Scotbeef chief demands clarity

The need for greater clarity in trading conditions in a post- Brexit world has been stressed by the managing director of Scotland’s largest red meat processing company.

Robbie Galloway, whose family firm of S cot beef has been one of the leading lights in the export of Scotch Beef and Lamb for decades, made the plea at a Premier Meat exhibition at the company headquarters at Bridge of Allan.

After confirming there had been no progress in the past 12 months when he made a similar call, Galloway said t he whole meat supply chain including processors and retailers now needed to work together to get clarity on the dynamics of the market in a post EU world.

“Farming is a long- term business and calves due to be born next spring will be going into a totally different market from the present one,” he told more than 400 farmers attending the event sponsored by Marks & Spencer.

Steven McLean head of agriculture at M& S, praised the quality of the cattle and sheep entered for the competition where the overall championship was taken by a 372 kilo Aberdeen Angus cross steer entered by S Ewart & sons, Easter Dounie, Ballintium. The steer was bred by P Cooper, Govals, Forfar. It graded U+ 3L and killed out at 60.1 per cent.

The top lamb car case came from DS and RC Taylor, Easter Ochtermuthill, Crieff. It was a 22 kilo Beltex classified E2.

The farmer of the year award went to Ems lie Partners, Little Barr as, Laurence kirk. They are major suppliers to Scotbeef consigning around about 2,000 Aberdeen Angus cattle annually.