Crisis talks for beef industry

Farming leaders have called on all sectors of the beef industry to attend crisis talks on Monday.

As farmers’ frustration builds over below-costof-production prices for cattle, the summit in Inverurie is expected to see representatives from the British Retail Consortium, meat wholesalers, auctioneers, the farmers’ union and other agencies with involvement in the beef business put their heads together to find measures that will help the sector find long-term solutions.

The meeting will take place behind closed doors and will be attended by two onlookers from the Scottish Government.

NFU Scotland An embryo calf from Ian and Wendy Callion’s Lodge herd sold for 7,000gns at a joint production sale of Limousin females at Borderway Mart, Carlisle, yesterday.

The sale included 10 lots from the well-known herd at Bolfornought Farm, Stirling, and 25 maiden heifers from Neil and Stuart Barclay’s Harestone herd in Aberdeenshire.

Topping the day’s trade was Lodge Pearl, a sixmonth-old heifer calf by the Wilodge Vantastic-sired Elite Forever Brill, bred out of Lodge Emerald. A full sister to the 7,500gns Lodge Lavender, she sold alongside her recipient dam to Mark McKinstry of the Ballyaulkin herd, Nutts Corner, Co Antrim.

Brothers Craig and Jack Hendry from Heads of Auchinderran, Keith, went to 4,500gns on the telephone for the first lot through the ring.

This was Lodge Gwyneth, a seven-year-old cow by the French sire Attila, out of Lodge Actress, which has bred previous daughters to 6,800gns and 3,500gns.

“Either costs have gone crazy or there is something very wrong” “Topping the day’s trade was Lodge Pearl”

She sold having been served by the herd’s new French stock bull Mattben, which was purchased in Limoges in October, 2017.

Her four-month-old bull calf Lodge Pierre, is the first to be sold by Mattben. Next best at 3,500gns when sold to M and JI Slater, Rose Cottage, Beckermet, was Lodge Lady, a threeyear-old first calved heifer with her heifer calf, Lodge Orchid.

Served by Mattben, she is by the Rossingol-sired, Lodge Hydro, and bred out of Lodge Diana, while the eight-month-old heifer calf is by Cloughhead Charlie.

The Harestone offering peaked at 4,000gns twice – firstly for Harestone Naomi, an April, 2017-born daughter of the Wilodge Vantastic-sired Drummin Jameson, bought for 9,500 euros after standing junior champ at Roscrea in 2016.

Bred from the Broadmeadows Cannon dam, Harestone Inga, she also heads across the water with Mark McKinstry.

Matching that price was Harestone Nutmeg, a May, 2017-born heifer by Killcastle Eric, and out of Harestone Ironmaiden. She heads to Caithness with Messrs Douglas, 15 Thura Place, Bower, Wick.