Supermarket’s dairy bull calves deal

Morrisons has announced a supply agreement for dairy bull calves with

Arla.

The supermarket chain will accept dairy bull calves from farmers participating in Arla UK 360 – the dairy co-operative’s UK assurance scheme.

Eligible producers will be able to sell bull and beef calves into the Buitelaar Production calf-rearing units – Morrisons’ beef rearing partners – and certain breeds may go on to form part of the Morrisons beef supply chain.

The move supports the Arla 360 UK requirement that no healthy calf be slaughtered before eight weeks of age.

“As we work with Arla farmers making the transition to the Arla UK 360 standards we see the extensive efforts they are making,” said Morrisons agricultural manager Sophie Throup.

“As we own our own abattoirs and end to end meat production, we saw an opportunity to connect the supply chains to support farmers even more.”

Buitelaar Group managing director, Adam Buitelaar, said the company shared Arla’s view that every calf should have a value and purpose, adding: “With 30% of UK beef being imported into the UK, working across the supply chain and across both beef and dairy in this way could prove a big step in making Britain further self-sufficient in beef.”

Arla Foods UK’s agriculture director, Graham Wilkinson, said: “This decision and the support through the supply chain with Buitelaar is the perfect example of how bigger change can be delivered in agriculture if we all work together.”

Arla Foods is a global dairy company and co-operative owned by 10,300 dairy farmers, including 2,300 in the UK.

It produces various brands including Lurpak, Cravendale and Anchor.

Eligible producers will be able to sell bull and beef calves into the calf-rearing units.