Immediate production cost reduction is more important to beef farmers than backing moves to re-introduce suckler cow support through tricky manipulation of the Article 68 conditions laid out in last month's the European Commission's Health Check proposals.
So says the National Beef Association which points out that recent surges in fuel, feed and fertiliser prices have added the equivalent of 55p per dwkg, or £180 a head, to the cost of breeding and feeding a 330 kilo suckler bred steer.
While at the same time even enthusiasts of the installation of disguised headage payments for suckler cows are saying they need to be at least £100 a head to have any impact at all on national herd numbers – while conceding that even if complex Article 68 payment conditions can be squared with the introduction of re-coupled support for cows the actual figure is likely to be significantly lower.
"The NBA is worried that hopeful talk of a new subsidy prop for cows will take breeders' eyes off the ball at a time when their business survival is most easily secured by a firm approach to cost reduction and an equally strong commitment to selling their cattle for much more money than they are receiving at present," explained Association chairman, Duff Burrell.
According to the NBA those breeders that have not already done so should be moving their herds to two year calving, breeding a calf a year off each cow, and selling finished spring calved bullocks off grass before they are 18-19 month old.
And cow management should include encouraging as much direct application of manure and urea as possible, possibly by outwintering spring calving herds on light land stubbles, careful soil analysis before any fertiliser application, and more clover being used as a substitute for bagged nitrogen.
"In addition to this more cost can be saved, than could ever be delivered by a creative suckler cow support scheme, by expelling both BVD and Johnes' Disease from a herd that could then be closed to protect itself from further expense," said Mr Burrell.
"While feeders, who should make it clear that the recent 50p per dwkg rise in slaughter cattle prices has not been enough to cover their extra expenditure, should be pressing for at least 5p-6p per dwkg more than their purchaser's first offer next time they have finished cattle to sell."
"On top of this beef farmers should remember that no direct payment has ever been offered without it involving management inconvenience and administrative cost."
"This week in the Republic of Ireland breeders who claimed £64 a head (80 euros) under its government's imaginative Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme face short notice inspections in which all cattle have to be penned, proof offered that all calves were de-horned before they were three weeks old, and that disbudding in the last week was performed with a local anaesthetic," Mr Burrell added.