Boost for Scottish beef as Europe exports rise

Scotbeef exported 100% more beef to Europe this year than in 2021 – and demand is continuing to grow in Italy, France, Holland, the Benelux countries and Germany.

That was the positive message Scotbeef’s chief executive, Robbie Galloway, delivered to farmers at the Scottish National Fat Stock Club’s annual carcass competition at the Bridge of Allan abattoir.

Mr Galloway said the exchange rate and cattle prices in Europe being close to those in the UK had helped boost demand.

“Holland has been added as a new destination this year and there is potential for more growth,” he added. “Two of the Italian chains now see Scotch Beef as their top tier.”

A delegation from Italy presented the prize for the carcass that best met their requirements to Aberdeenshire farmers, Ross Brothers from Strichen.

Gavin Ross said his champion was a U+3 Limousin cross heifer with a liveweight of 545kg, deadweight of 335kg and killing-out percentage of 61.5%.

“It’s a huge honour to win this because as much as the home market is important, so are exports, and breeders need to produce what each market wants,” said Mr Ross.

Meanwhile, the overall champion beef carcass came from the Hunter family at Luckenburn Farm, Slamannan. Their champion, a home-bred Limousin cross Charolais cross heifer was a U+4L, weighing 585kg liveweight and 373kg deadweight with a killing-out percentage of 63.9%.

It was a successful day for John Stanger who travelled from Orkney to pick up the overall reserve championship for a homebred Charolais cross heifer as well as a first prize for a Limousin steer, and a second prize for an Aberdeen-angus heifer.

The winners: Champion beef carcass, best bred – James Hunter, Luckenburn Farm, Slamannan; reserve champion – J and R Stanger, South Seatter, Yesnaby, Orkney; best Aberdeen-angus – Andrew Young, Girvan Mains, Ayrshire; best pure-bred Aberdeen-angus – M&HD Currie, Skewbridge, Mouswald, Dumfries; best Italian carcass – Ross Brothers, Wardhead Farm, Strichen; Primestock Carrick shield – Andrew Purdon and Partners, Carluke; reserve Carrick shield – G Mcfadzean Jnr, Woodhead of Mailer, Perth; YLP senior champion – Christie Findlay, Mains of Airleywight, Bankfoot; YLP junior champion – Rowan Donaldson, Redland, Stromness, Orkney.

Champion lamb carcass – R Hall & Son, Inglewood Edge, Carlisle; Reserve champion – R Templeton and Co, Carslae Farm, Wigtown; champion Blackface – Shawhead Farm, Douglas, Lanark; reserve Blackface – A Smellie, Posso, Manor, Peebles; champion native –DS and RC Taylor, Easter Ochtermuthill, Crieff; champion Cheviot – JW Paul and Sons, Ballingall Mill Farm, Leslie, Glenrothes; reserve Cheviot – Malcolm M Stewart, Brotherstone Farm, Melrose; YLP senior champion – David Cunningham, Walkerdyke Farm, Strathaven; YLP junior champion – Cameron Baillie, Carstairs Farm, Lanark.

Alex Paul from Ballingall Mill Farm, Leslie, won the champion Cheviot carcass, and right, Lindsay and Gavin Ross from Strichen picked up the prize for the best Italian market carcass.

PRIME EXAMPLE: Judges Mike and Louise Forsyth with farmer Derek Hunter. Picture by Steve Brown.