Slaughtering at six meat processors will resume tomorrow morning after 24-hour pickets that began yesterday caused disruption to work at Anglo-Irish Beef Processors (AIBP) plants.
The action was taken by farmers protesting against what the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) describes as persistent price cutting" by meat plants.
The pickets at six plants owned by Mr Larry Goodman - in Nenagh, Cahir, Bandon, Waterford, Rathkeale and Clones ' ended at 4 p.m.
IFA president Mr John Dillon warned more protests can be expected: "This weekend's protest at the AIBP plants was the first stage in a more intensive cattle price campaign to secure viable cattle prices for Irish livestock farmers.
"Cattle farmers are determined to expose the unjustified beef price cuts by the factories cuts of the last 8-10 weeks and secure a reasonable return for their livestock.
The IFA president has accused processors of "manipulating prices" says the benefit of strong export markets and Russia's lifting of a partial ban on Irish beef is being absorbed by the processors.
But the Irish Meat Association, which represents the processors, rejects Mr Dillon's claim that cattle prices have been cut by €95 per head over the past 10 weeks.
The association's chief executive, Mr John Smith, said prices have increased by 2 per cent compared to last year despite increased costs.
"The price paid for cattle in Ireland is a reflection of the returns in the market places at any point in time," he said. "I think it is important to point out, and the Department of Agriculture is in a position to verify, that prices paid to farmers throughout this year are higher than last year," he said.