A "day of action" aimed at forcing meat factories to increase the price they pay for beef has been organised across the State by the Irish Farmers' Association.
Next Tuesday the organisation plans to meet factory managers and outline demands for a price increase based on recent market developments.
The IFA president, Mr Tom Parlon, said last night that cattle prices in Britain had hardened dramatically to 85p a lb in the last two weeks.
In addition, he said, cattle prices across Europe remain buoyant, with 112p a lb in France, 93p per lb in the Netherlands and 136p a lb in Italy.
Mr Parlon added that export refunds being paid to factories were now worth 51p a lb and the exchange rate against the dollar had strengthened and was worth another 1.5p a lb. Despite these benefits, the average price being paid to Irish farmers for their cattle was 75p a lb this week, which was not enough.