Fall in prices sparks row between cattle producers and processors

With an average fall of between £150 and £200 a head in the price of finished cattle leaving farmers with huge losses, a row erupted this week between producers and processors as to the reasons behind the poor prices.

The Scottish Beef Association (SBA) pointed the finger at the lack of competition between processors and the lack of promotion within the retail sector for the Scotch brand as the main causes of the continued drop in finished beef price.

While accepting Brexit had exacerbated the situation SBA Chairman Neil Mccorckindale asked: “Retail price has been steady, exports are up, and the UK only supplies 80 per cent of its own consumption,so how can farmers be getting such poor prices?”

However the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers (SAMW) said the reproach was “unhelpful”, stating that both completion and promotion were vigorous and healthy adding that while retail prices had remained steady, wholesale prices had not. Returns from the products such as hides and offal had also fallen.

With a further emergency beef meeting due to take place on Monday, NFU Scotland attempted to keep a lid on the situation by releasing a six point plan to stop the sector being starved of adequate returns which included:

Investment in producer organisations to strengthen producers’ bargaining power

Clear origin labelling on processed beef products and in restaurants;

Additional direct support for active beef producers until new post-b rex it policies were introduced

Increased investment by Government to develop new markets for Scotch Beef

A Scottish-first policy for public procurement

Increased recognition of the positive environmental credentials of Scottish beef production.