ICBF Stakeholder Forum Meets to Progress Issues Raised by Farmers

Ahead of the meeting tomorrow of the ICBF stakeholder forum, IFA Livestock Chair Declan Hanrahan said it is a matter for individual breed societies how they run their premier sales and the information breeders make available for their bulls.

He said farmers buying breeding bulls from pedigree breeders are making a significant financial investment in these animals and they should be provided with all available information to help in the selection process.

Declan Hanrahan said the stakeholder forum has substantially addressed the issues of immediate concern that suckler farmers and pedigree breeders raised, particularly on SCEP eligibility and the lower cow weights. Other important issues are progressing.

“At tomorrow’s meeting, IFA will be looking for the forum to assess the most appropriate long-term direction to drive the economic viability of suckler farms considering the fundamental changes that have occurred in the sector and ensuring the indices provide the most appropriate and relevant information to farmers while allowing pedigree breeders supply these requirements,” he said.

Declan Hanrahan said the forum must now intensify its work to agree this long-term strategy and ensure that the indices as a result have the broad support of farmers and pedigree breeders to help drive the economic viability of suckler farmers into the future.