January 26, 2007

Ireland's Dairygold warned over imports

Irish pig producers have called on food cooperative Dairygold to use locally sourced meat.

According to the producers, Dairygold assured the suppliers to purchase the same quantities of Irish pig meat when it closed its Mitchelstown pig slaughterhouse.

Irish Farmers' Association Pigs Committee chairman Michael Maguire made the plea because of what he said was a noticeable increase over recent months in Dairygold's Galtee products in shops that do not have the Bord Bia Quality Assured logo.

With pig prices under pressure, pig producers now want the firm to support farmers and deliver on the promises made at the time of the Mitchelstown closure.