FARMERS have reacted furiously to European Commission moves to cut beef production.

The Europe-wide proposals, which would take effect from next January, are seen as a panic response to the outbreaks of BSE on the continent.

They include re-introducing the 90-head limit; including at least 20pc of heifers in the suckler cow premium claim and reducing stocking rates from two livestock units per hectare to 1.8.

Surpluses are mounting as sales of meat have plummeted in member states affected by BSE. Officials estimate the proposals would reduce production of 310,000 male animals and 140,000 suckler cows across Europe.

Last week livestock producers attending a special NFU meeting at Kirkley Hall, Ponteland, were angered when told Europe held Britain responsible for the problem.

Mr Gordon Meek, Northumberland farmer and national livestock committee delegate, said: " Europe is adamant that BSE in Europe is our fault and we will have to take the pain for it."

EU states were also adamant that they would not introduce a calf slaughter scheme or an over-30-month scheme, both measures Britain used to tackle the problem.

Mr Malcolm Corbett, also a Northumberland farmer and NFU national livestock delegate, said it was the injustice which upset him: "They put up the shutters and told us to get on with it when we had BSE and now they are not only including us in these measures but blaming us too."

Until he saw the proposed measures he had been pro-European. "Now I think exactly the opposite," he said. "If we needed any more evidence that we have to stand on our own two feet, this is it."

The unbelievable thing was that the proposals would take several years to work whereas the problem was happening now. "It beggars belief as far as I am concerned," said Mr Corbett. "It just beggars belief."

He and Mr Meek urged all livestock producers to write immediately to their Euro MP and MP. Their numbers and addresses were available from the NFU at York.

"There are meetings like this going on all over the country," said Mr Corbett. "If we all go home and pick up the phone or write to them, we can let them see how strongly we feel. We have got to make the effort, it is our livelihoods at stake."

Mr Meek warned that, unless letters were sent, the government and Euro MPs would think farmers accepted the proposals.

The scheme goes before the Council of Ministers' meeting on Monday and Tuesday and it is widely believed it will be accepted. But the message was still to write to Euro MPs and MPs, spelling out how disastrous the proposals would be.

One farmer said the UK was a major contributor to the EC. "We should just tell them they can keep their agricultural policies and we will stick to our own," he said.

Others said it was vital European farming organisations and unions were told how Britain's BSE controls had worked and had quickly restored public confidence in the UK meat industry.

The meeting could not understand why member states were not adopting those same measures, nor accepting that speedy action was vital.