THE Scottish chicken industry has been dealt another blow as all four free range producers contracted to Hook 2 Sisters, the dominant processor in Scotland, have been terminated.
This latest announcement follows the termination by 2 Sisters Food Group of several growers' contracts in November 2013, and a further four terminations in August 2014, by Hook 2 Sisters when it took over. As a result, the number of independent chicken producers in Scotland has fallen from 28 to 16 and the number of chickens produced in Scotland will fall by an estimated 7m birds per year. The potential market for chicken in Scotland is 1.4m birds a week.
These three restructurings have not only devastated Scottish chicken production, but have put some 72 jobs in the rural North East of Scotland at risk including farm workers, catchers and cleaners who all work on the affected farms.
The loss of chicken production has also taken away a valuable and sizeable market for those providing the sector with feed, estimated at 35,000 tonnes.
Coming just a few months after a major retailer made a commitment to sell a full range of Scottish chicken, this latest news appears to have torpedoed the ability of many retailers to sell free range Scottish chicken in their Scottish stores.
Market ROUND UP
Wallets Marts had a larger show of 1929 prime lambs in Castle Douglas on Tuesday that sold to a top of £75 per head and 180p per kg to average 151.9p (-18.4p on the week).
The 656 cast sheep forward sold to £100 for a Texel ram and £99 for Texel ewes.
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 22 prime heifers at Ayr on Tuesday to a top of 229p per kg and an average of 204.9p, while nine prime, beef-bred bullocks peaked at 228p and levelled at 191.3p. Two prime, B&W bullocks averaged 168p.
In the rough ring 125 beef cows averaged 118.7p and 101 dairy cows levelled at 93.8p. Eleven bulls averaged 147.9p and 10 clean cattle levelled at 159.2p.
There was a much plainer show of 16 dairy cattle forward that were harder to cash and sold to £1,580 for a Holstein Friesian heifer, with the final average levelling at £1,202.
The firm also sold 188 beef-breeding cattle. Top prices and averages: Bulls to 3,000gns for a Charolais and averaged 1,650gns for 9; heifers with calf-at-foot £2,200 and £1,728.67 for 57; cows and calves £2,250 and £1,412.27 for 93; in-calf cows £1,350 and £1,130 for 5; bulling heifers £1,140 and £865.83 for 24.
The firm went on to sell 1,120 prime lambs in Newton Stewart yesterday to a top of £73.80 and 178.6p to average 151.8p (-16.4p).
The 396 cast sheep forward sold cheaper on the week with ewes peaking at £99 for Texels and £62 for Blackfaces.
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