Ireland-Beef Industry in big trouble.

IRELAND.

CATTLE TRADE TOUGH.

The beef industry of Ireland is facing difficulties competing on the UK market, since the fall in the value of the pound.

Ireland relies on England to take around 60% of its total beef production, however in 2008 the cattle numbers processed dropped by 110,000 head.

Padraig Walsh, the president of the Irish Farmers Association, said "The agri-food sector has suffered more than most in the current downturn and is now faced with a non viable rate of exchange with sterling. This applies to our beef, dairy, pork and mushroom exports at this rate one billion of our three billion in farm exports is vulnerable".

Some factories in the south of Ireland, are sourcing cattle and sheep from the north and from Scotland, where he prices are more competitive.