Farmers are getting up to 15% less for beef than last year, according to a professor in agri-food economics.
Farmers will continue to picket outside several meat factories today, in a dispute over prices.
A new organisation, called Independent Farmers of Ireland, met in the midlands last night to plan protesters' next course of action.
"It's a very challenging time for beef farming," said Thia Hennessy, the dean of Cork University Business School, adding that beef farmers' incomes have dropped significantly this year.
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"They have been through quite a number of difficult years with the price very depressed at the moment - 10-15% lower than it was last year - crucially below the cost of production."
