Beef farmers could be losing up to €168 per head due to the lack of accuracy on mechanical beef grading machines in meat plants across the country.

That’s according to local Deputy Denis Naughten, on foot of figures he obtained on the accuracy of these beef grading machines.

The figures show that Department inspectors have found machines to be out by a factor of at least 10% on 119 occasions over the last 18 months

Deputy Naughten pointed out that the legal tolerance limit set for beef grading machines currently in use in meat plants is a mere 60% accuracy.

Even though the Department inspectors found them to be out by at least 10% on 119 occasions, on only eight occasions was mechanical grading suspended because the machines had to be getting the grades wrong on four out of every ten cattle.

“The mechanical grading machines in use in beef plants across the country today were first trialled and tested 20 years ago by Teagasc,” said the Roscommon/Galway TD.

“At that time google was just invented and people needed an encyclopaedia if we wanted to look something up.

“Technology has changed a lot in 20 years and we now need new hi-tech beef grading machines and new modern rules to operate them so they can accurately reflect the actual grade of the animal. These new rules then need to be properly enforced by Departmental officials to ensure that farmers will not be exploited,” he added.

See full story in this week’s Farming Tribune. The Connacht Tribune is on sale now, or you can get our digital edition here.

The 50th anniversary of a game-changing moment for the dairy industry in the county – which saw the development of co-operative milk processing facilities in Kilconnell – was marked with a gathering of founding members and others associated with the plant and the former Midwest Farmers Co-op last week.

Held in Kilconnell Hall, Friday night’s event was one of deep nostalgia as the establishment of the plant in Kilconnell was recalled but also one with a strong sense of positivity for the future as the plant’s as one of Ireland’s finest was equally celebrated.

The journey commenced over 50 years ago with the decision to develop a central creamery in Kilconnell and three separating stations in Athenry, Athlone and Clonberne, which were to be operated by Kilinaleck Co-op.

The Co Cavan co-op had won the tender to develop the facilities but such was the transformative effect it would have on dairying in East Galway that supply would quickly outgrow the Cavan co-op’s capacity and lead ultimately to the establishment of Midwest Farmers Co-op.

According to Brendan Lynskey, a retired dairy farmer synonymous with Kilconnell and Midwest Farmers Co-Op, the existence of a state-of-the-art facility today at the East Galway plant is testament to the foresight and hard work 50 years ago and more of those involved in the then fledgling dairying community.

“As one farmer put it to me all those years ago, not long after the co-op was up and running, we would never be short of a pound after this. It was a different time. A big dairy herd back then was 30 cows and some people were happy to milk five or six cows and leave the can out on the side of the road for collection.

“The start at Kilconnell was a great time and I worked there for a number of years.  There was an awful lot of farmer involvement to get that up and running and the key moment probably was a meeting in Athenry at which it was decided that Kilconell would be the central location and that we would have three separation stations.

“The projected cost of the creamery at the time was €120,000 for Kilconnell and €60,000 to install the additional equipment. That might not do much today but it was an awful lot of money back then and we were up and running in ’66.  The building of it was mostly manual work. I don’t think there was any ready-mix at the time, it was all done manually. There was very heavy concrete work because there was an old time churn with a big base so it needed a lot of concrete,” he recalled.

But it wasn’t long, he continued, before Kilinaleck Co-op would no longer have the capacity to handle growth at Kilconnell.

For more of the history and background of the co-op see this week’s Tribune here

A Galway based fast food chain is set to boost beef returns in this country with the announcement of its first Irish 100% fresh meat burger.

It’s a tasty and tempting announcement from the Managing Director of Supermac’s who will now be serving fully meaty five ounce beef burger to his customers.

The fast food company with outlets all over the country now pumps in more than €20 million per annum to the beef industry which comes as a major boost to the industry.

The announcement took place at the annual Tullamore Show when Pat McDonagh a financial commitment to Irish farmers as a direct result of his 100% fresh beef burger.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney and IFA President Eddie Downey were also present to hear the announcement from the fast food king.

Those present heard that Supermac’s spend with Irish farmers spanned across a wide range of producers including beef, chicken, dairy and vegetables.

The company is a member of both the IFA and the Irish Grassland Association and regularly features at key agricultural shows including the National Ploughing Championships, the Tullamore Show and Teagasc open days.

Mr. McDonagh said that he was excited by the introduction of the fully Irish beef burger.

“We are using fresh premium cuts of Irish beef, which are never frozen and the burger is cooked to order every time.

“We have overcome all potential challenges which serving a fresh beef burger in prime condition to customers could possibly present.

“The feedback on the product which has been piloted in a number of restaurants ahead of its nationwide roll out over the past few weeks has been extremely positive”, he said.

The restaurant chain was established in Ballinasloe back in 1978 and has since gone on to be a huge success in towns and cities right across the country.

It is now estimated that Supermac’s now serves around 320,000 customers on a weekly basis.

Minister Coveney said that the announcement by Supermac’s was a very welcome development for Irish farmers and the beef industry as a whole.