BUTCHERS in Fermanagh are “taking a big hit” and are left fearing for their futures as the price of beef cattle has risen significantly and a major shortage of meat is reported in the county.
Beef prices in the North have been at a record high for the past few weeks to the delight of local farmers, but the high demand has been having an adverse impact on butchers in the county.
“We’re taking a big hit. It’s a lot harder for us,” local butcher, Gary Irvine, told the ‘Herald.
“We’re hoping to ride it out, but the prices have to go up. Unfortunately it’s the people that are going to suffer with stuff more expensive over the counter. There’s a big knock-on effect.”
It has widely been reported that the farming industry has been facing major pressure in the wake of Brexit and the cost-of-living crisis, with some long-term farmers forced to consider their futures.
A recent decline in calves registrations and a reported fewer prime cattle available for slaughter has increased demand, with farmers receiving significant money for their animals at the mart.
With many animals almost £600 more expensive than they were compared to last year, the Fermanagh butcher has said “never seen” the price rises increase like they have in recent weeks.
“In the amount of years that I’ve been butchering, I’ve never seen it go up by so much in such a short space of time. It’s been rising 50p a kilo for the last three or four weeks,” said Mr Irvine.
“We rare our own cattle but we haven’t got enough on the farm to supply the shop all year round. When we look back to last year, an animal that was costing £1,400 is now hitting £2,000.”
Fermanagh and Omagh District Councillor, Sheamus Greene, runs his own farm. While he recognises that production costs have gone “through the roof”, he welcomes the rise in price.
“It’s been a welcome change from all the recent negativity about farming,” explained Mr Greene.
“If things had kept going the way there was, there was no chance of making a living. Many farmers were working at a loss and even with the prices now, farmers are still struggling.”
The agricultural industry in Fermanagh was hit significantly with the cost-of-living crisis. The Brookeborough man has noticed that a number of small farmers are facing difficult decisions.
“So many people have been forced out of farming. There’s a third less beef cattle being kept on the island of Ireland than there was in previous years,” said Mr Greene.
“The production costs of producing beef has skyrocketed with the price of fertiliser and diesel. If you’re making round bales, it’s costing almost £22, when it was around £10 not long ago.
“All of those factors has put the production costs through the roof and it has put a lot of farmers out of business and if they haven’t, they’ve cut back on the number of cattle that they’re keeping.”