Farmers Must Wean Correctly, Says ICSA

IRELAND - Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA) Suckler Chairman, Dermot Kellher, has said that farmers should continue to enjoy the confidence created in the weanling trade by good prices but also warned that suckler farmers have responsibility to wean their calves correctly or face the consequences.
calendar icon 27 September 2011
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“I’m encouraged by the weanling trade at the minute. It’s very positive and that confidence is based on farmer confidence in the beef trade and confidence from buyers at the rings in marts. I hope that the this confidence continues to be justified as we need farmers in the marts buying or else there is no trade."

“There is, however, a major responsibility with any farmer that is selling weanlings to ensure that the animals are weaned correctly or face the consequences. The price for a good weanling is very strong at the minute with some animals making €400 with the weight but there have been reports that animals aren’t being weaned correctly. This has the potential to be very damaging for the trade as well as resulting in the farmer being reported for not weanling correctly. My advice is, wean your animals correctly."

“Factors are working in the farmer’s favour at present. Weanling prices are strong, the suckler cow welfare scheme is vitally important and there is confidence in the trade. We don’t want the reputation of the trade to be damaged if there are some farmers not weaning their calves correctly. There is no excuse for that to happen with everything going in their favour at the minute," Mr Kelleher concluded

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