TRADITIONAL Halal Limited has launched a stun-free certification scheme for meat and poultry that is slaughtered without the use of stunning of any kind. It has been developed for use by slaughterhouses, cutting plants, meat retailers, wholesalers, restaurants and takeaways across the UK.

The scheme offers applicants free training in animal welfare for supervisors, slaughter men and site operators in the non-stun meat sector.

Market round-up

LAWRIE & Symington Ltd had 1,690 store cattle forward at their show and sale in Lanark on Tuesday when the championship was awarded to a British Blue bullock from Messrs Currie, Stonebyres Mains, Kirkfieldbank, Lanark that scaled 466kg and went on to sell for £1,270. The reserve championship also went to a British Blue bullock, this time from Messrs Laird, Sunnyside, that went on to fetch £1,240.

The 752 heifers sold to £1,600 per head and 278.1p per kg to average £930.83 and 206.3p, while 938 bullocks peaked at £1360 and 275.8p to level at £1028 and 213p.

C&D Auction Marts Ltd had 8,051 store lambs forward in Longtown on Tuesday. The largest show of the season included 2,629 Hill Cheviots and 1,503 Blackfaces. Top prices and averages: Hill Cheviots to £58 and averaged £48.12 (-£5.53 on the week), Blackfaces £53.50 and £39.56 (+98p), Texels £80 and £57.32 (-£3.13), Suffolks £60 and £47.95 (-£12.04), Greyfaces £65.50 and £50.97 (-£2.05).

Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold six prime heifers at Ayr on Tuesday to a top of 230p and an average of 210.5p, while four prime bullocks peaked at 185p and levelled at 177.4p. Three prime bulls sold to 177p and averaged 174p. In the rough ring 82 beef cows sold to £1,340 per head and 167.5p per kg to average 109.6p, while 115 dairy cows peaked at £880 and 141.5p to level at 84.2p. Ten bulls sold to £1,230 and 136.5p to average 104.8p. A small show of eight dairy cattle sold to £1,600 for a Holstein Friesian heifer and averaged £1,446.25.

There were also 81 head forward at the monthly sale of beef-breeding cattle that met the best trade of the season. Top prices and averages: Bulls to 3,000gns for a Limousin and averaged £1,753.50 for five; heifers with calf-at-foot £2,500 and £1,915.88 for 34; cows with calves £1,720 and £1,262.50 for 12; in-calf cows £980 and £883.75 for eight; bulling heifers £1,400 and £995.45 for 22.

The firm sold 993 prime lambs in Newton Stewart yesterday to a top of £86.50 per head and 180p per kg to average 160.1p (-9.3p on the week).