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.

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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

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

Australia weekly wrap: lamb indicators hit records; cattle yardings rise on processor competition

8 August 2025 — Australia | Australia cattle and sheep wrap: lamb price indicators hit record levels last week, while cattle prices firmed as northern and southern processors competed for stock, according to MLA.

Cattle

Yardings rose 16% to 59,390 head. Most indicators gained 7–20¢/kg lwt; feeder heifer 398¢, restocker heifer 394¢. Processor & Dairy Cow eased to 360–344¢/kg lwt as supply improved.

Sheep

All main lamb indicators set new records, including a Dubbo saleyard high of $477/head. Yardings climbed: lamb +16% to 174,971, mutton +27% to 81,969. Trade and Heavy Lamb pushed above 1,200¢/kg cwt.

Slaughter (w/e 1 Aug): Cattle 150,496 head (−5% w/w, still 8% above the 2025 weekly average). Lamb 357,832 (−3% w/w; ~20% below the YTD average due to plant shutdowns). Sheep 137,340 (+6% w/w).

The Australia cattle and sheep wrap points to tight finished lamb supply and strong bidding for prime cattle. Plant maintenance continues to skew weekly sheepmeat kills, complicating procurement.

Outlook

Watch processor competition for prime cattle, stabilising sheepmeat slaughter as shutdowns wind down, and new-season lamb flow.

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Attribution: Meat & Livestock Australia — “Weekly cattle and sheep wrap,” 8 Aug 2025 (Erin Lukey).

Irish Sheep Trade Prices Hold Steady – Week Ending 2 August 2025

The Irish sheep trade prices August 2025 report highlights steady market conditions with signs of pressure on lamb values. Base quotes eased slightly last week after several weeks of stability.

Irish Lamb Market

Processors are now quoting €7.80–7.85/kg plus QA bonus. Most are paying up to an upper carcase weight of 21kg. According to Bord Bia, higher lamb availability in the UK and key export regions is reducing demand for Irish product.

Deadweight Prices

For the week ending 2 August 2025, the Irish deadweight lamb price averaged €7.80/kg. For context, prices in Great Britain averaged €8.73/kg, while Northern Ireland recorded €7.71/kg. Meanwhile, Southern Hemisphere markets remain competitive. Australian heavy lambs stood at €6.65/kg, and New Zealand lamb eased to €5.03/kg, close to its strongest level since late 2022.

Throughput

Total sheep kill in DAFM-approved plants reached 38,955 head last week. This marked an increase on the week but remained below 2024 levels, when 49,465 head were processed. Year-to-date throughput now totals 1.48 million head, which is 16% behind 2024. Lower numbers have been reported across all categories.

Industry Outlook

Processors continue to seek R-grade lambs at fat scores 2–3, with bonuses paid for Quality Assured (QA) stock. In addition, seasonal demand will play a key role in shaping price trends as the market responds to shifting supply and consumer buying behaviour.

In summary, the Irish sheep trade prices August 2025 update confirms stable but pressured lamb prices, with higher UK and EU supply likely to influence demand in the weeks ahead.

See also: Irish cattle trade: tighter supplies lift quotes; R3 steer hits €7.56/kg

Irish Cattle Trade Update – Week Ending 2 August 2025

The Irish cattle trade August 2025 continues to show tight supplies, with factories competing for livestock. As a result, base quotes have moved higher across all categories.

Cattle Market Performance

Total throughput in DAFM-approved plants reached 25,471 head for the week ending 2 August 2025. This was 915 head more than the previous week. However, volumes were still 28% lower than the same week in 2024, when 32,451 cattle were processed.

Year-to-date slaughter is running 4% behind 2024, with cow throughput falling by 15%. The decline reflects both herd contraction and earlier culling.

This week, factory quotes strengthened. Steers made €7.50–7.60/kg, while heifers achieved €7.60–7.70/kg. Young bulls under 16 months graded U returned €7.80–7.90/kg. In addition, cow prices ranged from €7.10–7.20/kg for P and O grades, rising to €7.30–7.40/kg for R grades, depending on weight and quality.

Deadweight Prices

The R3 steer average increased by 8c/kg to reach €7.56/kg, returning to May’s levels. In comparison, the latest UK R3 steer price was €7.44/kg. This places UK cattle 12c/kg below Irish averages, a sharp reversal from February when Britain led by €1.17/kg. Meanwhile, the EU R3 young bull average stood at €6.76/kg, around 80c/kg below Irish steers. (Prices exclude VAT and include bonuses.)

Live Exports

Exports remain firm despite supply challenges. Up to 26 July, Ireland exported 298,514 head, a rise of 12% year-on-year. Notably, calf exports topped 220,000 head, up 14% on 2024. Moreover, strong demand for weanlings and store cattle came from Northern Ireland, Spain, Eastern Europe, and North Africa.

Source: Bord Bia — Cattle Trade & Prices (week ending 2 August). Bord Bia

Australian beef exports hit fresh record as July shipments reach 150,435t

11 August 2025 — Australia | Australia set another beef-export record in July, shipping 150,435 tonnes of product. That’s 12% more than June’s previous high and 16% above July last year, according to Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).

July is the fourth record month in a year, as processors keep kills high and heavier carcase weights push volumes through the system. MLA notes weekly slaughter has held above 150,000 head regularly since April, while adult-cattle carcase weights averaged 313kg in Q1.

Tight supply among competitors is helping Australia’s share. MLA reports year-to-date declines from Argentina, the US, New Zealand and Canada, with Brazil the main outlier. That imbalance, plus strong demand for consistent, long-shelf-life chilled and frozen product, is underpinning orders into key Asian and North American markets.

Outlook

Watch for any step-down in Brazil as its cattle cycle turns, the impact of seasonal conditions on Australian slaughter, and whether record monthly volumes can be maintained into Q4.

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Attribution: Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) — “Australian beef exports – why are records continually broken?” by Tim Jackson, 7 Aug 2025. Link: https://www.mla.com.au/news-and-events/industry-news/australian-beef-exports--why-are-records-continually-broken/

China extends beef import probe to 26th November, easing near-term risk for exporters

6 August 2025 — China | Beijing has extended its investigation into beef imports by three months to 26 November, giving global suppliers a short reprieve from potential trade curbs while China tries to stabilise an oversupplied domestic market. Officials said the inquiry does not target any single country.

Why it matters

Possible measures (such as quotas) would hit key shippers Argentina, Australia and Brazil. The United States is already feeling pain after China failed to renew many plant registrations in March, leaving “the vast majority” of US facilities ineligible to ship and costing an estimated $4bn in lost opportunities, according to the US Meat Export Federation.

Market backdrop

China imported a record 2.87m tonnes of beef in 2024, but H1 2025 volumes fell 9.5% to 1.3m tonnes as demand slowed. Beijing has stepped up support for the cattle sector and says farm profitability has returned in recent months. Extending the probe “buys time” to see if the industry can recover without safeguards, analysts said.

What to watch next

• Whether China opts for quiet, negotiated fixes rather than formal curbs.

• Any movement on US plant re-registrations.

• Import pace into Q4 as domestic margins improve.

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Source: Reuters, 6 August 2025 — “China extends probe into imported beef, a respite for global suppliers.” Reporting by Ella Cao, Lewis Jackson and Tom Polansek. Link: https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/china-extends-probe-imported-beef-respite-global-suppliers-2025-08-06/