British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) data reveals that cattle production performance in Scotland improved last year.
Over the whole of 2014, the number of calves registered in Scotland increased by 1.3 per cent with the number of on-farm losses of calves under one year old down by 10 per cent in 2014 compared to 2013.
This should help to boost supplies going forward says Stuart Ashworth, head of economic services with Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).
"The detail of the BCMS data shows us that most of this growth in calf numbers came in the second half of the year.
"This may be a consequence of farmers moving towards autumn calving as a result of cow condition in 2013," he added.
Across Great Britain as a whole, calf registrations in 2014 increased by 1.7 per cent with most of the growth occurring in the second half of the year.
Scotland's calf registrations are dominated by calves from beef-bred cattle, with 80 per cent of registrations being beef-sired calves compared to 62 per cent in England and Wales," observed Mr Ashworth.
"When recognition is given to the fact that some of these beef-sired calves come from the dairy herd, then calves sourced from the beef herd make up almost three-quarters of calf registrations in Scotland compared to less than 50 per cent in England and Wales."
When you factor in that fewer dairy-sired male calves were registered across Scotland and GB during 2014, beef calves made up a slightly greater proportion of total calf registrations.
Mr Ashworth went on: "Although calf registrations have increased during 2014 it will be 18-months or more before these animals reach abattoirs. More immediately, the supply of 18 to 24-month old cattle remains under pressure in the wake of the decline in calf registrations in 2013 and the higher mortality rates that year as a result of poor weather conditions.
"The decline in dairy-sired male calves will also mean that there will be a reduction in dairy bulls aged under 16-months in the supply chain at the same time that two-year-old steer numbers are under pressure."
Market round-up
The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart sold 5899 prime hoggs in Longtown on Thursday to a top of £105 per head and 252p per kg to average 191.5p (-2.5p on the week).
A much larger show of 4050 cast sheep saw heavy ewes sell to £160 for Texels and average £99.69 (+76p), while light ewes peaked at £94 for Cheviots and levelled at £60.73 (-£5.38). Rams sold to £168 for Suffolks and averaged £98.66 (-29p).
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