Opinions of beef farmers regarding the quota/ permit beef scheme were studied in a stratified country-wide sample of 178 beef farmers. A discriminant and principal component analysis of factors related to the successful application of quotas/ permits was conducted focusing on the following variables: size, regularity in supply of livestock and percentage of gross farm income from non-beef enterprises. The study indicates that the method of restricting supply favours the large farmer who is a regular supplier of beef.