Calls are being made for more transparency in the deadweight pricing of beef cattle in Scotland when there can be a good 15+p per kg difference between the values quoted to individual farmers and those given to industry levy boards.
Latest figures from Quality Meat Scotland for the week ending May 25 show R4L steers and heifers were quoted at 489.5p and 490.7p per kg respectively, yet two of the main abattoirs in Scotland announced values this week of 472-474p for clean cattle with young bulls 10p less at 462-464p/dwkg.
Interestingly, the prices quoted were actually lower than the All GB steer, heifer and young bull values which take into account all graded cattle slaughtered in all areas of England, Scotland and Wales at 482.7p, 480.5p, and 470p/dwkg respectively.
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Hitting out at the meat processors when the national cow herd is already in decline and there are already huge concerns over future supplies, Neil Shand, chief executive of the National Beef Association said: “There is absolutely no correlation between the prices quoted to individual farmers and those on industry websites.
“We know there are a select number of farmers in Scotland with regular loads of finished cattle who are getting 490p per kg, but the majority are being paid as much as 20p per kg less and yet there are no waiting lists for cattle. Yes, the weather has not helped beef sales over the past six weeks, but the processors cannot keep manipulating beef farmers and expect the cow numbers and the beef cattle to be there in the future unless they pay a fair price to everyone.”
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Mr Shand added that the NBA is already in contact with the UK Government, in a call for more transparency within the red meat sector.
“As part of our manifesto, we will be asking the next government to look into the pricing of cattle for a fairer and more transparent system for farmers and to ensure there is no price manipulation in the beef supply chain similar to what they have achieved in the dairy sector.”
While the figures on AHDB, QMS and LMC websites include the premiums paid for branded Aberdeen Angus, Beef Shorthorn and organic status cattle, many within the industry still believe the premiums being offered do not make up for the stark range of prices being paid for similar quality carcases.
In response to the situation, a spokesperson from the Scottish Meat Wholesalers Association said: “We don’t ever comment on pricing issues as an Association. As always, however, we fully support price transparency and always have.”
No one was available for comment from Quality Meat Scotland.
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