For the second year in succession, Scottish beef producers are suffering severe pressure on price and experiencing marketing delays.
Wholesale prices for Scottish steers passing through abattoirs last week averaged just over 360p per kg - 20p per kg less than the same time in 2014. That means an average finished steer weighing 600kg is worth £120 per head less when it enters the food chain compared to prices last spring.
Adding to the problem, many beef animals on Scottish farms are now ready for the market. However, a combination of lower retail demand for beef and a weak euro making exports more difficult - and imports more attractive - means that beef cattle are backing up on Scottish farms waiting for slots to enter abattoirs.
NFU Scotland's Livestock Committee Chairman, Charlie Adam explained: "The delays now being experienced in getting animals away to abattoirs when they are at their peak runs the risk of cattle no longer meeting the specification demanded by processors and the marketplace. That runs the risk of price penalties being imposed for stock being too heavy or too fat, and any margin is quickly eroded."
Market round-up
Wallets Marts sold 372 prime hoggs in Castle Douglas on Tuesday to a top of £105 per head and 253.7p per kg to average 189.6p (+7p on the week).
There were also 110 cast sheep forward when ewes sold to £130 for Beltex, £110 for Mules and £80 for Blackfaces.
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 24 prime heifers at Ayr on Tuesday to a top of £1333.30 per head and 228p per kg to average £1187.60 and 212.9p, while 3 prime bulls levelled at £1009.53 and 174.5p.
In the rough ring 36 beef cows averaged 134.7p and 89 dairy cows levelled at 101.4p. Eight bulls averaged 121.5p and 19 clean OTM cattle levelled at 147.6p.
A small show of 9 dairy cattle sold to £1580 and averaged £1261.66.
There were also 125 head forward at the monthly sale of beef breeding cattle. Top prices and averages: Heifers with calf-at-foot to £1800 and averaged £1625 for four; cows and calves £1820 and £1355 for 46; in-calf heifers £1380 and £1215 for 7; bulling heifers £1350 and £947.33 for 60; bulls 2600gns and £2205 for 8.
The firm went on to sell 503 prime hoggs in Newton Stewart yesterday to a top of £95 and 200.1p to average 184.9p (no change on the week).
The 85 cast sheep forward were again dearer on the week with ewes selling to £127 for Blackfaces and £88 for Blackfaces.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article