The Department of Agriculture is to provide an appeals system for cattle which are manually graded at factories, the Irish Farmers Journal understands.

The news comes as farmers, factories and officials from the Department thrash out the issues in the beef sector at talks in Backweston for a second day.

It is understood that Department of Agriculture personnel will be available in factories for farmers who want to appeal manual grades.

How this will work in practice is yet to be decided. This will only affect a small number of cattle killed, as the majority of plants machine-grade cattle.

Prices

Last week, the Department said it would consider publishing a minimum to maximum range of factory prices, in addition to the current publication of average price per category.

It is understood that the Department has agreed to this and will publish prices for each grade weekly on a national level.

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