Mr. Joe Burke:

The weekly cattle kill has increased by 7% this year compared to last year. In recent weeks, we have been killing an average of 33,000 cattle a week. That represents an increase of 2,000 cattle a week, when compared to the equivalent weeks last year. We have described the market as difficult. It is possible that it would not be in the interests of farmers to see the cattle kill increase even further, as this might put further pressure on the market. I accept that farmers are in a difficult situation. Some of them who have been trying to sell cattle have been told there will be further delays. It is difficult for farmers to be told that animals cannot be sold for another week, as it means they incur additional feed costs, etc. Farmers are being asked to produce and supply cattle in an orderly fashion to meet the requirements of a meat industry that demands a continuous and consistent supply of inspected, good-quality cattle 52 weeks of the year.