An independent report commissioned by Quality Meat Scotland reveals that the red meat supply chain in Scotland contributes around £2.4bn to total output.

This equates to a £733m contribution to Scotland's Gross Domestic Product and provides employment totalling 33,000 jobs. The report also clearly lays out the Scottish red meat industry's very considerable importance in terms of employment in rural areas through jobs created by farming and meat processing.

The report accounts for production as far along the red meat chain as abattoirs and cutting plants. The figures would be significantly higher if the economic impact further downstream, including the wholesalers and multiple and independent retailers plus food outlets were also included.

The publication, complied by Andrew Moxey of Pareto Consulting, reveals that red meat production accounts for around 40 per cent of total farming output in Scotland. Overall cattle, sheep and pigs are found on 20,000 holdings in Scotland of which over 14,300 are Less Favoured Area (LFA) specialist cattle and sheep holdings, around 2,300 are non-LFA cattle and sheep holdings and nearly 300 are specialist pig holdings.

In Scotland there are around 30 livestock markets which have a collective throughput of 2.7m animals, with a turnover of £525m in 2014.

The 23 licensed red meat abattoirs in Scotland generated a collective output in 2014 worth an estimated £876m. Sixty-eight per cent of their total production is sold outside of Scotland to the rest of the UK, with a further nine per cent sold to overseas markets.

The important economic role of the other businesses which support the industry is also very clear in the report. Livestock haulage accounts for 108 haulage firms operating 275 vehicles registered for carrying livestock. Additionally, 201 veterinary practices are registered for treating farm animals and there are 113 feed suppliers.

Market round-up

C&D Auction Marts Ltd had 5645 prime lambs forward at their weekly sale in Longtown on Thursday, which was the centre's largest show so far this year. Top prices on the day were £106 per head and 259p per kg, with the overall average levelling at 174.3p (+8.5p on the week).

There were also 4745 cast sheep presented to the usual ring of buyers when heavy ewes sold to £168 for Texels and averaged £69.48 (+£2.63), while light ewes peaked at £66 for Lleyns and levelled at £32.94 (-47p). Rams sold to £142 for a Texel and averaged £76.56.