Retail giants step up demand for quality beef sales

A new push exists to produce large volumes of high quality, high-priced, beef sired by native breed bulls for top-tier presentation at both domestic and export supermarkets, according to the National Beef Association (NBA).

It says farmers would ideally use the current market to present well bred, fed and presented, 21-day-old native-breed sired calves to an organised, well structured, buyer.

Chris Mallon, the NBA’s national director, said: “The accent in the fresh beef market is quite suddenly on the production of large numbers of grass fed steers and heifers, bred from Angus, Beef Shorthorn or Hereford bulls, that can attract retail premiums on the back of predictable provenance, taste and tenderness.

“Tesco is currently constructing a 2,500 head a week supply system for certified Angus cattle which is the biggest seen in the UK so far and The Co-operative has confirmed that from the beginning of April it will be on the market for 300 Hereford cross cattle a week.

“At the same time Morrisons is looking for more Beef Shorthorn crosses to feed into its premium beef scheme, Waitrose and M&S want to keep pace with the expanding market for Aberdeen Angus beef, and Waitrose is also committed to buying 300 Hereford cross steers and heifers a week too.”

Dairy farmers should be in no doubt that beef rearers will soon be clamouring for even more native breed sired calves and a professional approach could secure regular additional income, he said.