QMS denies plans to change Scottish assurance standards

FARMING QUALITY Meat Scotland (QMS) has quashed a rumour circulating among Scottish livestock keepers that it was set to change its farm assurance standards in line with the Red Tractor scheme south of the Border.

On June 1 Red Tractor farm assurance will make a huge change to its standards that will prevent its assured farmers from using a significant number of antibiotics without laboratory diagnostic work to justify them.

A spokesman for QMS said it had no plans to introduce such changes, but that it already includes the responsible and appropriate use of antibiotics in conjunction with a vet, in its quality assurance standards.

She added: “Use of antibiotics will be one of the areas covered in our next review of the standards.”

Penny Middleton,

NFU Scotland animal health and welfare policy manager, said: “It is

NFUS advice that critically important antibiotics should only be used as a last resort, but must still be available to promote high animal welfare.

“We raised some concerns with Red

Tractor over the new standards, which require sensitivity testing to be carried out before using critically important antibiotics.

“While it is important that they are only used as a last resort we had concerns that delays in treatment, awaiting test results, could have a detrimental impact on the welfare of animals.

“We have had assurances from Red Tractor that if a vet believes a certain crucially important antibiotic is the correct course of treatment they will be able to commence treatment, running the lab test concurrently.”

C&D Auction Marts Ltd sold eight prime heifers in Dumfries on Wednesday to a top of

230p per kg and an average of 210p, while seven prime bullocks peaked at 214p and levelled at 207p.

In the rough ring 30 beef cows sold to 159p and averaged 128p, while 43 dairy cows peaked at 145p and levelled at 121.2p.

The firm also sold 304 prime hoggs to a top of £146 per head and

270p per kg to average 243.2p (no change on the week), while 59 prime lambs peaked at £146.50 and 327p to level at

311.2p (+4.8p).

Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 889 prime hoggs in Newton Stewart on Wednesday to a top of £147 and 295.7p to average 233.1p (-17.2p), while 65 prime lambs peaked at £153 and 302.2p to level at 276.4p (-19.3p).

There were also 70 heavy cast ewes that sold to £125 for Blueface Leicesters and averaged £85.47, while 66 light/ export-type ewes peaked at £70 for Blackfaces and levelled at £51.60.