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PLAN CULLING DECISIONS NOW - DON’T PAY LATER

Ref:

Friday 7th March 2008

The latest NI herd figures from APHIS show that at the start of March 2008 there were 35,844 pre- August 1996 cattle recorded in NI herds.

The average monthly OCDS throughput is approximately 1,700 head. If throughput levels for the rest of 2008 remain at this average rate, then there could be up to 19,000 pre-August 1996 cattle still on NI farms at the end of 2008 when OCDS has ended. After 1 January 2009 all pre- August 1996 cattle will have to be disposed of at a cost to the producer, without any compensation payment.

Dr Mike Tempest Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) Technical Director advises, “Producers should consider the implications of the ending of OCDS now and plan their culling decisions accordingly.  It could well be the case that the return on a calf produced from a pre-August 1996 cow in 2009 will exceed the foregone compensation payment for culling the cow in 2008.  Producers should start to make these calculations now.  If

everyone waits until December to cull these pre-August 1996 cattle the system will not be able to cope with the surge in numbers.”

The Older Cattle Disposal Scheme rate for March 2008 increased by £5.11/head to £223.44 for pre August 1996 cattle.  The payment rate increased because the Euro strengthened by two per cent between the end of January and February 2008, which resulted in higher converted prices.

Ends

For media information contact Maria McLaughlin LMC Communications Manager Tel:028 9263 3016 or email mmclaughlin@lmcni.com