Articles

Id	Title	Subtitle	Content	Active	Archived	Category	User	Created	Modified	Actiuni
Id	Title	Subtitle	Content	Active	Archived	Category	User	Created	Modified	Actiuni
6461	QMS: Firm start for new season lamb supported by strong export demand	New season lamb prices have made a firm start to the season as lambs have been slow to reach markets and abattoirs, according to the latest market commentary from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).	<p><span lang="DE">At Scottish marts, according to data from IAAS, prices for new season lambs have been making around 350p/kg lwt in mid-May, up about 10% on the year, and by around 25% on the five-year average. Meanwhile, GB deadweight prices reported by AHDB traded at 727p/kg dwt for R3L grades in the second week of May.  </span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Across GB, data from LAA and IAAS showed that the number of new season lambs traded in the four weeks to May 10 fell by nearly 25% compared to the same period in 2022. At the same time as a slow build in new season supplies, hogg availability has fallen back from its peak at Ramadan and Easter, limiting the total number of prime sheep on the market. While hogg prices have cooled since Easter, they have still been averaging around 5% higher than year-earlier levels at Scottish marts in mid-May.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Iain Macdonald, Market Intelligence Manager at QMS, said</span><span lang="DE">: "It has been an interesting start to 2023 for the lamb trade, with prices subdued through January and February, back at pre-covid levels for the time of year, before a strong uplift through March and the first half of April took market prices back towards the highs of spring 2021, supported by seasonal demand from Ramadan and Easter.  </span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"While data from Kantar pointed to a softening of consumer demand at the beginning of 2023 after a firm Christmas, this changed over the Easter period, with sales volumes exceeding year earlier levels. While lamb remained an expensive protein, on average, it is possible that it was viewed as a seasonal treat, supporting demand at Christmas and Easter. Cool spring weather may also have helped sales over the Easter period, with leg roasts the most popular cut at this time of year".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">As well as a firm period for domestic demand, HMRC figures on UK export sales point to a strong month in March. Volumes reached a ten-year high for the month and surpassed year earlier levels by 30%. While some of this will reflect that Ramadan began in March rather than April this year, and that Easter fell a week earlier, on the first full weekend of April, export volumes still showed an overall rise of 22% year-on-year in the first quarter, signalling a generally firm start to the year.  </span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Iain added</span><span lang="DE">: "Through April and into May, prices paid for GB lamb carcases at Rungis market in Paris have held firm, suggesting that export demand remains robust".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">As well as increased exports removing additional supply from the domestic market in 2023, HMRC figures also show that import levels have been weak. This downward pressure on imports began in the final quarter of 2022, where volumes slumped to a record low for the century, 18% lower than in late-2021 and down more than half on pre-2020 levels. In Q1 2023, although they did lift seasonally compared to late-2022, import volumes still fell by 32.5% year-on-year.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Iain said:</span><span lang="DE"> "This decline matched reports from New Zealand that its export sales to the UK had been sluggish in the run up to Easter, with its processors targeting the EU, US and China ahead of the UK. HMRC figures show volumes arriving from New Zealand contracted by 29% from a year earlier in the January to March period. In addition, imports from Australia nearly halved, and the decline from the Irish Republic was 29%".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">While Defra figures show that total UK sheepmeat production rose by nearly 4% year-on-year in Q1 2023, the combination of higher exports and lower imports more than offset this, reducing total UK market supply by around 9% compared to 2022. Combined with the lift in domestic demand at Easter and Ramadan, this shortfall in supply is likely to have supported market prices.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Iain said:</span><span lang="DE"> "Turning focus back to the outlook for the new season, anecdotal evidence has pointed to the slow arrival of new season lambs south of the border being a reflection of poor ewe condition in autumn 2022 due to the combination of drought in southern England plus reduced supplementary feeding due to high feed costs. However, the Sheep and Goat Inventory for England did highlight a 2.5% lift in the breeding flock in December 2022 from a year earlier, so it is possible that the lamb crop will have ended up at a similar level to last year, even with a slightly reduced lambing rate".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Meanwhile, in Scotland, the slow arrival of new season lambs could reflect the impact of a cool spring on grass growth, with the potential for availability to catch up quickly following some warmer weather in May.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Iain said:</span><span lang="DE"> "However, it is very early to be making an assessment of numbers coming forward at markets in Scotland given the generally later marketing pattern compared to England and Wales. Though, if we look to the December Sheep and Goat Inventory results for Scotland, the female breeding flock did continue to show a slight downwards trend, falling by 0.7% year-on-year.  This suggests that an increased lambing rate would be required to deliver the same number of lambs as in 2022.  </span></p> <p>"With Islamic festivals moving forward in the calendar each year, Eid al-Adha celebrations are set to begin on June 28 this year. Given that June is when seasonal supplies are around their lowest of the year, the slow arrival of lambs this season could result in a very tight market in mid-to-late June".</p>	1		Market	adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro	2023-05-30 00:15:51	2025-08-06 20:23:48	Details Edit Delete
8469	QMS: Harnessing genomics to improve sheep breeding	As the agricultural industry moves towards more sustainable and efficient practices, genomics is playing a crucial role in transforming sheep breeding. It’s not just about high-tech science—it’s about enabling farmers to breed better animals, reduce waste, and ultimately improve their profits. The Scottish red meat sector is already seeing the benefits of integrating genomics into breeding strategies, and the results are clear.	<p style="font-weight: 400;">To further explore the impact of genomics, QMS has launched a new study in partnership with Signet Breeding Services focused on integrating genomic data and CT scanning to improve breeding decisions. This research examines the benefits of using genomic breeding values alongside phenotypic data to refine selection criteria for key traits such as muscle yield, growth rate, and carcass conformation. The study, conducted across several Scottish flocks, highlights how genomics can improve accuracy in genetic predictions and ultimately drive faster genetic gains. It also provides insights into how these technologies are helping farmers make more informed decisions, leading to greater profitability and reduced waste in commercial sheep systems.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Main Findings:</strong></p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Genomic accuracy is higher than using phenotypic data alone.</li> </ul> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Genomic breeding values can be applied even without phenotypic information, though they are most accurate when combined with it.</li> </ul> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>Improved breeding value accuracy can increase profitability and reduce waste in commercial sheep systems.</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;">By increasing the accuracy of genetic predictions, genomics allows for better breeding decisions. This leads to faster finishing times and improved carcass quality, which ultimately boosts margins for farmers. With the ability to track and enhance genetic potential more accurately, the industry is making great strides toward long-term sustainability.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Several Scottish farmers participated in the study and provided valuable insights into how genomics has transformed their breeding practices. Roy Macfarlane of West Lecropt has been using genomic data since 2012, when he began sending Hampshire Down lambs to the CT scanner sponsored by QMS. “C.T. Scanning massively increases our accuracy values on our Tup lambs, giving us confidence in our selection of rams. We aim to sell rams that produce fast finishing lambs with excellent grades, and we’ve had great feedback from producers that we are doing just that,” Roy shared. His focus on improving muscle yield and carcass shape, particularly in the hind quarter of his rams, has helped drive the success of his breeding programme.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Matt Drummond, who manages a Hampshire Down flock, has also seen significant benefits from using genomic data. Since the flock’s formation in 2018, the genetic merit has increased by about 4kg at scanning time, with an improvement in speed of finishing by about one week. “Genomics significantly increases the accuracy of performance data, allowing us to confidently select sheep within our pedigree flock to produce rams for our commercial mule flock. We aim to produce efficient, profitable prime lambs to the specific specifications needed to suit our farm and our dead weight buyer,” Matt explained. This focus on improving growth and carcass traits has been key in improving the farm’s efficiency and profitability. </p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">For Scotch Lamb producers, embracing genomics means staying at the forefront of responsible, efficient, and high-performing livestock production. As the sector continues to innovate, these technologies will help ensure that sheep farming remains profitable and sustainable for years to come.</p>	1		Technology	adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro	2025-05-16 00:05:11	2025-08-06 18:43:35	Details Edit Delete
7306	QMS: How Monitor Farmers stay strong in challenging times	As last weeks snow on the hills and mountains melts, farmers across Scotland once again are digging deep, physically and mentally, to keep their heads above water. We catch up with Quality Meat Scotland’s Monitor Farmers and its programme manager to find out what they do stay strong at this testing time of year.	<p>"Today is a yellow weather warning with snow falling in Perthshire,” says Beth Alexander, QMS Monitor Farm Programme Manager who is calving on the family farm. “Our system is built around calving outside on stubble fields and getting cows onto grass as they calve but we are holding as many calves inside as we can with limited space left. The little grass growth we had has completely stalled with soil temperatures dropping back below 5⁰ and all seed is still sat in the shed. Hopefully some kinder weather will arrive for the lambs who will be appearing any day now".</p> <p>"It’s comforting to think we’re not alone - this wet Spring has not been regional but spread across Scotland and the UK".</p> <p>"My top tip is a good hot meal – homemade lasagne made with Scotch Beef mince packed full of veggies, easy to reheat on a miserable day like today when time is precious. Not only does it keep you well fuelled but also is a great peace offering when patience is wearing thin between tired coworkers in the lambing shed!"</p> <p>Duncan Morrison, a monitor farmer from Aberdeenshire, also finds solace in being 'in it together'. He is planning on adapting calving dates next year, to alleviate pressure.</p> <p>"Pushing calving back a week would mean we will be closer to Spring and grass growth,” he says. “Our due date is 7th April this year, but we have had a load of short gestation calves already and it’s been hellish weather for calving them. As an offshoot of that, the cows will spend more time in their winter set up and less time poaching calving fields, hopefully".</p> <p>"I’ve also come to realise that I need more wintering scope, so I’ll be adjusting that for next year.</p> <p>"Well-being wise, just speak to mates and neighbours, everyone is struggling so at least you can compare how rubbish it’s been together!"</p> <p>Stepping away from the farm both for short and long periods of time helps, monitor farmer from Strathspey, Malcolm Smith, increase his resilience.</p> <p>"For our mental well-being, we took a long weekend break on the Isle of Skye. We just chilled out, did some long walks and re-charged the batteries before the start of spring calving", he says. "Taking 10 mins to get a coffee and have a bit of craic with the girls at the bakery, is also a good way of escaping the pressure of work".</p> <p>Checking in with friends and neighbours, and sharing any problems helps Malcolm put things in perspective.</p> <p>"My top tip for coping with this wet weather has been the purchase of bib and brace waterproof trousers. They're excellent for calving too", he notes.</p> <p>Malcom is feeding cows at night with the aim of increasing the number of cows calving through the day. "It means we get more undisturbed sleep, though it doesn't always work!"</p> <p>Shona Duncan, a monitor farmer from Lands of Drumhead, near Drymen, agrees with Malcom on the need for good clothing.</p> <p>"Make sure your waterproofs are up to the job; if you're warm and dry you can cope with anything!"</p> <p>"We use lamb jackets for turning out young lambs and have kept our ewes out on rough ground this year for longer at Blairfad, just so that ground conditions are better for feeding".</p> <p>Shona also advocates stepping away from the day job. "Take time out - even if only for 10 minutes – and spend it doing something enjoyable, like playing with the pups helps. Do something different, a change is as good as a rest as they say".</p> <p>For Robert Wilson, a monitor farmer at Cowbog in the Scottish Borders, 'doing different' means mini rugby.</p> <p>"Coaching at Jedburgh Mini rugby, Jed Jags, every Sunday from August through to May, forces me off the farm to be involved with something else - although there are a lot of farm kids involved which invariably leads to conversation about the weather!"</p> <p>Jed Jags Minis celebrated their 50th Anniversary this year so along with coaching Robert was part of the organising team for a fund-raising dinner. Together they raised over £30k.</p> <p>"Speaking at the dinner was fellow farmer and Hereford breeder Nigel Owens and it was great to welcome him out on farm the next morning".</p> <p>On the farm Robert says changes to our use of elements of the AECS scheme has paid off this year with wild bird covers and grass margins being used from 1st March to 1st April to give some extra grazing.</p> <p>"We planned this in our application so it was great to see it came to fruition and work effectively. With Dodds of Haddington, we are considering more carefully what we can sow in our wild bird covers this year to benefit biodiversity and still be productive come March".</p> <p>Like the others, Robert recommends ensuring you stay warm and dry. “At what seemed like great cost I bought some Betacraft leggings and coat. Always sceptical, I wondered how it would handle the winter moving fences every day and the relentless wet. I've never been wet or cold apart from hands and face this winter. It's well worth the expense.”</p> <p><strong>QMS Monitor Farm’s top tips for well-being</strong></p> <ol> <li>Invest in good waterproof clothing</li> <li>Ensure hearty nutritious meals are at hand</li> <li>Talk to family, friends, neighbours</li> <li>Do something different for a short while</li> <li>Consider what changes to the farm could make life a little easier</li> </ol> <p>RSABI offers free practical, financial, and emotional support including counselling services, delivered quickly after receiving the initial enquiry. Its free confidential support service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, by calling 0808 1234 555, calls won’t show up on phone bills, or through a confidential webchat service, available on RSABI’s website.</p>	1		Industry	adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro	2024-04-17 00:10:03	2025-08-06 18:09:08	Details Edit Delete
6896	QMS: Improved productivity helping to counteract livestock declines	As the countdown to Christmas begins in earnest, there is firm demand for the available supply levels of beef, lamb and pork products in Scotland.	<p>Iain Macdonald, Market Intelligence Manager at Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), explains that, in early November, cattle, sheep, and pig prices were 8-9% higher than during the same period of 2022, with cattle and sheep prices showing a 20-25% lead on their five-year average, and pig prices up by 35-40%.</p> <p>Iain said:"We have now seen a slight festive price uplift for prime cattle, with R4L steers reaching 500.5p/kg dwt in Scotland in the week ending November 11 after seven weeks at 499p/kg. Meanwhile, during the first week of November, Scotland’s lamb auction market prices reached a 16-week high of 264p/kg lwt, with further increases in the second week of the month suggesting that a seasonal rebalancing is underway. By contrast, the seasonal downturn in prime pig prices has continued, with the GB SPP slipping to 217.2p/kg dwt, compared with a summer peak of 225.6p/kg".</p> <p>Iain explained: "Kantar retail sales data provides insight into how the seasonal demand pattern can support farmgate prices. In the four-week period ending after Christmas in recent years, there has generally been a significant increase in the value and volume of sales. Over the past five years, beef sales have been 10-15% above their annual average, with value showing a stronger increase than volume. Seasonality also bolsters lamb sales to around 45% above their annual average. Pork, however, generally sees the opposite trend, though this excludes gammon, pork, and sausages, which are a festive staple for many households".</p> <p>Looking ahead, there are signs that the beef herd is stabilising, with a reduction in cull cow slaughter numbers at Scottish abattoirs during summer and autumn 2023. This follows a reduction in beef cow numbers of 3.5% year-on-year, according to Scotland’s June Agricultural Census, with total cow numbers now standing at 394,700 head, 14,500 fewer than in June 2022. England’s census June results were similar, with beef cow numbers down 3.6% year-on-year. Though if you compare the numbers with 2018, England’s beef herd was down by 11.9%, compared to a 7% fall in Scotland.</p> <p>Iain added: "Longer term, we could see an impact on beef availability. ScotEID calf registrations show a significant impact from herd contraction in the first nine months of 2023, with a decline of 2.7% on 2022. The June census indicates growth in the dairy herd, but dairy-sired registrations have continued to trend sharply lower this year, while beef-sired registrations have fallen by 2.3% in the first nine months. This is likely to have significant impact on the market in Q4 2024 as the previous year’s spring calf crop accounts for around half of slaughtering in the final quarter of the year, before its peak effect happens at the start of 2025. Before we get to this point, a stable 2022 calf crop combined with a slight reduction in store cattle crossing the border could provide some support to supply in early 2024".</p> <p>Scottish sheep numbers must be compared against the previous census in June 2021, and the June 2023 results showed a decline of 2.2% in the ewe flock over the past two years, down to at 2.51 million head. A steeper reduction is clear in lamb numbers, down 151,000 head or 4.5% on 2021, to 3.2 million head. This reflected a fall to 127.5 lambs per 100 ewes in 2023, down from 130.6 per 100 in 2020 and 2021. Nevertheless, productivity appears to be trending upwards over time and remains higher than in England, where the national lambing percentage dropped from 127.4 lambs per 100 ewes in 2021 and 2022, to 121.6 lambs per 100 ewes in 2023. Reduced lambing rates in Scotland and England, coupled with relatively firm finished auction market volumes this autumn, suggests that we could have a reduced carryover of hoggs into 2024. With domestic production set to remain tight, it may help to offset the potential effect of increased sheep meat imports from Australia and New Zealand on the market in the run up to Easter, especially if lamb exports to the EU continue to perform as well as they have this year.</p> <p>Iain said of the pig herd: "Although census results show a five percent reduction in Scottish sow numbers compared to 2021, gilt numbers have surged, suggesting that farms are now restocking after the challenges of 2021 and 2022, and fattening pig numbers were up marginally from 2021. The results also point to an improvement in productivity, with 9.7 fattening pigs per sow being reported, up from 9.2 in 2021. England’s recovery appears to be slower, with the June census showing that fattening pigs were still down by 13% year-on-year, and by 14% on 2021.</p> <p>"While EU pork production is also set to remain fundamentally tight into next year, EU farmgate prices have taken a more significant seasonal downturn than in GB, and import prices are likely to have fallen as a result, placing some competitive pressure on the domestic market".</p>	1		Market	adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro	2023-11-21 00:05:54	2025-08-04 11:54:30	Details Edit Delete
7165	QMS: Lamb market at record high for the time of year	After a firm end to 2023, the lamb market has risen further, reaching record levels for the time of year. This month, hoggs have averaged well above 300p/kg lwt at Scottish marts, and averaged around 315p/kg in the second and third weeks of February.	<p><span lang="DE">"Compared to February 2023, when the lamb market had a weak start to the year, prices have been running 35-40% higher at Scottish marts, with the increase on the five-year average closer to 30%", explains Iain MacDonald, QMS Market Intelligence Manager.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"Store markets have also rebalanced substantially higher, with finishers paying an average of £101 for hoggs at Scottish marts in mid-February. This compares with £65 in the same week of 2023".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Lamb prices have increased despite auction throughput holding up. Between late January and the third week of February, lamb numbers at Scottish Marts were running around 4% above those seen a year earlier. "This is in line with the increase seen in the season-to-date", notes Iain. "Given Scottish Government estimates of a 4% smaller lamb crop in 2023, there could be a tightening of availability later in the spring".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Hogg throughput also held up well at GB abattoirs in January, with Defra reporting a year-on-year uplift of 3.4%, meaning that total slaughter between June 2023 and January 2024 was almost exactly the same as twelve months before, despite the lamb crop across England, Wales and Scotland falling by 6.3% year-on-year.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"It is possible that attractive prices have drawn stock out in January and February", says Iain. "While wet winter weather may also have affected hogg condition, the share of carcases grading at E, U or R and 2 or 3L at GB abattoirs has been lower than in recent years".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">One factor supporting lamb prices in recent months is likely to have been domestic retail demand. In the 12 weeks to January 21, Kantar reported a 13% uplift in spend across GB compared to a year earlier, with a marginal decline in average price meaning a slightly stronger rise in the volume sold. Sales of leg roasts drove the overall increase, rising by roughly double the overall rate, and an increased share of shoppers appear to have been attracted into the category by slightly cheaper prices.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"Overseas demand has also underpinned the market, with UK trade data showing that export volumes were significantly higher than import levels in late 2023, resulting in a tightening effect on market supply".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">During the final quarter, at over 25,100 tonnes, sheepmeat exports rose by 18% year-on-year and remained more than double import levels of 11,400t, despite imports showing a 57% rebound from Q4 2022.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"2023 Q4 imports also proved significantly cheaper than the previous year without any significant dampening effect on the domestic market", observes Iain. The average price per kilo of imported sheepmeat was down 15% on the year as higher import costs from the EU were more than offset by highly competitively priced lamb from Australia and New Zealand.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"More recently, it is possible that longer shipping journey times to Europe from Oceania could have delayed import shipments and resulted in a risk premium in the marketplace, where concern around the arrival of imports may have brought forward purchases of domestic product. This may have also supported export demand from the EU, where traders will have faced the same concerns".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Looking forward, domestic and export demand is set to remain firm through March and into April. Ramadan begins on March 10 this year, culminating in the Eid al-Fitr festival a month later and Easter falls on the final weekend of March.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Iain however is cautious. "While underlying demand is expected to stay strong, if the sharp price increases of recent weeks and months begin to pass through the supply chain and into consumer prices, then this could start to be tested", he says.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"On the supply side, it seems likely that numbers could tighten significantly as the spring progresses as there was a significantly smaller lamb crop in 2023, and auction and abattoir throughput, so far, is holding up well.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"Although export demand is set to hold firm as the EU ewe flock contracted further in 2023, export volumes could be limited if domestic production falls".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Figures from Beef + Lamb New Zealand suggest that a significantly increased volume left for the UK during January 2024 compared to early 2023, pointing to increased imports in late-February and the first half of March. Meanwhile, Australia’s sheepmeat production and exports are expected to continue rising in 2024, with shipments to the UK aided by an increase in its TRQ for the UK in the second year of the FTA.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"This could partially offset some of the anticipated market tightening from domestic production", concludes Iain.</span></p>			Market	adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro	2024-03-02 00:10:20	2025-08-05 11:28:24	Details Edit Delete
5902	QMS: Lamb market sees seasonal rebound in November	Prime sheep prices have rebounded from a season to date low in October, according to the latest market commentary from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).	<p><span lang="DE">QMS Market Intelligence Manager, Iain Macdonald, says prices rose from 220p/kg in late-October, to average 241p/kg at Scottish marts in the week ending November 9<sup>th</sup>.  With more lambs reaching the market in the fortnight since, prices have settled around this level, averaging 241p/kg and 240p/kg respectively in the weeks to November 16<sup>th</sup> and 23<sup>rd</sup>. </span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Across Great Britain as a whole, the second and third weeks of November have seen the largest weekly volumes of finished lambs since the week before Eid al-Adha in July. Over the fortnight, numbers were 13% higher than the weekly average over the previous quarter and matched year earlier levels after trailing in twelve of the previous thirteen weeks.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"Placing current market conditions into some context, the average price of 241p/kg so far in November at Scottish marts is the highest since mid-August.  </span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"However, it has left prices lagging more than 10% behind the seasonal records of late 2021, when there had been a lift from around 235p/kg in mid-October to around 270p/kg in November.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"Market prices have continued to hold nearly 20% above the five-year average, with prices trading around 170p/kg in 2017 and 2018, rising to 190p/kg in 2019 and 210p/kg in 2020," explains Iain.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">With ongoing household budget pressures as rising living costs outpace wage growth, shoppers have been looking to trade down to cheaper cuts and switch to cheaper proteins, leading to a challenging retail environment for lamb.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">According to Kantar, in the 12 weeks to October 30<sup>th</sup>, fresh lamb averaged more than £12/kg across the GB retail sector, compared to under £9/kg for fresh beef.  </span></p> <p><span lang="DE">During this period, household spending on fresh lamb trailed year earlier levels by 15%, with higher prices leading to a 23% reduction in sales volumes. For fresh beef, spending rose by 2% but higher prices meant volume reduced by 7%.  </span></p> <p><span lang="DE">For fresh pork and poultry, sales volumes were similar to 2021 levels as, despite showing considerable price inflation, spending rose significantly – up 8% for pork and 13% for poultry. </span></p> <p><span lang="DE">In many areas, a dry summer made it challenging for producers and slowed the arrival of lambs onto the market.  Between June and October 2022, Defra reported a 3% fall in lamb slaughterings across GB compared to last year, despite a 13% year-on-year decline in the same period of 2021. </span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Iain continued, “In the 2021/22 season, sharply reduced slaughter through the autumn resulted in an increased carryover of hoggs and higher throughput in the run up to Easter. </span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"After factoring in an increased June lamb crop in England this year and a 5.5% increase in store lamb sales at Scottish marts, it points to the potential for a further increase in hogg numbers across Great Britain in the early part of 2023."</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">In addition to domestic production, imports and exports affect overall lamb market supply. Taking imports first, volumes rebounded to a three-year high in the first nine months of 2022. However, even if this trend was to continue in the final quarter, annual imports would likely remain 15-20% below the levels of 2017 and 2018, and around 25-35% below 2011-16 levels. </span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Meanwhile, although export volumes dipped behind 2021 in Q3, they remained higher than import volumes, with the net effect of the trade balance being a reduction in UK market supply.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Iain commented, "One of the market fundamentals that has been having an impact on imports this year has been a rebalancing of Australia and New Zealand’s exports away from China, where covid-19 control measures have reduced foodservice sector demand and led to major delays at Chinese ports. As a result, one of the alternative destinations that Australia and New Zealand’s exporters have looked to is the UK market. </span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"As well as a rebound in import volumes, the balance has shifted further towards frozen product, going from around two-thirds of deliveries from the two countries in the first nine months of 2021 to over 90% in 2022."</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Looking forward, Beef + Lamb New Zealand has projected a drop of around 1% in the country’s lamb crop and lamb exports in the production season which began in October 2022.  For Australia, Meat & Livestock Australia has forecast a 2.5% lift in slaughter, but an export increase of less than 1% in 2023. </span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Iain added, "For UK exports, household budget pressures in the EU may be limiting the volume of demand for UK lamb.  However, import prices paid for GB lamb carcases at Rungis wholesale market in Paris have risen 6% since the start of November, as demand builds ahead of the festive period. </span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"For 2023, the EU Commission has forecast a 4% increase in EU sheepmeat imports, signalling potential opportunities for UK exporters, given the weak pound and expectations of an increased carryover of hoggs, plus the relatively flat combined export expectations for Australia and New Zealand."</span></p>	1		Market	adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro	2022-11-30 04:14:15	2025-08-06 09:42:09	Details Edit Delete
6758	QMS: Lamb prices hold firm as we move into autumn	According to the latest market commentary from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), a reduced supply of finished lambs across GB, rising export volumes and lower imports from abroad have been supporting the lamb price in Scotland.	<p>Given indications of a smaller lamb crop this year, lamb market supply looks set to remain low if the recent picture of firm export demand and soft import volumes continues. Meanwhile, domestic retail lamb price inflation has slowed, which could help to underpin sales volumes this autumn, given continuing strong price increases for other proteins, according to Iain Macdonald, Market Intelligence Manager at QMS.</p> <p>He says: "Despite a slow start to the season, weekly finished lamb auction volumes have reached a normal autumn range in Scotland. Finished lamb prices remain below the new season peak, reached in May, but began September at a record level for the time of year at Scottish marts. At an average of 245p/kg lwt in the first week of September, prices were up 6% on the same week in 2022 and by 20% on the five-year average".</p> <p>GB prime lamb auction sales trailed year earlier levels in seven out of the eight weeks leading up to September 6<sup>th</sup>. In Scotland, although the number of 2023-born lambs traded at marts has started to catch up with 2022 over the past month, it has been down 6% on 2022 in the season-to-date, with a similar story across GB.</p> <p>"However, international trade is a significant part of the equation. In 2022, around a quarter of UK sheepmeat production was exported, with imports contributing around a quarter of total UK market supply in carcase weight equivalent. HMRC data for the first half of 2023 highlights a firm export trade, with the volume shipped overseas rising by more than 14% year-on-year, and the average export price remaining close to the highs of 2022, down 2% year-on-year at £6.64/kg".</p> <p>Meanwhile, import weakness in the final quarter of 2022, persisted into 2023, with UK sheepmeat import volumes down 32% in the first half of the year, despite highly competitive import prices averaging nearly 19% lower than in 2022, down from £6.40/kg to £5.21/kg.</p> <p>Mr Macdonald added: "The combination of a rise in export volumes and a fall in import volumes acts to reduce supply in the domestic market. In the first half of this year, this change in trade converted a slight rise in domestic production into a significant reduction in total market supply, down by 11% on 2022 in product weight".</p> <p>Although domestic demand has experienced a mixed year so far, with Kantar retail sales data for GB generally pointing to weakness except for a strong Easter, in the year-to-date up to early August, the volume retailed was only down 1% year-on-year. Given reduced supply, this is enough to have ensured a tight market balance.</p> <p>Mr Macdonald says: "Tight EU supply has supported our export opportunities, with EU sheepmeat production falling 6.5% year-on-year in the first five months of 2023, according to the EU Commission, while in the year as a whole, EU consumption is set to rebound to its highest level since 2019. Although the price of GB lamb carcases has dipped from the highs reached earlier in the summer at Rungis market in Paris, prices edged up again during August, and have begun September up slightly on the year".</p> <p>Despite firm prices available for imports to the UK, improved market access for Australian lamb since the Free Trade Agreement came into force at the end of May, and relatively low prices in the Southern Hemisphere, import volumes have been surprisingly sluggish.</p> <p>Mr Macdonald says: "Lamb prices in New Zealand are down by around a third on last year, clearing at £3.24/kg dwt on the South Island in early September, while Australia’s Trade Lamb Indicator has plummeted to as low as £2.26/kg dwt and £54 per head".</p> <p>Looking forward to the remainder of the season, domestic supply is set to remain tight. Following a dry autumn in 2022, there were reports of poor scanning rates, particularly south of the border, and June census data from England appears to support this view, with a 5% year-on-year reduction in lamb numbers. With England accounting for around half of the GB flock, a smaller GB lamb crop this year seems almost certain.</p> <p>While the decline in auction marketings so far points to room for a catch-up in slaughter numbers over the remainder of the season, reflecting that the percentage fall in lamb crop could be smaller than the 6% reduction in auction volumes so far, this might not necessarily be the case.</p> <p>Mr Macdonald explains: “Given an annual kill of around 12m head across GB, a 3% reduction in the slaughter lamb crop would equate to around 350,000 fewer lambs. So far, the fall in GB auction throughput is roughly equivalent to around 200,000 head, after factoring in that close to half of lambs will be sold in the ring. Therefore, a situation of relatively tight supply could persist. In a further indicator of the potential for tight supply later in the season, store lambs appear to have been sluggish to come forward so far at Scottish marts".</p> <p>On the trade side, export demand should hold relatively firm given the tightly supplied EU market. However, there is significant uncertainty around the outlook for imports. Highly competitive pricing in Australia and New Zealand and a considerable expansion in Australia’s sheepmeat production could lead to significant upwards pressure on UK import volumes. This market risk has been significant throughout 2023, but import volumes have yet to surge.</p> <p>Mr Macdonald concludes: "Domestic retail sales volumes could be underpinned by lamb retail price inflation slowing. In the 12 weeks to early August, Kantar figures indicate that the average price paid for lamb was 1% lower than a year earlier, driven by cheaper roasting joints, although the chops/steaks and mince categories still showed higher prices than in 2022".</p>	1		Market	adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro	2023-09-21 00:10:13	2025-08-06 19:10:23	Details Edit Delete
8668	QMS: Monitor Farm meeting discusses five ‘P’ steps to making better use of time	Thinking about time and how to best manage it could be the key to making more progress, reducing stress and achieving key goals on-farm and in business, informs Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).	<p style="font-weight: 400;">Speaking at the recent Banff and Buchan Monitor Farm meeting at Sauchentree near Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, farmer and podcaster Michael Blanche discussed how he had addressed the ‘chaos’ in his own farming enterprise by thinking about time in five ‘P’ steps.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"I am a recovering chaotic person!" he told the meeting. "I used to spend a huge amount of time looking for stuff. I’m a first-generation farmer, and on a limited duration tenancy, so I wanted to do a lot, but I knew I only had a limited time to achieve that". He said there are five key steps – all beginning with the letter P - to making better use of time.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>P1 - Perspective</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Make a grid with ten columns across and nine rows down so you have 90 boxes. “Each box represents a year of your life if you are lucky. Shade in up to your age; what’s left unshaded is the time you have left to achieve what you want.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"This is a really good way to look at how much time you realistically have left – it helps to give some perspective and can help you look at things differently. People avoid thinking about this but it’s actually a positive thing.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"In my case, I know exactly how much time I have left on the farm which has really focussed my mind. I know I must tackle my weaknesses with time really aggressively to be any good as a farmer and to make the best of it".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>P2 - Purpose</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Think about what you really want to do or achieve in that time, he said. “If you are going to use time properly, you need to know where you are going. What is your purpose?</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"If your ladder is up against the wrong wall, every step is taking you to the wrong place, so think about what you want".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>P3 - Priorities</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Knowing what your purpose is will help define your priorities – and to know what to say ‘no’ to, he said.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"There is a story about someone asking businessman Warren Buffet about how to deal with being overwhelmed. His answer was to write down all your priorities in life from one to 25 and put them in order of importance to you.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Then, go to number six and score it out, and score everything below it out too; they might be things you like, but they will take up your time and they are not a priority. The top five are your priorities".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Michael acknowledged that it can be difficult to stick to those priorities, especially if they are not shared by others. “In that sort of situation, it can be really helpful to do some root cause analysis about it – so ask yourself why something hasn’t worked or been your priority.”</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">He said that drilling down into something by asking yourself ‘why didn’t I do the task or why didn’t it happen’, then taking the answer and asking why again, and then repeating this for the next few answers usually results in realising that it’s something as simple as not putting it in a diary or sharing your plans.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Writing a to-do list every morning also helps to focus attention and had been helpful in making sure he stuck to his priorities, he said.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>P4 - Patterns</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"People often want to solve their time management issues but find it hard; it is usually because they are stuck in a pattern. For instance, you will generally know who will be early or late to a meeting, first to plant their crops or last to plough. Breaking negative patterns is important for managing time".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">However, it’s often difficult to change something which is a pattern, and he said people could often be unwilling to address it. "Before you want to change you often have to be very unhappy with the current situation. Recognising that you need or want to change is really good".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">He said that while changing patterns was often hard, it is possible to coach yourself to do it. Rather than berating yourself for doing or not doing something, it was better to take a more positive approach. "Think to yourself ‘yes, well I have done that, but how could I have done it differently or better?’ That positive self-talk can be very helpful in breaking the pattern".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>P5 - Processes</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Thinking about how farming and business operations could be more time efficient usually comes down to recognising where time is wasted, which can be due to the way things have evolved, he said.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"People often wince when the word efficiency is mentioned, and I did too, but I’ve changed my mind about it, and it’s a good way of finding more time to tackle your priorities.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"This Monitor Farm is a case in point, as at lambing, the team lambed in two sheds quite a distance apart. Simply by clearing out a shed closer to the main lambing shed and thus cutting the distance for walking back and forth Bruce [Irvine, the Monitor Farmer] estimated a saving of 1 hour 20 minutes a day for all the lambing team. Over a month that’s a total saving of 40 hours".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Michael said that while many meetings focus on technical efficiency such as feed or animal health, these were only a point in time. “There is a huge amount of time being wasted on farm. Farmers should really think of themselves as process engineers; how can you design a process – and stick to it – that will be efficient?</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Saving 15 minutes a day, for instance, might not seem much, but over 365 days it’s more than 90 hours, or two weeks of work for 'normal' people. There are hundreds of processes on farm, improving the efficiency of each would add up to a saving far greater than 15 minutes a day. We will probably all find something to fill that time with, but it’s time that you could be adding value to your business.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"The main thing from all of this is to think about time and how you are using it. We usually don’t recognise it or respect it, but it’s a wholly positive thing when you recognise it is limited – it makes you master the things you want to do".</p>	1		Technology	adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro	2025-07-25 00:20:10	2025-08-06 20:26:42	Details Edit Delete
8346	QMS: Monitor Farm meeting grass reseeding tips help cut livestock costs	A well-planned reseeding policy in place on-farm will help drive productivity, maximising the benefits of pasture and reducing concentrate inputs, according to Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).	<p style="font-weight: 400;">Borders farmer and grazing specialist Graham Lofthouse discussed how he approached reseeding at a recent Stirlingshire Monitor Farm meeting, giving visitors his key tips for success, and looking at the Duncan family’s new approach to grass management.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Having a reseeding policy in place will help maximise the benefits of your pasture and reduce concentrate inputs, and I have a checklist I go through before reseeding to make sure it is successful.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"The first is to test soil pH where you plan to reseed. A target pH of 6.2-6.5 will optimise pasture and your ability to make profit for your business.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Correct all drainage and compaction issues well ahead of reseeding, as waterlogging will severely hamper grass seedling establishment, and aim for moderate potash and phosphate levels".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Graham said he would drill grass seed in spring when grass growth rates were at their highest across the farm’s grazing platform, with ploughing and drilling giving the most consistent results on-farm in his opinion.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Graze after six to eight weeks, but test first using the 'pluck test', where the leaf should snap without pulling out the root".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Where weeds can sometimes be an issue on reseeds, he said sheep would often help remove annual weeds, but where the weed burden is high, consider removing clover and then using a nonselective herbicide to control weeds before sowing clover into the sward the following spring.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Graham has been working with the Duncan family to help produce more kilos from grass, developing a grass improvement plan to focus efforts. The objective is to increase grass production and utilisation to increase livestock productivity and reduce costs across the family’s Blairfad and Lands of Drumhead units near Balfron Station.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The Stirlingshire Monitor Farm grass improvement plan has key targets:</p> <ul> <li>Increase kg/DM produced per ha;</li> <li>Increase metabolisable energy (ME), crude protein (CP) and digestibility of grazed and conserved grass;</li> <li>Improve utilisation of crop nutrition, both organic and non-organic;</li> <li>Lengthen grazing season.</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;">To do this, the Duncan family is working on creating an eight-to-10-year grass rotation. There is a focus on improving the most productive ground (silage fields), which will produce higher ME diet for young and growing stock, as well as producing higher ME and CP silage to reduce feed cost and improve growth rates.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Monitor Farmer Rebecca Duncan said: "The longer grazing season will mean we have reduced bought in feed costs. We will also have higher total diet ME and digestibility, so fewer days to sale for lambs and a higher stock carrying capacity, so more kg/ha output".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Christine Cuthbertson, Monitor Farm regional adviser added: "It was great to hear Graham’s advice for reseeds, as well as looking in depth at Duncan family’s grass improvement plan - it will be really interesting for everyone to see the results of this as it progresses".</p>	1		Market	adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro	2025-04-02 00:15:02	2025-08-06 12:05:32	Details Edit Delete
5546	QMS: New Red Meat Industry Profile report	Amidst concerns around food security, new analysis of the red meat industry in Scotland highlights the Scottish livestock sector’s important contribution to the UK’s overall levels of self-sufficiency in red meat, and a rebound in the value of export sales in spite of the challenges caused by leaving the European Union’s single market.	<p>The latest Red Meat Industry Profile report, produced by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), also shows that demand for beef, lamb and pork remains on an upward trajectory, despite the rise of alternative proteins, and that emissions per unit of output are likely to be reducing. </p> <p>Iain Macdonald, Market Intelligence Manager at QMS, and author of the report said: “Between the rollercoaster of lockdowns and what they meant for retail and food service, seeking new routes to market post-Brexit, labour shortages and rising costs, 2021 was a really challenging year for our sector, and one of crisis for pork producers. For beef and lamb, however, the end of the year saw domestic and global demand for red meat from Scotland strong and market prices at record highs. We also saw the continuing transfer of store animals between specialist businesses, helping spread the economic value generated from livestock production around the country. Meanwhile, the upwards trend of calf-to-cow and lamb-to-ewe ratios should be resulting in reduced emissions per unit of output as the industry seeks to meet environmental targets.” </p> <p>The report illustrates a particularly disastrous year for the pig sector with a litany of problems which led to considerable downward pressure on farmgate prices. However, the country’s small number of highly productive specialist pig farms still contributed 2.1% of the standard output generated by Scottish agriculture.  Meanwhile, with almost 70% of the country’s breeding pigs in the North East and Tayside, pig production contributed regional economic benefits through its dedicated local supply sector and the area surrounding Brechin was home to a skilled abattoir workforce.</p> <p><strong>Beef and lamb demand and prices, on the other hand, reached new records</strong></p> <p>In the beef sector, there was a rebalancing of farm gate prices for finished stock as food service returned and export controls became more fluid, taking market prices beyond previous highs reached in 2013. Store cattle prices showed a softer uplift, but following a prolonged period of decline, Scotland’s beef breeding herd proved more stable, and calf registrations increased, supported by the greater use of beef genetics in the dairy herd. </p> <p>Prime sheep prices leapt by 21.2% at Scottish auctions during the year, 36.4% above the 2016-20 average. This was due to a combination of early marketing of the 2020 lamb crop which left fewer hoggs to be sold around Easter, delayed marketing of the 2021 crop and a low level of imports. </p> <p>Although customs controls at the EU border led to a considerable reduction in exports during the first quarter of 2021, the supply chain adapted to the new rules - albeit at greater cost in time and money - which led to a return to a more ‘normal’ level of export activity as the year progressed.</p> <p>Processors faced considerable labour shortages throughout the year, in part due to the restrictions on EU labour, which reduced throughput and prevented the usual uplift in slaughter for the festive period. Employment is estimated to have reduced by 5% but the overall wage bill only by 1% due to increased salaries. </p> <p>Nearly 80% of the agricultural area of Scotland was grass and grazing land in June 2021, while 94% of agricultural holdings had an area of grass or grazing land, highlighting why livestock production is vital to Scotland’s rural economy. The analysis also notes that Scotland is self-sufficient in beef and lamb, and approximately 90% for pork at farm level, and is a key supplier to consumers in the rest of the UK. This is important amid concerns about food security triggered by recent world events as well as fulfilling the more immediate market demand created by the ‘conscious consumer’, explains Mr Macdonald. </p> <p>“This demonstrates the significance of livestock production in Scotland. With its extensive grassland and natural rainfall, we as a country can produce high quality, high welfare red meat in a way that sustains the landscapes, industry and rural communities while meeting the demands of the modern consumer who seeks strong sustainability credentials when they make purchasing choices,” said Mr Macdonald. “This year has demonstrated there is strong, and still rising, demand from home and abroad for red meat produced well in Scotland.” </p> <p>The report also shows how the flow of store animals from specialist breeding and rearing units to specialist finishers in 2021 continued to spread the value of livestock production, generating business across the supply chain and the country, from auction marts and vets to feed companies and transport. </p> <p>Mr Macdonald concluded: “The current profile of the industry is a mix of positive aspects such as its important contributions to the national economy and food security, plus evidence of firm demand for its produce and rising productivity. However, the industry is also characterised by a number of challenges which it is working hard to overcome, including accessing a suitably skilled workforce and the need to meet environmental targets.</p> <p>“Farmers and processors have also had to deal with a further surge in input costs caused by the war in Ukraine, leading to a significant squeeze in margins.”</p>	1		Industry	adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro	2022-07-01 08:24:23	2025-08-06 03:51:17	Details Edit Delete
7262	QMS: Pig market shows early signs of seasonal uplift	After some downward pressure at the start of 2024, the GB Standard Pig Price (SPP) pig price has been trending relatively stable in February and March. However, there have been some signs of seasonal increase when the lightest and heaviest pigs are removed from the price reporting sample.	<p><span lang="DE">Prices paid for carcases weighing 70-104.9kg have edged higher in five of the last six weeks, rising 0.4% from a year-to-date low of 212.55p/kg to reach 213.43p/kg in the week ending March 23.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"Despite evidence of a slight seasonal upturn, prices have still slipped behind year-earlier levels for the first time in two years", says QMS Market Intelligence Manager, Iain Macdonald. "Still, they were up 35% on their five-year average in mid-March, reflecting the sharp market rebound between spring 2022 and 2023".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Pig producers will be relieved that the price of feed has been falling. Defra’s animal feed price series shows that grain prices in January were down 25-30% on 2023 levels. Protein meal prices have also fallen sharply since a brief rebound in autumn 2023, taking them down over 20% on the year. Since then, market data suggests that there has been further downwards pressure on both grain and protein meals, although grain prices have rebounded slightly in the second half of March.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"These trends reflect a well-supplied global arable crop market, supported by factors such as an improvement in Ukraine’s export capacity and favourable growing weather in South America,” explains Iain. “A stronger sterling against the US dollar than in early 2023 has also helped".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Although wages have been rising quickly and energy and borrowing costs remain elevated, the current balance between production costs and output prices suggests that pig producers’ finances are slowly recovering from the financial crisis of 2021/22.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"However, given the scale of that crisis, there’s still a long way to go", says Iain.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Its legacy - a significantly smaller pig herd - has supported a higher level of farmgate prices. Defra slaughter data showed an 11% decline in prime pig throughput at GB abattoirs in 2023 and the trend continued at the start of 2024, down another 4% in the first two months. While December pig census results are not available for Scotland, England’s results show that finishing pig numbers were still down by 11% year-on-year, and by 18% on the peak reached two years before.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"Sow numbers in England did show a marginal rebound in December 2023, but they were still 19% lower than in December 2021. So, while there could be some recovery in the second half, there is little room for any significant rebound in prime pig slaughter in England in 2024", Iain continues.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Closer to home, ScotEID data points towards stronger momentum in Scotland’s pig herd.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"In the first two months of 2024, while still down on 2022, the number of pigs leaving Scottish farms for slaughter rose by 14% from the lows of 2023. Nevertheless, Scotland is home to only around 8% of GB finishing pigs, so a faster rate of recovery here will have limited impact on overall market conditions".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Given the sharp reduction in domestic pork production since 2022, the external trade balance has been supporting availability for consumption. UK export volumes fell by nearly a quarter in 2023 and while imports fell slightly in the year as a whole, they were higher than in 2022 between April and the year-end.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Iain says higher import volumes have been supporting market supplies for nearly a year, and import prices tend to closely follow trends in EU pig prices.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"After six months trading at a small discount of only around 5% to GB levels, EU pigs became relatively cheap in the second half of 2023 and the price gap widened beyond 20% in early 2024. However, there has been a strong seasonal rebound in the EU since February, and the price gap dipped to 13% in the third week of March".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">While EU pork remains competitive, it is not as cheap as it looked over the winter, and EU supply remains fundamentally tight.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"Although there was some recovery in the EU sow herd in December 2023, numbers were still 7% below pre-covid levels", explains Iain. "In addition, fattening pigs were still showing a year-on-year decline of 2.4%, highlighting that, like at home, any recovery in EU pork production is likely to be weak. As a result, the downwards pressure on the domestic market from EU imports is likely to remain limited".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Looking further afield, Iain notes that the USDA is expecting increased global trade this year, with a key driver being China. "China’s pork production rose sharply late last year as loss-making producers liquidated herds. As a result, numbers are expected to tighten in 2024, resulting in higher import requirements once stocks built up in 2023 have been used up", he says.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"Although pork prices have dipped seasonally since Chinese New Year, wholesale prices continue to look relatively attractive, holding above GB farmgate price levels, and the Chinese market has often risen between spring and autumn".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">By 2023, UK exports to China had fallen back to around where they had been before China’s severe pork shortage of 2019 and 2020. However, at a share of 36%, they made up a significantly higher proportion of UK exports than in the pre-African Swine Fever period, highlighting China’s position as a vital market outlet for processors looking to achieve carcase balance.</span></p>	1		Market	adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro	2024-04-01 00:10:21	2025-08-06 18:33:32	Details Edit Delete
7128	QMS: Preparing farmers for market success	Beef and sheep farmers across Scotland are now being better equipped to understand and meet market demands through a workshop organised by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS). These workshops, the most recent held at Woodhead Brothers in Turriff, aim to provide farmers with insights into what the market looks for in their livestock.	<p style="font-weight: 400;">The ‘Meat the Market’ workshops offer farmers the opportunity to visit processing plants and gain an understanding of the entire production process. During the workshops, speakers George Allan from Meat and Livestock Commercial Services Ltd (MLCSL) and industry specialist Adrian Crowe explain what the market wants and how farmers can meet those demands to maximise profits.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Louise Urquhart, a farmer from Milton of Auchinhove near Banchory, took part in both the beef and lamb sessions at last month's Turriff meeting. Together with her husband Ahren, Louise manages a flock of 660 breeding ewes, primarily Texel Crosses and Logie Durno’s and oversees a small pedigree herd of Simmental cattle at her parent's farm.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Having a deep interest in both food and farming, Louise established Louise's Farm Kitchen in 2016, uniting her passions. She sells meat directly from her farm under the slogan, “bringing naturally good food from our farm gate to your dinner plate.” Louise is putting around 80 lambs a year through their own farm butchery.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Louise explained how the event worked: "At the workshop, we talked with buyers to find out exactly what kind of carcass they're looking for. We also handled some live lambs to understand how they're graded before slaughter. Then we followed the lambs and cattle through the slaughter process to see how accurate the grading was".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Louise said: "Being able to see the animals in the lairage then shortly after on the line was really good to see firsthand, rather than just on a grading sheet and really helped emphasis what the market is looking for and what we should be aiming for".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"I would encourage any farmers who haven't attended the 'Meat the Market' workshops to consider joining. You learn a lot about the whole process, and it helps you join up the dots", Louise said.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Lesley Mitchell, Industry Development Coordinator at Quality Meat Scotland said: "It's fantastic to collaborate closely with farmers and processors at these events, exploring every opportunity for margin improvement on-farm and throughout the supply chain.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"We are planning to host more events focusing on beef and lamb throughout Scotland. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you're interested in participating in these valuable events".</p>	1		Market	adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro	2024-02-21 00:15:43	2025-08-06 12:06:40	Details Edit Delete
7569	QMS: Prime cattle numbers show short-term resilience in Scotland	Despite a decrease in Scotland's overall beef herd over the past year, recent cattle population data from British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) indicates a significant increase in prime cattle numbers on Scottish farms compared to 2023.	<p><span lang="DE">According to the latest market commentary by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), in April 2024, there was a marked 4.4% increase in the pool of males and beef-sired females aged 12 to 30 months compared to the previous year.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Iain Macdonald, Market Intelligence Manager at QMS commented:</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"Despite the continuing decline in Scotland’s beef herd, the BCMS data shows that the small year-on-year increases in prime cattle on Scottish farms in the second half of 2023 have become more significant in 2024. This is likely to have been even stronger after accounting for age at death and is likely to have contributed to the downwards pressure on prime cattle prices observed in the spring.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"However, a seasonal dip in availability for slaughter has resulted in a slight price rebound since mid-June, with R4L steers reaching 489.8p/kg at Scottish abattoirs in the second week of July - 1.6% above the early-June low, yet still 3.9% below the year-to-date peak in February".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Driving the year-on-year increase in prime cattle supply on Scottish farms has been a decline in the outflow of store cattle to England and Wales from its peak, alongside the legacy of an increased spring calf crop in 2022. Iain commented: "It's worth noting that the elevated outflow of store cattle to England continues to squeeze the prime cattle kill at Scottish abattoirs. While slaughter numbers showed some increase from the lows of 2023 in the second quarter of this year, they still remained well below the five-year average".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">BCMS data from April suggests that prime cattle numbers are expected to remain higher than a year earlier on Scottish farms in the second half of 2024, although the rate of increase is likely to soften as the slaughter pool shifts towards younger age groups. Those aged 12-18 months in April were up by a smaller 2% on the year, while a reduction at 6-12 months in April may begin to impact availability in the final quarter of 2024, with peak effects expected by spring 2025 due to a typical age at death of around 21 months.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Iain noted: "South of the border, the picture is slightly different. There was a smaller year-on-year increase in slaughter availability in the first half compared to Scotland, and this trend is expected to continue into the third quarter before potentially tightening compared to 2023 in the run up to Christmas.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"This reflects earlier declines in calf registrations in England and Wales compared to Scotland during the 2022 herd contraction. Unlike Scotland, there was a small decline in the 12-18-month age group in April compared to a year earlier, while the rise at 18-24 months was approximately one-third of the 6% increase seen in Scotland".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Similarly steep reductions of over 4% in the 6-12-month age group on both sides of the border point to a very tight supply of shorter keep store cattle at autumn sales. This is likely to result in strong competition for Scottish-born stores from finishers across Great Britain. For longer keep stores, supply will also remain tight, with year-on-year reductions at under six months in April closer to 2%.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Iain commented: "Concerningly, BCMS population data signals a renewed acceleration in the year-on-year decline of the beef breeding herd, with beef-sired females aged over 30 months on Scottish farms down 2.4% from April 2023. Meanwhile, the decline in England and Wales continued to outpace Scotland, showing a year-on-year reduction of 3.2%, indicating ongoing competition for Scotland’s suckler-bred store cattle.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"Looking back over the past six years, the decline in beef-sired females in England and Wales has been significantly steeper than in Scotland, at 14.2% compared to 10.4% for those aged over 30 months. Consequently, it's crucial to support Scottish finishers to enhance competitiveness and maximise the number of Scotch-eligible cattle remaining in Scotland".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">A further decline in Scotland’s beef herd this year means that a reduced 2024 calf crop follows a 2.7% fall in calf registrations in 2023, pointing to further tightening of store cattle availability in 2025 and continued pressure on prime cattle availability in 2026.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Iain concluded: "In addition to reduced economic activity from farming and processing, a declining beef herd will impact the output, GVA, and jobs generated by their supply sectors, potentially leading to wider social impacts.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"To counteract these trends, modelling indicates that taking action in Scotland to stabilise the beef herd, boost productivity, and reduce the outflow of store cattle could shift the economic narrative from contraction to growth by 2030.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"Meanwhile, given similar downward trends in beef production south of the border, there is potential for significant impact on UK food security. With beef demand holding steady amid the cost-of-living crisis and the UK population projected to grow, a widening gap between domestic production and total beef consumption by 2030 could require higher imports, sourced from regions with varying standards of production, which are also facing increased drought stress due to climate change".</span></p>	1		Market	adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro	2024-07-22 00:05:21	2025-08-06 13:28:47	Details Edit Delete
7037	QMS: Prime cattle supply set to tighten by this autumn	Over the festive period and into the first fortnight of 2024 the beef market has remained relatively stable, according to the latest market commentary from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).	<p style="font-weight: 400;">R4L steer prices have generally been slightly above the £5/kg threshold in recent weeks, having mostly been slightly below it from late September to early December, suggesting a slight tightening of market conditions. In the week ending January 16, R4L steers averaged 502.2p/kg at Scottish abattoirs.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Although farmgate prices remain around 2% below the highs reached in May last year, they have opened this year at 8-9% above levels 12 months ago, and 26-27% above the five-year average, according to QMS Market Intelligence Manager, Iain Macdonald.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Highlighting the rebalancing of recent years, you have to go all the way back to May 2020 to find a time when prices were lower than a year earlier, and prime cattle prices began 2024 around 45% higher than they started 2020.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"The indication of a tightening market is interesting in Scotland, where the dominance of spring calving and a most common age at slaughter of 21-22 months signals that prime cattle availability should be around its annual peak. This combination therefore suggests that firm demand has supported competition for cattle at the start of 2024".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">At GB level, after peaking in late October, weekly slaughter at the price reporting abattoirs trended downwards in the run up to Christmas, and the two short processing weeks over the festive period will have placed further downwards pressure on beef production. It is therefore possible that firm competition for cattle reflects an attempt to rebuild stocks after a period of lower output.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">This year, prime cattle supply is expected to be similar to 2023 in the year as a whole. However, supplies could be stronger in the first half of the year in Scotland before tightening in the second half. Indeed, as the outflow of store cattle to England fell back in last year from the highs of 2022, this is likely to provide some short-term support to supply along with an increased spring calf crop from 2022.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Further highlighting the potential for slaughter availability to be at a seasonal peak in the early weeks of 2024, last year saw weekly average prime cattle slaughter at the price reporting abattoirs 7% above 2022 levels in the first five full processing weeks, while averaging 9% below 2022 levels in the remainder of the year.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"As the year progresses, availability is set to tighten as the reduced spring calf crop of 2023 begins to reach the market. Calf registrations in Scotland were around 2.5% lower between March and May last year than in 2022 and this is expected to reduce availability for slaughter in the autumn when these cattle start dominating the slaughter pool", says Mr Macdonald.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"BCMS slaughter data shows that in the final quarter of 2023, 44% of slaughter at 12-29 months in Scotland was in the 18-20 month age range, nearly double the share in England and Wales, highlighting that supply is likely to tighten earlier in Scotland than south of the border".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Store cattle numbers are set to be generally tight throughout this year, he adds. However, there could be a slight uplift in yearling availability at spring sales, with the number of cattle aged 6-12 months on farm in October 2023 up 1% year-on-year, largely reflecting an increase in calf registrations in February 2023. However, calvings fell sharply in Q2 and Q3 last year, leaving numbers on farm at under six months of age in October down 4.9% year-on-year, signalling a sharp squeeze on longer keep cattle at spring sales and a tight supply of yearlings in the autumn, he says.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Although the number of store cattle leaving Scotland for English farms dipped back from the highs of 2022 in 2023, it remained elevated and the October population figures for England and Wales show declines of 1.6% at 6-12 months and 4.6% in the under six-month group, suggesting that English finishers will continue to look north.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Looking further afield, Ireland’s June census reported declines of 1.4% in the one- to two-year old category and a fall of 2.8% in cattle under a year old, so supply is set to reduce this year. Meanwhile, in the EU as a whole, production has been projected to contract by another one percent this year by the EU Commission, on the back of a 3% reduction in 2023. As a result, imports have been forecast to increase by 5% in 2024.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Globally, beef production has been forecast to rise marginally in 2024 by the USDA, as continuing expansion in Australia and Brazil is offset by a 3% reduction in the US and a steep 6% contraction in Argentina, as well as tight EU supplies. However, global consumption has been forecast to fall marginally. Nevertheless, the mismatch between supply and demand in major beef producing and consuming countries will continue to support global trade flows in 2024", he says.</p>	1		Market	adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro	2024-01-23 00:10:25	2025-08-06 17:27:35	Details Edit Delete
6726	QMS: Red Meat Sector now worth £2.8 billion to the Scottish economy	Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) released an assessment of the vital economic contribution of Scotland’s red meat supply chain to the Scottish economy; the last time a similar assessment was undertaken was in 2016. Red meat production contributed between 36 per cent and 38 per cent of Scottish agricultural output in the latest five years for which figures are available, with almost a quarter of output coming from the iconic beef sector.	<p>Sarah Millar, QMS’s Chief Executive said: "This report is vital to understanding the red meat supply chain in Scotland’s total - as well as it’s rural economy. Red meat is fundamental to Scotland’s agri-food sector, with an annual economic output of an estimated £2.8bn, up over 16 per cent from £2.4bn in 2016".</p> <p>The red meat supply chain is absolutely fundamental to wider Scottish agriculture. It includes on-farm production, farming inputs and processing. Whilst varying regionally, red meat output accounts for 36 per cent of national farming output, with on-farm output now up by more than £100m, from £1.16bn in 2016, to £1.27bn now. The wider supply chain also generates important revenues with £885m from meat processing, £361m from core supply trading (veterinary, machinery, fertiliser, feed and repairs/buildings) and a further £225m in output from other farm supplies.</p> <p>The report highlights the future value of maximising livestock output from Scotland: "There is opportunity to retain more value from the red meat chain if more Scottish livestock were processed in Scotland, but this requires the whole chain to work together to build the opportunities in a number of ways – as we outlined in QMS’s five-year strategy at this year’s Royal Highland Show. It’s vital that we all shout loud and proud about our meat’s provenance, quality, and the heritage of our Scotch red meat to develop an increase in domestic supply contracts as well as export opportunities, hand in hand with ensuring that there is sufficient abattoir capacity to process the increased throughput".</p> <p>The report also gives a comprehensive update on the employment within the red meat chain, which currently sustains over 39,000 jobs, 80 per cent of which – 31,200 people - are on farm, 3,880 in meat processing, 2,000 in the core supplies industry – such as feed and veterinary services - and 2,200 employed in other supplies to the sector.</p> <p>Ms Millar adds: "Livestock farming is so important to the fabric of our rural economies, supporting both hired and family labour, in full-time and in part-time roles, and in-turn other local businesses in rural and remote places.</p> <p>"What’s also important to note is that, when you add in the further processing of red meat into cooked foods and food service, for example, the total employment contribution of the red meat sector is even greater".</p> <p>Finally, the report highlights the importance of red meat-based agriculture to remote rural areas. Ms Millar says: "The farms and crofts that produce store lambs and cattle underpin economic activity in much of Scotland, and importantly, the hills and islands of the north and west. Without crofting and hill farms, there would be increased depopulation and the hollowing out of remote communities".</p> <p>Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: "This report highlights the continued importance of the red meat supply chain both to Scotland’s economy as well as our rural communities.</p> <p>"Improvements in on-farm efficiency as well as work to further build the brand and reputation of our nation’s iconic meats have led to a marked increase in value of the sector.</p> <p>"This is down to the diligence and hard work of farmers, crofters and all those who work in the wider supply chain".</p>	1		Market	adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro	2023-09-07 00:15:21	2025-08-06 12:46:58	Details Edit Delete
8641	QMS: Stabilising beef prices signal new market balance after sharp declines	Higher-than-expected prices suggest long-term supply gap despite softened demand.	<p style="font-weight: 400;">Iain Macdonald, Market Intelligence Manager at Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) said: “After seven weeks of sharp declines from the start of May up until Highland Show week, deadweight prime cattle prices in Scotland have been more stable since, with two average price reductions of 1p in the final week of June and first week of July. While down 11% from their peak, prime cattle still averaged 33% higher than a year earlier at the start of July, at 641.6p/kg.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">“After an extremely strong winter and spring on the demand-side, a surge in consumer prices has taken some of the heat out of the volume of demand. Indeed, the ONS reported that beef and veal prices were 17% higher than a year earlier in May. Some of this cooling of demand is likely to reflect seasonality of consumption too, with beef sales rebalancing towards cheaper products like burgers in the summer, while there is a net outflow of tourists from the UK.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">“In addition, after a slow start to the year, UK beef imports rebounded in the spring as the supply chain attempted to balance out supply and demand, and to manage overall consumer price levels. A combination of industry reports and UK trade data suggests that a higher level of imports from Brazil, Australia and New Zealand could be weighing on wholesale prices facing into the foodservice sector. In addition, increased Irish exports into the EU on the back of surprisingly high Irish beef production this year may have limited demand for UK exports.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">“In response to the softening of demand, abattoir throughput has fallen sharply following a short-term increase after Easter, and the subsequent reduction in beef supply is likely to have seen the market stabilise. The deadweight price reported kill at Scottish abattoirs averaged 11% lower in the six weeks to early July than it had in the first 21 weeks of the year. By contrast, the average kill only fell by 1% between the same two periods in 2024.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">“As a result, slaughter in the year-to-date has fallen faster than expected, and this could mean that numbers do not tighten as much as expected relative to 2024 in the second half. Meanwhile, deadweight price reports from south of the border have pointed to a sharply lower kill since mid-June, while prices have looked more stable since late-June.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">“A market balance could have been found for now, albeit at a sharply higher price level than in summer 2024. Away from short-term seasonal fluctuations in supply and demand, the apparent new higher price level should be taken as a signal that the market is looking for increased supply in the longer-term”.</p>	1		Market	adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro	2025-07-16 00:25:11	2025-08-06 19:14:10	Details Edit Delete
7688	QMS: The 2024 Meat Voucher Scheme promotes red meat in Schools	As pupils across Scotland head back to the classroom this month, they're in for an extra treat - Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb, and Specially Selected Pork are returning to the curriculum with the 2024 Meat Voucher Scheme, run by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).	<p>Last year, the scheme was embraced by 300 schools, demonstrating its significant impact on incorporating high-quality, sustainable red meat into educational activities and pupils’ diets. Building on its success in previous years, the Meat Voucher Scheme continues to play a crucial role in teaching children the benefits of locally sourced Scotch-assured red meat.</p> <p>This year, participating schools will receive up to £180 worth of vouchers to spend with their local Scotch Butcher Club member on premium red meat products. Alongside these vouchers, schools will have access to a comprehensive bank of recipe and other resources filled with ideas and tools designed to inspire both children and teachers. These resources are closely linked to the ‘Tasty Little Weeks’ initiative, which is set to be a highlight of this year's programme.</p> <p>Tracy Martin, Health and Education Coordinator at QMS, said: “We are delighted to bring back the Meat Voucher Scheme this year, offering schools a fantastic opportunity to explore the flavours and nutritional benefits of Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb, and Specially Selected Pork. Our resources are designed to help teachers deliver engaging lessons that resonate with students and promote healthy, sustainable eating habits.”</p> <p>The 2024 Meat Voucher Scheme invites schools to spotlight Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb, and Specially Selected Pork throughout the school year. The "Tasty Little Weeks" initiative, central to this year’s programme, features three dedicated weeks that allow schools to focus on each type of protein:</p> <ul> <li>Tasty Little Pork Week: October 2024</li> <li>Tasty Little Lamb Week: November 2024</li> <li>Tasty Little Beef Week: February 2025</li> </ul> <p>QMS will collaborate with partners like Scottish Craft Butchers for Tasty Little Pork Week to align with their ‘Porktober’ event—and the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IAAS), whose Lamb for St. Andrews initiative coincides with Tasty Little Lamb Week.</p> <p>These themed weeks are designed to provide pupils with hands-on experiences, from learning about the nutritional benefits of red meat to understanding the importance of supporting local farmers and sustainable food practices, as well as career opportunities in the sector.</p> <p>Alison Bankier, Home Economics teacher at Mearns Castle High School, added: "The Meat Voucher Scheme has been an incredible resource for our students. It’s not just about cooking—it’s about learning where our food comes from and the importance of supporting local farmers. The students are excited to participate again this year".</p>	1		Industry	adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro	2024-08-24 00:05:29	2025-08-06 14:53:21	Details Edit Delete
7372	QMS: Tight market continuing to underpin farmgate prices as the new season begins	After a firm start to the new season, prime lamb auction prices have made a strong impression at Scottish marts, averaging 436p/kg lwt in the second week of May, according to the latest market commentary from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS). Meanwhile, hogg values continue to hold close to the highs reached at Easter and Ramadan, clearing at 370p/kg lwt.	<p>Iain Macdonald, said: "For new season lambs, this represents a year-on-year increase of 26% and an uplift of 54% on the five-year average, while hoggs were valued 35% higher than last year".</p> <p>Tight domestic supply has been one of the factors supporting farmgate prices. Last year’s GB lamb crop was around 6% lower than in 2022 but, between June 2023 and February 2024, prime sheep slaughter at GB abattoirs had still risen marginally on a year earlier, highlighting an earlier marketing pattern.</p> <p>Iain added: "This left fewer hoggs available at the peak of demand in March and April for Easter and Ramadan, and slaughter declined by 14% year-on-year over the two months. Given the 6% fall in the GB 2023 lamb crop and a 2.6% reduction in throughput between June 2023 and April 2024, it suggests that slaughter will have continued to decline on a year earlier in May".</p> <p>Seasonal factors have tightened availability, as evidenced by data from Scottish marts. The number of prime sheep sold each week dropped to approximately 16,000 between mid-April and mid-May, down from a peak of around 26,000 per week in March. Although the availability of new season lambs is gradually increasing, their numbers remain very low. In addition, from mid-April to mid-May, the total number sold was 25% lower compared to the same period last year.</p> <p>In addition to domestic production, the international trade balance has continued to contribute to a tight market. The volume of UK sheepmeat exported during Q1 2024 exceeded the level of imports, at 20,400t compared to 16,600t. This was even the case in March despite imports reaching a pre-Easter peak, although it should be noted that exports tend to consist of carcases whereas imports tend to be cuts of lamb.</p> <p>Iain commented: "A notable feature of the UK sheepmeat market is that a significant rebound in imports from Australia and New Zealand at highly competitive prices has been absorbed by the market without any signs of dampening farmgate prices. This points to a strong level of demand".</p> <p>GB retail sales data from Kantar has shown consistent year-on-year growth in spending on lamb and the volume sold since summer 2023, underpinned by a higher share of households buying lamb.</p> <p>However, retail sales have been supported by lower retail prices and promotional activity, and higher import penetration at Easter. British households are clearly showing a renewed interest in lamb, but whether they would continue to do so if the significantly higher level of farmgate prices seen in 2024 was to result in a higher retail price point is a concern.</p> <p>Iain said: "Looking forward, domestic supply is likely to remain tight until the 2024 lamb crop reaches the market in greater numbers, given the much smaller carryover of hoggs into this year. The market could become particularly tight in the first half of June as Eid al-Adha starts on 16 June, resulting in a surge in demand ahead of this festival.</p> <p>"On the subject of new season lambs, limited availability at GB level is expected in the early part of the season because early-lambing flocks in southern England and Wales were reportedly hit hard by Schmallenberg. Meanwhile, given the extremely wet weather around the Easter weekend, mortality rates are thought to have been elevated in flocks lambing at this time. However, in Scotland, a considerable proportion of lambing takes place in the second half of April and into May, a period of much more favourable weather conditions. In particular, this suggests that there could be a stronger supply of store lambs from the hills this year".</p> <p>The other variable influencing this year’s lamb crop will be the breeding flock last autumn. On one hand, ewe condition at tupping in autumn 2023 was much more favourable than in 2022, when there had been drought conditions, particularly in southern England and Wales, signalling the potential for a better lambing rate this year.</p> <p>Iain added: "However, England’s Sheep and Goat Inventory results showed a 4% decline on a year earlier in the breeding sheep population, suggesting little room for an increase in lamb numbers before factoring in the expectation of increased mortality due to the weather in late-March and early-April.</p> <p>"Unfortunately, no December sheep results have been published for Scotland, but the ewe flock in June 2023 was down by 1.7% on 2022, and the 4.1% reduction in the lamb crop signalled little potential for increased retentions to the breeding flock".</p> <p>On the international trade side, while Australia and New Zealand’s production season has passed its peak, highly competitive prices are set to ensure that import competition remains considerable. However, a continued reduction in the EU ewe flock should ensure that UK export demand remains strong.</p> <p>"Overall, the combination of tight domestic supply and strong demand, both domestically and internationally, is expected to continue supporting farmgate prices as the new season progresses", concludes Iain.</p>	1		Market	adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro	2024-05-23 00:10:47	2025-08-06 15:12:45	Details Edit Delete
8681	QMS: Top lamb weaning tips from Stirlingshire Monitor Farm summer meeting	Weaning lambs should be a more considered decision rather than done on a set date, with pasture quality and quantity, weight and body condition score targets and potential markets all being taken into account to drive profitability and efficiency, informs Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).	<p style="font-weight: 400;">Visitors at the Stirlingshire Monitor Farm summer meeting discussed the options with Emily Grant, independent sheep, cattle and grazing consultant.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Emily said that weaning was a time when production focus is moving away from ewes lactating towards lambs starting to grow. "It means being able to prioritise high quality pasture to allow lambs to grow on and, if needed, a bit of time for ewes to put condition back on after lactation has finished. Lactation requires additional energy over maintenance, peak lactation (when lambs are around three weeks old) is when the ewe has her highest energy demand; this can almost treble before falling as lactation declines".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">She said pasture quality and quantity should be a priority for weaned lambs. "Ewe milk is high in energy at 12-13ME, so if you want lambs to continue to grow well it’s important they have highly digestible pasture. This is fundamental as lambs have a relatively small rumen comparable to their size which develops over weeks three to eight of their life before becoming fully functional".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Consideration of weaning weights is important, she added. “To hit targets, you should ideally be weaning twins at 30kg plus and single lambs at about 35kg plus at about 90 days or thereabouts. Each increase in 1kg lamb wean weight reduces days to slaughter by one week.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Ideally, ewes should be weaned at BCS 3 which is your target to take into tupping. They can then be on a maintenance diet so you can start to shut down their requirement for high quality grass. In effect, pulling them away from competing with lambs for that pasture".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Being aware of your farm’s mineral status was important, she said. "For instance, cobalt is deficient across quite a lot of Scotland. Even where it is a bit marginal, cobalt levels will vary between the seasons, so some years it may be fine and others it’s not, but be aware of it as it is a production-limiting deficiency".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">She added that worms and parasites could be a challenge and potentially impact performance at weaning. "You really want them to keep growing to get them marketed as soon as you can and ideally off pasture".</p>	1		Industry	adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro	2025-07-30 00:05:05	2025-08-06 20:25:40	Details Edit Delete
5973	QMS: UK beef exports rose by 26 percent and imports fell by 1.3 percent	As the festive season approaches, prime cattle prices have been softening from an autumn peak reached in late-October and early-November, according to the latest market commentary from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).	<p><span lang="DE">"Downwards pressure is not unusual at this time of the year, with prime cattle prices being lower in mid-December than in mid-November in eight of the last nine years," explains Iain Macdonald, QMS Market Intelligence Manager.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Some of this pressure in Scotland is likely to reflect a seasonal upturn in prime cattle slaughter, with weekly throughput at price reporting abattoirs averaging 3% higher in November than October and reaching a 22-week high at the end of November<a name="m_8753941089704304273__Hlk122093533"></a><u>.</u></span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Nevertheless, at 455.5p/kg, R4L steer prices were still around 9% higher than last year and 19% above the five-year average – a picture which has been similar for much of 2022.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Iain says: "A significant influence behind increased farmgate prices this year is likely to have been a 2% reduction in supply added to the UK market over the first ten months compared to the same period of 2021. While domestic production rose by 1%, this was more than offset by a shift in external trade balance, as export volumes rose by 26% and imports fell by 1.3%."</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Taking imports first, after a strong start to the year, volumes have been trailing year earlier levels since June despite a tightly supplied domestic market. Having been up 22% year-on-year at the end of May, five consecutive monthly declines were enough for imports to fall behind 2021 in October.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">“It is also interesting that import volumes have dipped behind 2021 levels despite a strong increase in beef production in the Irish Republic, which is the main external supplier of beef to the UK, providing 78% of UK imports in 2021," Iain highlights.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">In Ireland, prime cattle slaughter was running ahead of 2021 levels by more than 6% at the end of October while the cow kill was up by 16%. </span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Despite this expansion of Irish abattoir output in 2022, HMRC data shows a 10% reduction in the volume of beef arriving in the UK from the Irish Republic in the first ten months, with the Irish share of UK imports slipping seven percentage points to 71%.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">In part, this is likely to reflect a firm EU beef market, where R3 male prime cattle prices were 19% higher than a year earlier at the end of November, and 43% higher than two years before, despite the overall volume of supply added to the market this year expected to increase by 0.6% from 2021. </span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Reflecting the strength of EU demand, Eurostat data highlights that imports from non-EU countries rose by more than a third from 2021 in the first eight months. In the UK trade data, sales to the Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy and Spain have all shown considerable growth in 2022, with the combined volume shipped to these countries doubling to 51,000t in the January to October period. </span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Meanwhile, Eurostat figures also show that the internal volume of beef trade in the EU increased, with exports between member states rising by more than 5% on the year.  Helping support the increase in internal trade, the volume shipped to non-EU markets fell by nearly 1%. Supported by its increased beef production and barrier-free access to the EU market, Ireland sold 13% more beef to other EU countries in the first eight months of 2022.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Looking to next year, the EU Commission is forecasting a fifth consecutive annual decline in overall EU beef production. Ireland is set to be a significant contributor to this fall with Bord Bia projecting a 2% decline in the Irish cattle kill, while carcase weights are likely to continue falling. To meet the gap in supply, EU import demand from non-EU countries is set to grow further, with the EU Commission forecasting a 4% increase in 2023. </span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Iain maintains that "the UK is well-placed to help meet some of this additional demand, with increased calf registrations in 2021 and higher on farm prime cattle supply as of October 2022 signalling the potential for increased beef production in 2023".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"Though it should be noted that, as the year progresses, UK production growth is expected to slow, with a slightly reduced spring 2022 calf crop in GB to begin reaching slaughter condition in the final quarter".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">While a significant increase in cull cow slaughter in the autumn of 2022 is set to reduce production in the future, this will not take effect immediately.  A smaller suckler herd will begin to have more of an impact on calf registrations in spring 2023 and therefore take until the second half of 2024 to begin pressuring prime cattle slaughter, with a more significant impact likely in early 2025.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Looking further afield, UK beef exports to non-EU countries have had a challenging year in 2022, falling back by 36% year-on-year in the first ten months, mostly driven by a sharp reduction in trade with the largest markets of Hong Kong and the Philippines. However, other markets have shown strong growth, with the volume exported to Canada and Japan doubling.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">In 2023, the reopening of Hong Kong to overseas tourists and the partial relaxation of covid restrictions should help support imports for the local foodservice sector. Meanwhile, an ongoing meat deficit in the Philippines could help support a recovery in UK exports of frozen boneless cuts. For both Canada and Japan, the USDA is projecting lower domestic production but higher consumption next year, signalling potential for further expansion of UK beef exports.</span></p>	1		Market	adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro	2022-12-23 04:40:31	2025-08-06 12:04:54	Details Edit Delete

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