Irish Farmers have begun a 48 hour protest outside 14 meat factories up and down the country, run by Kepak, ABP and Dawn Meats.

The demonstrations come after talks between the IFA and the meat industry broke down on Friday evening, after they failed to make progress on beef prices.

The IFA says farmers are being paid far less for beef than their UK counterparts, at one euro per kilo lower than the North, or 350 euro per head.

Henry Burns is National Livestock Chairman with the IFA, and a cattle farmer based in Co.Laois.