Dynamism in a Stagnating Sector: The Birth of Ireland's Beef Industry 1950–60

Abstract

Between 1949 and 1960 Irish carcass beef exports increased eight-fold, expanding from 6,400 tons to over 50,000 tons. This unprecedented growth marked a fundamental shift in the structure of the Irish livestock industry, as the country moved from an almost exclusive dependence on the live cattle exports in 1949 to a situation where forty per cent of animals were shipped as beef eleven years later. This article examines why Ireland embraced beef processing, who were the main actors in the emerging industry, and where were the primary markets. Moreover, the article details how beef processors restructured their operations and reorientated their exports to Britain and the US following a major downturn in demand between 1954 and 1956. It also assesses the implications of the industry's success for the farm sector and for the historiography of Irish agriculture in the 1950s.