‘Meat the market’ workshops on offer

A series of “meat the market” workshops designed to help livestock farmers boost profits by improving their livestock selection and presentation for slaughter will take place over the winter.

The practical events will be held at processing plants around Scotland and will highlight the key factors that need to be considered to ensure that livestock meet the targets required by processors.

The events will focus on either beef or lamb. Participants will get the opportunity to visit processing plants to assess stock before and after slaughter to see how the grading process works.

The key speaker will be George Allan, divisional manager with Meat and Livestock Commercial Services Ltd (MLCSL), which provides independent abattoir authentication and classification services to the British processing industry and currently conducts independent classification of 82% of all cattle, 78% of all sheep and 72% of all pigs slaughtered in the UK.

Mr Allan provides training for livestock producers in the selection of live animals and also to those working in abattoirs who need to develop carcase assessment and classification skills.

He said: “These workshops should prove valuable for farmers and help them improve how they select their livestock for market in the future.”

For information contact Heather McCalman on 07766 330 911 or email info@qmscotland.co.uk