence per lb) for R grades.

A major rally called by the Irish Farmers' Association for Sunday afternoon in Athleague has now been called off.