Beef farmers called off their pickets outside a number of meat processing plants yesterday evening.

The boycott, which first began on July 28 amid a dispute over beef prices, continued this week despite an agreement being reached last weekend, which protesters now want reviewed. But yesterday demonstrators called off the protest outside ABP Cahir and a number of other factories.

“We the protesters of ABP Cahir have reached a consensus to formally stand down from our peaceful protest on the basis that a submission on the draft beef sector agreement that was sent to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine be addressed and examined,” they said in a statement.

“We would like to kindly and wholeheartedly thank the members of the public and our own community who have been so supportive and understanding during this high-tensioned period.

“We acknowledge and graciously thank all our fellow farmers who respectfully declined to pass our picket line even though we are all acutely aware of the financial effect it may have had on them.

“Although an end to the dispute has not been reached, we are hopeful that a process has been started to bring about reform.

“We do not know what the future will hold but you can be assured we will not settle for empty promises and have no reservations in again highlighting our plight if necessary.”

Yesterday Meat Industry Ireland said thousands of people have been negatively affected by the blockades.

It said in a statement: “We have now passed the point of severe long-term damage to the sector. Customers have made decisions on supply for the next two-to-four weeks.

“Over the last number of weeks, genuine farmers have missed out on the sale of cattle for processing worth €120m.”

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