Meat Boss takes on new position in beverage sector

Meat Industry Ireland boss Cormac Healy is leaving the organization to take up a role as director of Drinks Ireland.

After returning to MII in 2015, Healy has played a central role in representing the Irish meat processing industry at home and abroad in recent years.

It came to public attention in 2019 when farmers protested poor beef prices in front of meat factories for several weeks.

Healy was a staunch defender of the industry during this period and as a result was heavily criticized by protesting farmers.

Originally from South Tipperary where he grew up on a cattle and lamb farm, Healy has an Agricultural Sciences degree from UCD and has worked in the meat industry since 1993.

In a recent interview with the Irish IndependentHealy said he sees part of his job as “standing up for farmers.”

“When I started, our meat exports were a frozen product with support from Brussels, and today we have transformed into a fresh chilled sector, exporting across Europe and the world,” he said.

Healy exits the industry as beef prices hit record levels after further increases this week on strong demand.

Base prices for steers and heifers are now between €5.10 and €5.20/kg, with some factory agents reporting that base prices of up to €5.30/kg are now offered for larger shipments.

Trade in cullet cows is particularly strong, with R-class cows paying €5.00/kg, Continental O grades up to €4.90/kg, while O and flat-rate prices range from €4.60-4.75 /kg class P Friesians would be reported.

The heavy trade is also driving staggering prices for heavy cattle in markets across the country. The average Continental steer is said to sell between €2.80 and €3.00/kg, almost regardless of weight, with the top stocks freely earning between €3.20 and €3.30/kg.

Most market managers die Independent Farming spoke to this week too

agreed that both factories and feedlots currently account for a far higher proportion of purchases than would normally be the case.

Sixmilebridge Mart’s Joe Clune summed up the current beef trade when he said it costs “€3/kg ring for heavy steers, heifers and cull cows. Beef is just that, beef. No differentiation based on age or grades”.