The Irish Farmers' Association is to review its boycott of meat plants next week against the background of a falling weekly kill and major difficulties looming in the industry.
It had urged beef-producers three weeks ago to withhold cattle from plants unless the plants paid agreed prices. Factories did begin to pay more for animals, but said it was because of increased demand and a natural drop in the availability of cattle over the past fortnight.
While last week's kill was down by only 1,200 animals, the IFA insisted yesterday its action had worked and farmers did withhold their cattle rather than sell them at lower prices.
Figures released yesterday by An Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, showed that to date this year the throughput at Irish export plants, at 340,000 head, is running at 30,000 below corresponding levels this time last year.
Meanwhile, five new cases of BSE have been disclosed this week, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development announced yesterday.
They bring to 111 the number of cases found so far in the national herd since the beginning of the year.