Marfrig Cancels Sale of Uruguay Plants to Minerva

Marfrig cancels Uruguay plant sale to Minerva after months of negotiations. The move ends a proposed deal that would have transferred several of Marfrig’s beef processing facilities in Uruguay to rival Minerva Foods. This sudden decision reshapes expectations for South American beef exports and adds fresh uncertainty to regional capacity.

Why it matters

The fact that Marfrig cancels Uruguay plant sale has direct implications for global beef trade. Uruguay is a premium supplier to Europe, China, and the Middle East. A change of ownership could have altered pricing structures, supply chains, and long-term contracts. By pulling out, Marfrig has maintained the status quo for now, which may bring short-term stability for EU and UK importers but raises longer-term questions.

Market/Context

The Uruguay beef sector is highly competitive, with Minerva already one of the largest exporters in South America. If the sale had gone ahead, Minerva would have further expanded its slaughtering and processing capacity. Marfrig has said it ended the talks for “strategic reasons,” without disclosing detailed financial terms.

This development comes as global beef demand faces volatility. Chinese buyers are still cautious, while high feed costs and exchange rate pressures weigh on South American producers. Uruguay remains attractive thanks to its traceability standards and pasture-based systems, but any shift in plant ownership can quickly affect export volumes.

What to watch

• Whether Marfrig seeks alternative buyers for its Uruguay assets.

• If Minerva pursues other acquisitions to expand its footprint.

• Potential political and regulatory scrutiny around large-scale ownership consolidation.

• The effect on EU and UK beef buyers heading into the seasonal Q4 demand peak.

Attribution

Source: Reuters

See also: Minerva Foods Completes Acquisition of Marfrig Assets

See also: UK Cattle and Sheep Prices Stabilise Despite Challenges

The Irish beef market trends continue to reflect a tightening of cattle supplies across the country.  Prices are holding steady despite seasonal pressures. This stability is drawing attention from processors and exporters alike, as demand remains firm.

Cattle supplies in Ireland fell sharply compared with last year, even as weekly throughput showed a slight rise. Figures from the Agriculture and Food Development Authority (Bord Bia) indicate that 26,268 cattle were processed in the week ending 23 August, up 759 head on the week but 21% below the same period in 2024.

Prime cattle throughput for the year to date remains broadly in line with last year, but cow slaughter numbers are down 14% as higher milk prices and recent heavy culling have tightened supply. Overall cattle kill across Department of Agriculture–approved plants is 6% lower year-on-year.

Processors kept quotes stable this week, offering €7.50–€7.60/kg for steers and €7.60–€7.70/kg for heifers. Prices for young bulls under 16 months rose to €7.90–8.00/kg, while R-grade cows were quoted at €7.40–7.50/kg, with stronger prices available for higher-grading animals.

The average R3 steer price was unchanged at €7.58/kg, reaching levels last seen in May. Notably, Irish cattle now command a premium over the UK, where the average R3 steer price stood at €7.48/kg. In mainland Europe, young bull prices edged up slightly to €6.83/kg, leaving them around 75c/kg lower than Irish levels.

US Tariffs on Brazil to Reshape Global Beef Trade – August 2025

The US tariffs on Brazil beef trade are set to reshape global flows. This decision creates both risks and opportunities for exporters in Europe, Asia, and beyond.

Why It Matters

Brazil is the world’s largest beef exporter. It has long supplied the United States, which remains the biggest global consumer of beef. However, the new 50% US import tariffs on Brazilian beef could make these products less competitive. As a result, rival suppliers such as Australia, Argentina, and the European Union may gain fresh opportunities in the American market.

For UK traders and processors, the move is significant. Shifts in global supply could affect wholesale beef prices and influence import demand in the months ahead.

Market Context

Brazil’s dominance in global beef exports comes from scale and competitive pricing. Yet higher duties may push its shipments away from the US. Instead, more Brazilian beef could flow into China, the Middle East, and North Africa. These regions are already facing inflationary pressure on food imports, which could intensify as extra supply enters their markets.

Meanwhile, Europe might benefit. If Brazilian volumes reduce in the US, exporters in the UK and EU could find stronger demand for high-value beef cuts. Furthermore, Australia’s competitive position may improve, allowing it to capture more of the US trade share.

What to Watch

Going forward, traders should monitor three key points:

• Whether China absorbs the Brazilian beef redirected from the US.

• If American importers increase orders from Australia or South American rivals.

• How these shifts affect UK and EU beef trade competitiveness.

In conclusion, the US tariffs on Brazil beef trade are likely to cause significant changes. Global beef exporters must adapt quickly to remain competitive in 2025.

Source: Reuters, 27 August 2025, link

Why Love Lamb Week Matters

Every September, farmers, butchers, chefs, and consumers across the UK come together for Love Lamb Week. What began in 2015 as a grassroots farmer-led campaign has grown into a national movement. The aim? To celebrate the quality, sustainability, and versatility of British lamb while reminding shoppers, wholesalers, and caterers why this meat deserves a place on their menus.

In this article, I’ll draw on over a decade of experience in the meat and food trade to explain what Love Lamb Week is all about, why it matters to both producers and buyers, and how you can get involved — whether you’re a farmer, a butcher, or someone looking to put a delicious Sunday roast on the table.

The Origins of Love Lamb Week

Love Lamb Week was launched by farmers concerned about falling consumption of lamb in the UK. Despite being a traditional favourite, lamb was increasingly overlooked in favour of chicken and pork. To tackle this, the initiative set out to:

• Highlight the taste and quality of home-produced lamb.

• Educate consumers about seasonality — autumn is when British lamb is at its best.

• Promote lamb’s role in sustainable agriculture.

• Support British farmers by increasing demand.

Today, it’s supported by farming unions, AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board), butchers, supermarkets, wholesalers, and restaurants. It’s a prime example of industry working together to boost both awareness and sales.

Why Lamb Deserves a Place on the Plate

Lamb is more than just a roast for Easter or Christmas. Here are a few reasons why Love Lamb Week champions this versatile meat:

• Superior Flavour
  British lamb is renowned for its distinctive taste. Grass-fed lamb develops a rich, tender flavour that’s hard to replicate with mass-produced meats.

• Nutritional Value
  Lamb is naturally rich in protein, zinc, iron, and B vitamins — all essential for a healthy diet.

• Cooking Versatility
  From slow-cooked shanks to barbecued chops, lamb adapts beautifully to different cuisines. Restaurants are increasingly featuring lamb in street food and international dishes such as lamb kebabs, curries, and tagines.

• Supporting Local Farming
  Buying lamb supports British farmers, rural communities, and sustainable land management.

The Sustainability Story: Why Lamb Fits the Future of Food

One of the strongest messages behind Love Lamb Week is sustainability. Critics often point to livestock farming as environmentally damaging, but British lamb production has unique advantages:

• Grass-Fed and Low Input: Most UK lambs graze natural pastures that aren’t suitable for crops. This means lamb converts grass into high-quality protein with minimal feed inputs.

• Biodiversity Benefits: Grazing sheep help maintain landscapes such as the Lake District, Welsh hills, and Yorkshire Dales. Without them, biodiversity would decline.

• Low Carbon Footprint: According to AHDB data, British lamb has one of the lowest carbon footprints of any red meat worldwide, thanks to efficient farming practices and climate.

• Seasonal Production: Lamb is not a year-round factory product. Celebrating Love Lamb Week in September ties in with the natural peak season when lamb is abundant and at its best quality.

For wholesalers, caterers, and consumers conscious of sustainability, these points make lamb a compelling choice.

Opportunities for Farmers and the Trade

Love Lamb Week is more than a consumer campaign; it’s also an opportunity for the supply chain to build stronger connections.

• For Farmers: It provides a platform to showcase farming standards, animal welfare, and sustainability credentials. Social media campaigns allow farmers to tell their stories directly to consumers.

• For Butchers: A chance to highlight lamb cuts, educate customers on cooking methods, and run promotions. Many butchers find Love Lamb Week boosts footfall.

• For Wholesalers and Caterers: An ideal time to launch lamb-based promotions, menu specials, and bulk offers. Schools, restaurants, and pubs often feature lamb during this week to support the campaign.

How Consumers Can Celebrate Love Lamb Week

If you’re a shopper or home cook, there are plenty of ways to get involved:

• Cook a Roast: A traditional roast leg of lamb with rosemary and garlic remains unbeatable.

• Try New Cuts: Cheaper cuts like neck fillet, shoulder, or mince are perfect for curries, stews, and kebabs.

• Support Local Butchers: Buying from your local butcher ensures you’re supporting the farmers behind the campaign.

• Experiment Internationally: Use lamb in global dishes — Middle Eastern koftas, Greek moussaka, or Indian biryanis.

Love Lamb Week isn’t just about tradition; it’s about discovering new ways to enjoy this meat.

Recipes and Inspiration for Every Market

Here are a few ideas that suit home cooks, caterers, and wholesalers:

• For Families: Quick midweek lamb stir-fry or lamb meatballs in tomato sauce.

• For Restaurants: Moroccan lamb tagine with couscous, or lamb sliders for a modern twist.

• For Wholesale & Catering: Bulk packs of lamb mince and shoulder for curries, school meals, or kebab production.

The campaign encourages sharing recipes online — a valuable way for businesses to connect with consumers and increase engagement.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Love Lamb Week

Since its launch, Love Lamb Week has proven the power of collaboration between farmers, butchers, caterers, and consumers. Each year it grows stronger, with more retailers and restaurants joining in.

Looking ahead, the campaign is expected to expand further into digital marketing, export promotion, and education programmes. For wholesalers and foodservice suppliers, that means more opportunities to showcase lamb to both UK and international markets.

Join the Celebration

Love Lamb Week is more than a date in the farming calendar. It’s a celebration of taste, sustainability, and community. Whether you’re a farmer proud of your flock, a butcher keen to showcase local produce, a wholesaler seeking seasonal opportunities, or a consumer looking for a great meal, there’s a way for everyone to take part.

This September, let’s put lamb back at the centre of the table. Support local, cook something new, and join the nationwide celebration of Love Lamb Week.

FAQs

1. When is Love Lamb Week held?
Love Lamb Week runs annually from 1st–7th September, coinciding with peak lamb season in the UK.

2. Why was Love Lamb Week created?
It was started by farmers to raise awareness about British lamb, encourage consumers to buy more, and support sustainable farming practices.

3. How can businesses get involved in Love Lamb Week?
Farmers, butchers, and wholesalers can run promotions, share recipes, tell their stories on social media, and highlight the sustainability of lamb.

11 August 2025 — UK | The UK should lead real food safety reform, says Dr Jason Aldiss BEM, Executive Director of AIMS.

He argues the country still relies on checks designed for the 19th century, while today’s risks are microbial and often invisible.

“Traditional post-mortem inspection is scientifically obsolete,” said Aldiss. “We’re fighting Salmonella, E. coli and Campylobacter. You can’t see them. A poke-and-sniff check won’t find them.”

Why old checks fall short

These methods were built for diseases such as TB and trichinella. International bodies now back risk-based systems instead.
“Codex calls for outcome-focused controls,” Aldiss noted. “WOAH says old inspection does not address modern hazards. EFSA warns it can even spread contamination.”

Aldiss pointed to tools already in use overseas. In New Zealand, plants use Veritide’s fluorescence scanners to spot visible and invisible faecal contamination in real time.
“Machines don’t tire, don’t take breaks, and give data you can act on. In like-for-like trials, they beat human inspectors,” he said.

He also backed proven decontamination steps: hot-water washes, organic-acid rinses and steam-vacuuming. “These interventions can cut microbe levels by up to 99%. They should be standard, not optional.”

Five changes for UK regulators

Aldiss urged swift action:

• Rewrite rules: replace visual-only checks with risk-based, outcome-led standards.

• Invest: fund validation and rollout.

• Mandate proven interventions where needed.

• Retrain inspectors as tech-led auditors, not lesion hunters.

• Lead at Codex and WOAH to push global reform.

“This isn’t deregulation,” he said. “It’s smart regulation. Protect consumers with science, not ceremony. The world is watching. The UK can set the pace or stay stuck in the past.”

See also: AIMS Urges Government to Embrace AI in Meat Inspection

UK weekly cattle & sheep: all-prime ~640p/kg; lamb NSL SQQ 756p/kg as kill slips

8 August 2025 — UK | GB finished cattle prices edged up again, while deadweight lamb values defied seasonal pressure. AHDB reports the GB deadweight all-prime cattle average at ~640–641p/kg (↑1p w/w) and the GB NSL deadweight SQQ at 756p/kg (↑2p w/w). Clean sheep throughput fell as later lambs and poor grazing slowed the flow.

Another small weekly rise keeps prime cattle near record territory, with limited numbers of heavyweight, finished cattle supporting the trade. Lamb prices remain firm against the seasonal grain, aided by tighter supplies.

Market/Context

Cattle

• Price: All-prime around 640–641p/kg (↑1p). Steers/heifers up a shade; young bulls +2p.

• Throughput: 31,700 head prime slaughter (↑200 w/w; slightly above last year).

• Cows: Overall 509p/kg (↑2p) with 8,600 head forward (↑600). Leaner cows showing; heavy, well-finished cows keenly sought.

• Stores: Forward stores and named-sire natives at premiums; caution on longer-keep types amid forage worries.

Sheep

• Price: GB NSL deadweight SQQ 756p/kg (↑2p); England & Wales liveweight SQQ 347p/kg (↑1p; +39p y/y).

• Throughput: Clean sheep kill 155,100 head (−5,600 w/w; ~−9% y/y). Store demand firm for stronger lambs; appetite softer for long-term stores until grass improves.

What to watch

• Processor competition for prime cattle if grass tightens further.

• New-season lambs and pasture conditions into late August.

• Whether deadweight lamb prices can hold above mid-summer norms as numbers lift.

Attribution

Publisher: Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) — Weekly cattle and sheep market wrap.
Author: Tom Spencer.

Irish pig prices steady as factories hold €2.06–€2.08/kg; Grade E averages €2.00/kg

Week ending 2 August 2025 — Ireland | Pig prices stabilised this week after July’s correction. Grade E averaged €2.00/kg (ex-VAT), while most processors continued to quote €2.06–€2.08/kg.

Key points

• Market steadies after ~20c/kg cuts in early July.

• Finishers report little movement on factory quotes.

• Flat pricing gives some margin relief heading into September drafts.

Market/Context

Bord Bia notes recent downward pressure in the deadweight trade, but the latest week was unchanged. Export competitiveness remains in focus as EU reference prices and world benchmarks (US/Brazil) guide Irish returns.

What to watch

• Whether factories move off €2.06–€2.08/kg through mid-August.

• EU and world reference prices for signals on export demand.

• Weekly throughput as plants return from maintenance and holidays.

By the numbers (w/e 2 Aug)

• Grade E deadweight: €2.00/kg (ex-VAT)

• Factory quotes (reported): €2.06–€2.08/kg

• Recent trend: ~−20c/kg in early July; now stable

Attribution: Bord Bia — Pig Trade & Prices (w/e 2 Aug 2025), plus Bord Bia Pigmeat Price Dashboard and EU/World Reference Prices.