Sir, - Is everybody asleep, on holidays or does their vision not stretch beyond 24 hours? We must ask the question: will the slaughtering of newly born calves and young weanling calves (8-9 months old) increase consumer confidence in beef? If the answer is no, then the policy is definitely flawed.
The absence of opposition to the EU policy of slaughtering these calves is unprecedented. The purpose of the slaughtering policy is to rebalance supply, because of overproduction caused by the BSE scare. No industry can survive without raw material, and the beef industry is no different.
The absence of opposition from the trade unions is frightening, considering how they are against live exports which, they say, deprive the processing industry of raw material and therefore of jobs for their members. On the other hand, why are the live exporters so quiet while their raw material is being depleted? Why are the vets not strongly opposing this policy, which deprives them of many opportunities for earnings? Why is the animal rights lobby, which can be so vociferous when necessary, so quiet on this occasion? Why are the meat processors not up in arms against a policy which deprives them of raw material?
Where are all the economists, agricultural and otherwise, whose skill is in analysing the damage which various policy decisions can have on our own economy? Why are our Minister for Agriculture and the taoiseach, and politicians of all persuasion, so accepting of this slaughtering policy while ignoring its ill effects on our economy?
Finally, why are the main farming organisations not strongly opposing this policy which deprives producers of raw material and deprives them of £50 million annually in direct premia payments? This lack of opposition is nothing short of extraordinary, considering Ireland's cattle herd has devalued by £1 billion as a result of the BSE crisis. It is time somebody shouted "stop".
The sad irony of this situation is that having slaughtered all these calves, the cause of the BSE scare continues to be ignored. Everybody accepts that we are now in an over production phase. To solve this, why not look at the cause of the problem? Is it caused by calves and weanlings? No. Is it caused by culled cows? Yes.
It is the policy of ICSA, the specialist association representing cattle, sheep and drystock farmers, to oppose this slaughter. ICSA policy calls for all culled cows to be taken out of the food chain instead, so that we can begin the difficult task of rebuilding confidence, while at the same time solving the problem of overproduction. - Yours, etc.,
National secretary,
Irish Cattle Traders' and Stockowners' Association, Ballard, Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath.