Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Regarding bull beef and Teagasc, there is a market for bull beef, but it is for young animals that are slaughtered at 15, 16 or 17 months. They are younger, smaller and lighter animals. Our problem is that many farmers have animals that are 23, 24, 27 or 28 months old. They are large animals and do not meet the bull beef specs sought by the supermarkets. I do not blame those farmers for being frustrated. In their minds, they have a valuable animal for which the market is not willing to pay much money.

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