€1,350/cow payment to cut suckler numbers

If I had to pay the Dept 50 per ewe to reduce them I'd consider it, if they paid me, oh blessed Jesus what a thought.

It was not, you would definitely see 300k cows slaughtered probably a lot of the least efficient lads. But a good few lads on good ground would exit as well

Again any good farm organisation would negotiate a staggered exit. Let farmers have 1-2 years of beep and exit......allow farmers totally existing to destock over 3years with a year or two before they start if they want.

One of the greatest bits of negotiations I ever saw was the unions who negotiated the ESOP ( employee share option scheme) when back in the late 90's privatisation was flavour of the month. The unions involved negotiated a deal that if there state bodies were sold the workers would not walk away empty handed. This was against the general union narrative.

The ICC &ACC were already sold but staff in Trustee savings bank and Telecom Eireann did nicely out of it. Are Lingus workers got a few bob as well along with a few others

There is nobody pumping dairy bred stock with meal to finish in early summer not only that most of the lads are feeding no ration the second winter. It's only idiots with sucklers do that. If you are even half efficient you will finish a friesian at that weight if you have him from a calf. You really have a strange perception of reality I would even go so far to say you are delusional about the reality of a lot of farming outside suckler or better bred stock.

I have noticed this about people who ever only see the problem not the solution it's not the fittest, strongest or the most environmentally conscious that survives it's those willing to adapt.

West coast farmers always have long winters, however they have range, sucklers actually work on western hill farms especially if you have a larger holding and integrate them into a system with sheep where they are used to to graze down the finnane ( course mountain/ blanket bog grass) and heather's. However they will not be continental type cattle along with organic and the now averaged payments you are on a winner.

It prevent forestry as well.

I agree entirely both of the off spring of that organisation could not see the from the wood from the trees.

It's was the vocal minority that ruled. I remember in one unionised place I worked in if there was anything really contentious that need to be voted on the chairman and secretary used to have a secret ballot. As Tommy said the silent majority always spoke then.

Fully agree with you that 24 month finishing is less environmentally friendly.

Moderate to low stocking rate, finishing off grass at 30 mth with next to no meal fed, is by far the most environmentaly efficient as well as most profitable (or least loss-making!) for the farmer.

The reason they claim 24 month indoor finishing is better, is that the full emissions from the grain grown for the meal that's fed are not counted against our national inventory.

To me (with the exception of Angus heifers etc) the only beneficiary from this push for 24 month finishing is the factory.

You are obessesed with dates and when cattle are finished. You are obessesed with what ration is fed.... mainly because you are obessesed with production.

It's immaterial, as I pointed out in an earlier post you cannot see outside your own system.

Grass and 6-10 weeks ration on a grass based system forget about age whether it 20 months or 40.

It's about profit and that depends on the animal

It's a bit like a Mayo supporter explaining why Leroy Keegan was a great footballer but every time he rattles his biscuit tin and no matter how loud it sound he hears a hollow sound.

There are 76 currently in the 6 counties, to meet target they'll need another 70 by 2030.

Across the rest of the country 200 doesn't sound excessive.

That's pretty much my entire knowledge of the sector.