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06 Dec 2024

Brazil’s Meat Production Hits Record High

Brazil’s meat industry reached new heights in the third quarter of 2024. The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) reported unprecedented numbers in beef, pork, and poultry production. This surge reflects Brazil’s growing dominance in the global meat mar...

06 Dec 2024

Irish Cattle Trade & Prices Update: Throughput and Trends

Throughput There were 39,812 cattle processed in DAFM approved plants last week, an increase of just over 1,000 head from the previous week. This uplift is primarily due to an increase in the young bull kill when compared to the previous week. Prime cattle throughput YTD is cu...

06 Dec 2024

Strong Demand Drives Irish Sheep Prices Higher

Quotes Base quotes from the major processors have improved slightly this week with €7.90/kg – €8.00/kg for well finished lambs (+QA bonus) on offer. With well fleshed lambs in demand, some major processors have also increased paid carcass weight limits, with all ma...

06 Dec 2024

EU-Mercosur Trade Deal Nears

BRUSSELS, Dec 6 (Reuters) – The European Union and South America’s Mercosur bloc are expected on Friday to finalise a free trade agreement but it faces a tortuous battle for approval in Europe given firm French opposition. After negotiations spanning more than 20 y...

05 Dec 2024

Five Arrested in Food Crime Probe

NFCU officers, together with police, attended a location in London on Monday 25 November 2024 where they discovered unrefrigerated vans containing 48 sheep carcasses. The meat is thought to be illegal, having undergone a smoking process with its skin on, and is not traceabl...

04 Dec 2024

Icelandic Lamb Gains Protected Status

Reykjavík, Iceland – 4 December 2024 – Icelandic Lamb has officially been granted the prestigious Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status by the European Union, marking a significant achievement for Iceland’s agricultural sector. This certification recognises the u...

03 Dec 2024

Pigs in Blankets: A Christmas Classic

Pigs in Blankets are an undeniable Christmas classic! These delightful, bite-sized treats bring warmth and nostalgia to festive gatherings, whether served as part of the Christmas dinner or as nibbles at a holiday party. Here’s why they’re a must-have: What ...

03 Dec 2024

Paraguay’s Beef Exports to Hit Record High

In the first eleven months of the year, Paraguay has exported some 320,000 tons of beef with revenue reaching 1,6 billion dollars, indicates data from the National Animal Health and Quality Service (Senacsa). This figure and revenue will show that 2024 will be the highest on r...

03 Dec 2024

China Buys More Argentine Beef

China figures as the main market for Argentine beef, having absorbed in nine months to October 78% of exports, based on data from the ABC Consortium, which represents the country’s largest beef exporters. Argentina’s exports of beef totaled 641,900 tons in the first ten mo...

03 Dec 2024

China lifts final bans on Australian red meat

China lifted trade restrictions on two Australian meat processing facilities, allowing the full resumption of red meat exports to the country, the Australian government said on Tuesday. Beijing has now removed restrictions from all 10 Australian abattoirs it banned between 202...

29 Nov 2024

Australian Livestock Market Update

Key points: With a good selection of cattle available, the market has remained stable. The heavy lambs and sheep price gap continues to widen. For the second consecutive week, the largest combined sheep and lamb slaughter on record was achieved. Cattle market The cattle market...

27 Nov 2024

Irish Pig Trade & Prices: An Upward Trend in Deadweight Prices

Prices Deadweight pig prices in Ireland are on an upward trajectory in response to relatively tight supplies for slaughter. Prices have increased steadily week on week from a low of 190c/kg in mid February 2024. The average price paid for grade E pig prices in Ireland for the ...

27 Nov 2024

Irish Beef Prices Soar

Beef prices at the factories have reached an all-time record this week with processors hungry to get extra stock to fill their orders for Christmas. An extra 5-10 cents/kg has been added to the factory quotes for both steers and heifers this week as competition between the mea...

27 Nov 2024

Brazil Resumes Meat Exports to French Stores

French supermarket giant Carrefour apologized so that Brazilian meatpackers would end their boycott of the group and resume deliveries to stores nationwide, Agencia Brasil reported Tuesday. The measure had been adopted after the company’s CEO Alexandre Bompard said last ...

27 Nov 2024

London’s Iconic Smithfield Meat Market to Close Its Doors

London’s historic Smithfield meat market is to shut down for good after its operators voted to reject plans to relocate it. The oldest meat market in the capital, which dates back 850 years, now faces permanent closure from 2028. The original plan was to relocate it to a £1...

26 Nov 2024

Smithfield Market’s 900-Year Run Threatened

Smithfield Market’s 900-Year Legacy Under Threat as Vote Looms on Future London’s historic Smithfield Market could be facing its final days as a crucial vote on its future is set to take place today, 26th November. The 900-year-old meat market, one of the oldest of...

26 Nov 2024

Halal Lamb Claims Third of UK Market Share

Halal meat now accounts for 30% of lamb sales in the UK, according to new research from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). The findings shed light on how the consumption habits of halal meat consumers have evolved since the Covid pandemic and the cost-o...

25 Nov 2024

Chesterfield Poultry Pioneers New Inspection Standards with In-House Team

Chesterfield Poultry, based in Thorne, South Yorkshire, has taken a major step forward in its operations by transitioning from relying on Food Standards Agency (FSA) meat inspectors to creating its own team of Plant Inspection Assistants (PIAs). This move marks a significant m...

23 Nov 2024

Brazil Halts Meat Supply to Carrefour

A significant shift in the Brazilian meat industry has emerged as major companies begin to suspend their supply to Carrefour and its subsidiaries in Brazil. This move comes as a direct response to the French retailer’s recent announcement of a boycott on Mercosur meat produc...

22 Nov 2024

JBS Commits $2.5 Billion to Build Six Factories in Nigeria

SAO PAULO, Nov 21 (Reuters) – Brazilian meatpacker JBS said on Thursday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Nigeria’s government for a $2.5 billion investment plan in the African country, including the building of six new factories. In a statement, JBS...

22 Nov 2024

Brazil and China Edge Closer to Pork Offal Export Deal

SAO PAULO, Nov 21 (Reuters) – Brazil is close to finalizing protocols for exporting pork offal and fish to China, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday, in the wake of a historic visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the South American nation....

22 Nov 2024

Carrefour Boycotts Mercosur Meat Over Trade Deal

Carrefour CEO Alexandre Bompard announced this week that his company would not be selling meat imported from the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) in a move to prevent the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union from pulling through. France’s largest supermark...

21 Nov 2024

UK Cattle and Sheep Market Update: 21st November

Summary of Prices for Week Ending 16 November Cattle The GB overall all-prime deadweight cattle price rose to 522.1p/kg, amid reduced kill numbers. Steers at R4L averaged 536p/kg (+5.7p), while R4L heifers reached 534p/kg (+6.2p). Young bulls saw the largest increase, up 7.1p ...

19 Nov 2024

Irish Cattle Trade & Prices Update: Latest Figures and Trends

Throughput There were 38,791 cattle processed in DAFM approved plants last week, a reduction of just over 1,500 head from the previous week. This uplift is primarily due to an increase in the cow kill when compared to the previous week. Prime cattle throughput YTD is currently...

14 Nov 2024

Lamb prices soar on tight supply

Festive demand has taken off for the lamb sector, with processors appearing keen to stock up ahead of Christmas. Some abattoirs have been quoted at up to 650p/kg in the past week while the overall GB average deadweight SQQ lifted by 11p/kg on the week to 625.2p/kg. Trade at bo...

12 Nov 2024

Jeremy Clarkson to attend London anti-budget farmer rally

Jeremy Clarkson will attend next week’s anti-budget rally as thousands of farmers are expected to descend on Westminster. The star of Clarkson’s Farm will attend the 19 November protest, according to The Telegraph, but it is not yet known whether he will give a speech....

10 Nov 2024

Record Year for Australian Meat Exports

Australian beef exports in October reached 130,049 tonnes, breaking the record for the most beef exported in a single month for the second time this year. Goatmeat exports also reached record-breaking numbers, with lamb and mutton recording very high export numbers. Australian...

10 Nov 2024

Smithfield Market Move Paused

The City of London’s current plan to move Smithfield and Billingsgate markets to a new purpose-built site in Dagenham has been halted. The City of London Corporation, which owns and manages both markets, has not cancelled the move altogether but has stopped its initial plan...

10 Nov 2024

Tönnies Rebrands as Premium Food Group

German meat producer Tönnies Group will operate under the new name of Premium Food Group from next year. The corporate rebranding comes amid the company’s “development” in recent years from being purely a meat processor to a broader food manufacturer. With the new name ...

08 Nov 2024

Russian Firm Boosts Meat Exports

MOSCOW. Nov 7 (Interfax) – Damate Group, Russia’s leading turkey meat producer, exported 8,300 tonnes of turkey and duck meat in 9M 2024, double the amount exported in the same period last year, the company said. Turkey meat exports stood at 8,000 tonnes, of which ...

06 Nov 2024

NZ to Boost China Exports

The New Zealand Government has signed off on a deal to co-invest $8 million to beef up New Zealand’s meat exports to China. New Zealand is currently the second largest source of international lamb for Chinese consumers behind Australia, and the sixth largest supplier of bee...

06 Nov 2024

Pickstock’s New Meat Plant Avoids Environmental Assessment

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been ruled unnecessary for a multi-million pound expansion by an English meat processing firm into Scotland. Shropshire-based Pickstock wants to build an abattoir close to the A74(M) near Ecclefechan in Dumfries and Galloway. The co...

05 Nov 2024

Dawn Meats Lands Korean Contract

Dawn Meats has welcomed the opening of the South Korean market to Irish beef for the first time this week, and announced that it has secured an initial multimillion euro contract for monthly shipments with a leading South Korean company. Dawn Meats Secures Korean Beef Deal Two...

05 Nov 2024

Welsh Red Meat Body Seeks New CEO

Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) is looking to recruit a new CEO to lead the organisation into its next phase of development. The body stands at the forefront of the Welsh red meat industry, championing its development, promotion, and marketing. It has a statutory remit and delivers...

04 Nov 2024

NZ Red Meat Exports Stumble Amid Processing Slowdown

Fewer animals being processed is hitting red-meat export volumes in New Zealand. Meat Industry Association data shows $564 million of red-meat was exported in September – eight per cent less than September last year. The US was the largest export market at $143 million &...

03 Nov 2024

Irish Sheep Trade & Prices: Supply, Demand, and Stability

Quotes Base quotes from the major processors have improved slightly this week with €7.30/kg – €7.55/kg for well finished lambs (+QA bonus) on offer. With well fleshed lambs in demand, some major processors have also increased paid carcass weight limits, with all ma...

03 Nov 2024

Irish Cattle Trade & Prices Update: Throughput and Outlook

Throughput There were 39,969 cattle processed in DAFM approved plants last week, a slight reduction of just over 500 head from the previous week. This uplift is primarily due to an increase in the cow kill when compared to the previous week. Prime cattle throughput YTD is cu...

03 Nov 2024

Freshness Sealed: The Power of Antimicrobial Packaging

As the food industry seeks ever-more efficient ways to extend product shelf life and ensure safety, antimicrobial packaging is emerging as a promising solution. This cutting-edge technology utilizes materials that actively reduce or inhibit the growth of microorganisms, helpin...

02 Nov 2024

BRF Takes Stake in Addoha Poultry

Brazil-headquartered meat major BRF has signed a binding agreement to acquire a 26% stake in Saudi Arabia-based Addoha Poultry Co. The deal, struck through the BRF Arabia joint venture with the Halal Products Development Co. (HPDC), is aimed at bolstering the meat packer’s �...

01 Nov 2024

Australian Cattle and Sheep Market update

Key points: Restocker demand across sheep and cattle returned, with prices rising despite more yardings. Quality young restocker lambs lifted above 900¢/kg in Wagga. Sheep slaughter reached the highest number since 2006 due to price-driven demand. Cattle market The cattle mar...

31 Oct 2024

Kepak Expands into Chilled Sandwiches and Frozen Snacks

Kepak has made its first move into the chilled sandwiches and frozen snacks sector with the acquisition of UK group, Summit Foods. Summit Foods is an established player in the UK’s convenience food sector, turning over about £24 million (€29 million) per year and employin...

31 Oct 2024

Sysco Acquires Campbell’s Prime Meat in Strategic UK Expansion

Sysco, the global foodservice provider, has acquired Campbell’s Prime Meat in a strategic move to expand its footprint in the UK. The acquisition signals Sysco’s commitment to strengthening its supply chain and enhancing product offerings to UK customers, particularly ...

31 Oct 2024

Minerva Foods Completes Acquisition of Marfrig Assets

Minerva Foods has finalised its acquisition of several key assets from Marfrig Global Foods, consolidating its presence as a major player in the industry. The acquisition, first announced earlier this year, received final regulatory approvals and marks a milestone in Minerva�...

28 Oct 2024

New Zealand’s Silver Fern Aims to Strengthen Presence in China

WELLINGTON, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) — New Zealand’s largest red meat exporter Silver Fern Farms expects to leverage the spill-over effect of the upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE) to enhance its understanding of the China market, said Silver Fern Farms Limite...

28 Oct 2024

Irish Cattle Trade & Prices Update: Throughput and Trends

Throughput There were 40,777 cattle processed in DAFM approved plants last week, an uplift of just over 430 head from the previous week. This uplift is primarily due to an increase in the cow kill when compared to the previous week. Prime cattle throughput YTD is currently o...

28 Oct 2024

Irish Sheep Trade & Prices: Uplift in Base Quotes

Quotes Base quotes from the major processors have improved this week with €7.30/kg – €7.40 for well finished lambs (+QA bonus) on offer, with tightening lamb numbers contributing to this uplift. The improvements in the trade are also being supported by stable deman...

27 Oct 2024

Rising Crisis: Government Urged to Address Illegal Meat Imports

The government is under pressure to stop illegal meat being smuggled into the UK, amid warnings of a “foot-and-mouth” level crisis for British farmers. The amount of meat seized by Border Force officials has doubled in a year, according to data obtained by BBC News...

26 Oct 2024

Food safety fee hike ‘catastrophic’ for UK’s small abattoir network

The Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) proposals to increase its fees risks the future of the UK’s dwindling small abattoir network, the sheep sector has warned. The food safety body launched a consultation in the summer concerning recent proposals to raise fees paid by...

26 Oct 2024

Greek Farmers Concerned about Exports Amid Slaughter Ban

As Greece approaches a peak export season for lambs to Italy, Germany and Spain, a ban on slaughtering small livestock due to an outbreak of sheep and goat pox has sparked concerns among farmers. Agriculture Minister Kostas Tsiaras stated the ban will be reassessed in 10 days,...

26 Oct 2024

Amazon Deforestation: Brazil’s Actions Against Meat Packers

São Paulo, Brazil – In a significant environmental enforcement move, Brazilian authorities have imposed multimillion-pound fines on several of the country’s largest meat-packing companies for purchasing cattle from farms linked to illegal Amazon deforestation. This ac...

24 Oct 2024

FSA Appoints Two Businesses for Meat Inspections in the UK

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced the appointment of two businesses to provide inspectors and veterinary professionals for future meat inspections in the UK. The two companies, Eville & Jones and HallMark Veterinary & Compliance Services, have been awarde...

24 Oct 2024

NCBA Challenges Shift from Beef to Plant Proteins in the USA

NCBA challenges shift from beef to plant proteins The National (NCBA) is speaking out against the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s latest recommendations, which advocate for a dietary shift from beef to plant-based proteins such as beans, peas, and lentils. NCBA...

24 Oct 2024

The Latest Trends in the Australian Lamb Market

Key points: Lamb prices have bounced back to late 2021 and early 2022 levels. Producer cautiousness will likely impact market prices. Seasonal conditions have impacted quality and timing of new season lambs being sold. The spring flush is in full swing, with more new-season la...

24 Oct 2024

French Farmers Rally Against EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement

PARIS — French farmers are taking to the streets again. Two of the country’s main farming unions say they are planning a new wave of protests next month to voice their opposition to the trade deal being negotiated between the European Union and South American countries of ...

24 Oct 2024

Concerns Over New Zealand’s Rising Afforestation Rate

Beef and Lamb New Zealand says updated figures of entrie farms being sold into forestry show New Zealand’s current rate of afforestation is not sustainable. The new land use report by Orme and Associates, commissioned by Beef and Lamb New Zealand, showed 261,000 hectare...

23 Oct 2024

Defra Mandates Sheep Abattoir Price Reporting

Large abattoirs will be required to report lamb prices, use standardised dressing specifications, and weigh carcasses to the nearest 0.1kg, under new government measures. The announcement by Defra has been widely welcomed by the farming sector and follows an industry consultat...

23 Oct 2024

Rules eased for free-range poultry

Outdoor-reared poultry that are compulsorily housed during an avian influenza outbreak look set to retain their free-range status, no matter how long they are contained. Currently broilers can only be labelled as “free range” for up to 12 weeks after a compulsory housing o...

23 Oct 2024

China-Brazil Beefs Up Meat Trade

(Bloomberg) — Brazil is in talks to gain Chinese approval for more meat plants to export to the Asian nation, according to Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro. Negotiations are currently under way to obtain clearance for another 10 to 15 beef, chicken and pork facilities,...

17 Oct 2024

The History of Spam: From Wartime Rations to Global Delicacy

The History of Spam: From Wartime Staple to Global Culinary Icon Spam, the iconic canned meat, has had an unexpected journey from wartime necessity to beloved food staple across the world. While some see it as a quirky throwback, Spam’s rich history reveals a versatile p...

17 Oct 2024

The Rise of Australian Beef Exports as US Cattle Numbers Decline

COOMA, Australia, Oct 17 (Reuters) – In a refrigerated room, around two dozen staff in hats, gloves and blue plastic aprons carve and pack carcasses into boxes within minutes of their slaughter. The Monbeef slaughterhouse, owned by Bindaree Food Group and located about 1...

17 Oct 2024

Dismay as Abattoirs Cut Lamb Prices in Bluetongue Zone

Sheep farmers have reacted in dismay at lower prices being offered by abattoirs for lambs from within the bluetongue (BTV) restriction zone. Price cuts of up to 50p/kg have been imposed by some sites looking to cover the additional costs associated with the disease. National S...

17 Oct 2024

UK Sausage Week 2024: A Showcase of Sausage Craftsmanship

The countdown begins for UK Sausage Week 2024. Running from Monday, 28th October to Sunday, 3rd November 2024, the week will see butchers, wholesalers, caterers, and food lovers across the country come together to celebrate one of the nation’s favourite foods: the sausag...

16 Oct 2024

Philippines Lifts Import Ban on UK Cattle and Meat Products

The Philippines has officially lifted its import ban on cattle and meat products from the UK, in a move welcomed by British exporters and the wider agricultural industry. The ban, which had been in place since 2021 due to concerns over bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), o...

16 Oct 2024

Scotland’s Red Meat and Offal Exports Surge to £137m, QMS Survey Reveals

Scotland’s red meat and offal exports beyond the UK have experienced a significant rise, reaching a value of £137 million, according to the latest survey by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS). The report highlights a remarkable recovery in the sector, with a 26% increase in ex...

14 Oct 2024

Irish Pig Trade & Prices: Demand Outpacing Supplies

14 Oct 2024

Irish Sheep Trade & Prices Update: Improvements in Lamb Quotes

Quotes Base quotes for lambs from the major processors have improved slightly this week with €7.00-7.05/kg (+QA bonus) on offer. Relatively tight lamb supplies combined with some stability in demand from the domestic and export markets have contributed to this firming of t...

14 Oct 2024

Latest Update on Irish Cattle Trade and Prices

Throughput There were 40.956 cattle processed in DAFM approved plants last week, an uplift of just over 1,000 head from the previous week. This uplift is primarily due to an increase in the heifer kill of almost 800 head when compared to the previous week. Prime cattle through...

11 Oct 2024

The Rise of Raw Pet Food: What’s Behind the Trend?

In recent years, the pet food industry has seen a significant shift towards raw feeding, with more and more pet owners swapping traditional kibble for fresh, raw ingredients. Known as the “raw food diet,” this approach mimics what animals would eat in the wild, off...

11 Oct 2024

Danish Crown Implements Job Cuts to Save Costs

COPENHAGEN, 11 October (Reuters) – Danish Crown, a major meat producer and exporter, announced on Friday plans to cut around 500 white-collar jobs as part of a significant reorganisation aimed at saving approximately 500 million crowns (£59 million) in annual costs. “...

11 Oct 2024

AIMS Challenges FSA Claims on Veterinary Presence in Meat Establishments

The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) has hit back at recent claims by Food Standards Agency (FSA) Chair, Susan Jebb, regarding the necessity of constant veterinary oversight in meat establishments. AIMS contends that the FSA’s stance undermines the legal ...

11 Oct 2024

Strong Demand Supports Firm Cattle and Sheep Prices: AHDB

The latest market update from the AHDB has revealed that cattle and sheep prices are holding steady as strong demand continues to support the market. In its report for the week ending 10 October 2024, AHDB highlighted key trends in the livestock sector, with both cattle and sh...

10 Oct 2024

UK Government’s Brexit Border Plans Hit Another Roadblock

The UK Government has revealed two more delays in its post-Brexit border control plans, further extending the timeline for the full introduction of checks on goods arriving from the European Union. This marks the latest in a series of postponements since the UK’s departu...

10 Oct 2024

AIMS Welcomes Reopening of Poultry Export Market to South Korea

The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) has welcomed the recent reopening of the export market for poultry to South Korea, following the UK’s earlier success in securing poultry export access to South Africa for the first time in eight years. Tony Goodger, s...

09 Oct 2024

McDonald’s sues major beef producers in US price-fixing lawsuit

NEW YORK (AP) — McDonald’s has some beef with today’s largest meat packers. The fast food giant is suing the U.S. meat industry’s “Big Four” — Tyson, JBS, Cargill and National Beef Packing Company — and their subsidiaries, alleging a price fixing scheme for bee...

07 Oct 2024

Latest Update on Irish Cattle Trade and Prices

Throughput There were 39,854 cattle processed in DAFM approved plants during the w/e 28th September 2024, taking throughput for the year to date to 1,302,187 head. This is a <1% decrease on the corresponding period in 2023 when a total of 1,304,095 cattle were processed. Th...

04 Oct 2024

‘Atypical BSE’ Case Halts Irish Beef Exports to China and Korea

Irish beef exports to China and Korea have been suspended after the Department of Agriculture confirmed a a case of ‘atypical BSE’ in September. It comes just weeks after the Department of Agriculture and Bord Bia led a trade mission to China and Korea to promote Irish bee...

04 Oct 2024

Kepak Invests €8m in Westmeath Meat Plant

Irish meat-processing group Kepak on Thursday cut the ribbon on an €8 million upgrade of its facility in Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath. The investment, which was supported by the Government through the agri-food Capital Investment Scheme, will position the facility to become a hub...

03 Oct 2024

China opens up to 4 Argentine meat plants

A total of four new Argentine meat plants were allowed by China to send beef shipments to the Asian country, it was announced this week by Buenos Aires’ Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Secretariat. According to Argentina’s National Agri-Food Health and Quality...

02 Oct 2024

Why Pork Deserves a Prime Spot on Your Table

When it comes to versatile and flavour-packed meats, pork often flies under the radar. While beef, chicken, and lamb tend to get all the glory, pork has been a culinary staple for centuries—and for good reason. Whether you’re a fan of rich, slow-cooked belly, juicy por...

02 Oct 2024

Tired of Turkey? Delicious Main Course Ideas for Christmas

For many, the centrepiece of Christmas dinner is the iconic roasted turkey. Yet, not everyone is a fan, and for those looking to switch things up or cater to different tastes, there are plenty of equally festive and mouth-watering alternatives. Whether you’re planning a more...

01 Oct 2024

Aldi Scotland Doubles Pork Range with Quality Scottish Meat

Aldi Scotland is doubling its primary pork range, further reinforcing its dedication to Scottish farmers and high-quality, locally sourced produce. In partnership with Browns Food Group, one of Scotland’s leading pork suppliers, and with support from Quality Meat Scotland (Q...

29 Sep 2024

Export returns boost for Welsh red meat

The value of Welsh red meat exports has risen substantially with Welsh Beef enjoying a 14 per cent rise and Welsh Lamb six per cent year on year, according to Hybu Cig Cymru-Meat Promotion Wales’ (HCC) analysts. Some 9,000 tonnes of beef were exported in the first six months...

28 Sep 2024

The Impact of Food Safety Charge Increase on Small Abattoirs

Rural campaigners have warned that any increase in Food Standards Agency’s charges could ‘decimate’ the small abattoir revival effort. The FSA, the UK’s food safety regulator, has issued a call to evidence in relation to its charging structure for offic...

27 Sep 2024

UK Cattle & Sheep Trade Update: Fluctuations in Cow Prices

Cattle The average GB deadweight prime cattle price once again saw another jump for the week ending 21 September of just over 2p/kg to sit at 504.1p/kg. This now sits 27p higher than the same week in 2023, and over £1 higher than the five-year average. Breaking this down in...

27 Sep 2024

How Does the Australian Red Meat Industry Compare Globally?

Earlier this week, MLA released the 2024 State of the Industry Report, a catch-all document on the economic importance of the Australian red meat sector and how we stack up against our global counterparts. The report uses calendar and financial year data from 2023 to cover in...

27 Sep 2024

Australian Cattle and Sheep Market Report update

Cattle market The cattle market generally eased this week, with the exception of the Dairy Cow Indicator. The easing in prices has been motivated by a slight decline in quality. Overall cattle yardings lifted by 5,064 head or 8% to 66,907 head, and Queensland experienced the s...

27 Sep 2024

New Zealand: Alliance Group’s Proposal to Close Smithfield Plant

Alliance Group has announced a proposal to close its Smithfield meat processing plant in Timaru, South Canterbury. If confirmed, the proposal would mean that sheep meat, calves and night shift venison processing would cease at the Smithfield plant. Alliance would continue veni...

27 Sep 2024

Isle of Man Meats Launches Butchery Apprenticeship Programme

Isle of Man Meats has officially launched its butchery apprenticeship programme. Aimed to combat the growing global shortage of skilled butchers and to ‘invest’ in the future of local talent, the new programme provides young people with valuable training in the trade, offe...

27 Sep 2024

Defra tightens pork import rules to reduce ASF risk

Defra has tightened the rules around personal pork imports to strengthen safeguards against deadly African swine fever entering the UK, protecting the country’s £8bn pig industry. From 27 September, personal imports of pork and pork products from the European Economic Area ...

27 Sep 2024

AIMS Raises Concerns Over FSA’s Meat Charge Increase Plans

The Head of External Affairs for AIMS (Association of Independent Meat Suppliers), Dr Jason Aldiss, has expressed growing concerns over the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) plans to raise charge rates for the meat industry. “Inflationary pressures are affecting all sectors, y...

26 Sep 2024

Paraguay Plans to Boost Exports to the UK

Mercosur partner Paraguay, with a most unfavourable trade balance with UK is planning an ambitious project to enable the country in a few years reach an export bill of some US$ 900 million annually. The ambitious forecast was revealed in the report «Opportunities UK – Parag...

26 Sep 2024

GB Pig Prices Update: Drop in EU-spec SPP

Weekly pig prices and slaughter data for Great Britain. The EU-spec SPP dropped back again during the week ended September 21, losing 0.29p to 208.97p/kg. It has now lost 1.21p over the past four weeks to dip below 209p/kg for the first time since February 2023, and stands 1...

26 Sep 2024

New Zealand’s Red Meat Sector Welcomes New Trade Agreement with the UAE

New Zealand’s red meat sector has warmly welcomed the announcement of a new trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), viewing it as a significant opportunity to expand market access and strengthen economic ties with the Gulf region. The UAE is a key trading part...

26 Sep 2024

Global Poultry Markets Remain Bullish Amid Rising Demand

Global poultry markets are poised for continued growth, with strong demand driving bullish forecasts, according to the latest quarterly report from Rabobank, which points to rising global consumption and constrained supply as key factors bolstering market optimism. The report ...

26 Sep 2024

Minerva’s Acquisition of Marfrig Plants Receives Regulatory Approval

São Paulo, September 2024 – Minerva Foods, one of South America’s largest meat processors, has successfully received regulatory approval for its highly anticipated acquisition of several key processing plants from Marfrig Global Foods. The deal, valued at approximatel...

25 Sep 2024

Irish Cattle Trade & Prices Update

Throughput There were 33,058 cattle processed in DAFM approved plants during the w/e 24 August, 2024, taking throughput for the year to date to 1,134,248 head. This is on par with the corresponding period in 2023 when a total of 1,132,248 cattle were processed. There have been...

25 Sep 2024

New Isle of Man Meats Chairman: Tackling Abattoir Challenges

The newly appointed chairman of the Isle of Man’s abattoir Meat Plant has said his priority in the role was to get to understand the challenges facing the facility. Damien Corcoran is one of five new directors appointed to the board of the Meat Plant, which receives abou...

24 Sep 2024

Neil Powell Butchers crowned Britain’s Best Butcher’s Shop

Abergavenny’s Neil Powell Butchers has won the prestigious title of Britain’s Best Butcher’s Shop at the 2024 Meat Management Industry Awards. This award is a proud moment for the entire Powell family, whose roots in traditional butchery roots span decades across Herefor...

24 Sep 2024

Irish Pig Trade & Prices Update: Upward Trend Continues

24 Sep 2024

AIMS Appoints New Executive Director

The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr Jason Aldiss BEM BVSc MRCVS as its new Executive Director, effective from January 2025. Jason was selected after a rigorous selection process, emerging as the ideal candidate f...

23 Sep 2024

Scottish prime cattle prices reach record amid strong demand

Prime cattle prices in Scotland surged to unprecedented levels in the first half of September, driven by a seasonal reduction in beef production and strong demand. The price of R4L grade steers reached £5.17 per kilogram deadweight (dwt) during the second week of September at...

23 Sep 2024

Halal meat brand announces plans for new drive-thru stores

A halal butcher has unveiled plans for the launch their new drive-thru stores in the UK and Dubai. Tariq Halal Meat said the launch of the new concept drive-thru stores aims to service the ‘modern consumer’s need for quick, hassle-free access’. Kunal Patel, CEO of ...

21 Sep 2024

Australian Cattle and Sheep Market Report update

Cattle market This week, cattle yarded through saleyards eased 21% to 53,161 head, though year-to-date throughput remains 29% above 2023 levels. The cattle market was mixed this week. Restockers experienced some recovery, with the National Young Cattle Indicator lifting 7¢ to...

21 Sep 2024

Australia: Lamb Prices Soaring 79-158% Above Last Year

The national lamb market today is very different to what it was 12 months ago. Drying conditions and concerns of an emerging El Niño event have impacted market confidence, lifting turn-off through saleyards. Last year, the flock had been rebuilding for three years and was o...

19 Sep 2024

New Directors Appointed to Isle of Man’s Meat Plant Board

Five new directors appointed ‘Substantial’ changes to the board of the Isle of Man’s Meat Plant have been made with immediate effect. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture says it follows months of review and consideration, with the aim of stabi...

19 Sep 2024

British Red Meat Showcased at Miami Food & Beverage Show

Quality British red meat has sparkled in the sunshine state for major food service sector players from the US and beyond. Four red meat export businesses joined AHDB at the Americas Food & Beverage Show in Miami from 16-18 September to showcase British pork and lamb. Visit...

18 Sep 2024

AIMS Calls for Change to Make Food Safer, Cut Costs, and Stop Food Crime

The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) is calling for big changes to how we check the safety and quality of food in the UK. Right now, the systems in place have allowed some high-profile failures, putting both businesses and consumers at risk. But there’s good ...

18 Sep 2024

Inconsistencies in border inspections ‘crippling’ meat industry

Varying standards of both physical checks and paperwork requirements for meat products at the UK’s border control posts (BCPs) are causing major issues for processors. The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (Aims) says veterinary failures are costing the industry mill...

18 Sep 2024

UK’s ‘not for EU’ meat and dairy labelling plan postponed indefinitely

Government plans to force food manufacturers to put “not for EU” labels on all meat and dairy products sold across Britain next month have been indefinitely postponed after warnings that the scheme could cause “chaos” for producers and suppliers. The government will i...

18 Sep 2024

New Zealand: Innovative Spray to Extend Red Meat Shelf Life

Researchers from Otago University, led by Dr. Sam Wardell and Dr. Daniel Pletzer, have secured a $1 million grant from New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to develop an innovative spray aimed at controlling red meat spoilage. This spray u...

17 Sep 2024

Australia reaches trade deal with UAE to boost agriculture exports

SYDNEY, Sept 17 (Reuters) – Australia said on Tuesday it had reached a trade deal with the United Arab Emirates that would remove tariffs for about 99% of Australian products, and resulting in savings of A$135 million ($91 million) in the first year. The UAE is Australia...

17 Sep 2024

Irish Pig Trade & Prices Update: Tight Supplies Drive Upward Trend

Prices: Deadweight pig prices in Ireland are on an upward trajectory in response to relatively tight supplies for slaughter. Prices have increased steadily week on week from a low of 190c/kg in mid February 2024. The average price paid for grade E pig prices in Ireland for th...

17 Sep 2024

Quality Meat Scotland launches marketing campaign

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has proudly launched its new marketing campaign, ‘When You Know, You Know’ developed with Edinburgh-based creative agency, Multiply. It highlights to consumers that there is simply no match for the livestock born and reared in Scotland under the...

16 Sep 2024

Fray Bentos: The History and Rise of an Iconic Brand

The Story of Fray Bentos: From Beef Boom to Iconic Brand Fray Bentos is a brand that has become synonymous with hearty pies and canned meats, but its story is rich in history, innovation, and international connections. Originating in South America, it has evolved into a househ...

15 Sep 2024

Why Venison Deserves a Spot on Your Table

Why Venison Deserves a Spot on Your Table: A Delicious and Sustainable Choice When it comes to choosing meats for your next meal, venison might not be the first option that comes to mind. However, it’s a meat that is becoming increasingly popular, and for good reason. One of...

15 Sep 2024

Nottingham Council Implements Meat and Dairy Ban at Meetings

A city council has banned meat and dairy, promising to only serve plant-based food and drink at internal meetings from this month. Nottingham council confirmed the move at a meeting on Monday (September 9). Animal rights campaigners have praised the local authority following t...

14 Sep 2024

Beef exports under threat from EU deforestation rules

Meat processors are warning of a total loss of access to the all-important EU market for beef from next year, blaming Defra for failing to comply with the EU’s new deforestation regulations. These rules will kick in fully in 2025 and are designed to ensure that any products ...

13 Sep 2024

Australian Cattle and Sheep Market Report w/e 6th Sept 2024

Cattle market The cattle market has been generally positive, with the exception of the Feeder Steer Indicator. Yardings eased by 818 to 61,603 head and year-to-date yardings are up by 27%. The Feeder Steer Indicator eased by 7¢ to 364¢/kg liveweight (lwt), yardings eased sli...

13 Sep 2024

Calls to reinstate Orkney abattoir

Calls to reinstate an abattoir in Orkney have gained the attention of Scotland’s agriculture minister, Jim Fairlie. A meeting has been secured with Mr Fairlie by MSPs, amid cross-party calls for support of bespoke abattoir solutions in Orkney. Speaking at Rural Affairs Quest...

12 Sep 2024

Brazil asks EU to hold off on implementing deforestation law

BRASILIA, Sept 11 (Reuters) – Brazil on Wednesday asked the European Union not to implement regulations in its deforestation law at the end of the year as scheduled and asked for it to be revised to avoid hurting Brazilian exports. In a letter to the European Commission ...

10 Sep 2024

Ireland: Tighter Cattle Supplies Set to Boost Autumn Trade

Prime cattle supplies are set to tighten for the last quarter of this year and into early 2025, according to Bord Bia. And while the cow kill is up 10pc for the year to date, an improving milk price and some improvement in grass supplies may see farmers holding back on culling...

09 Sep 2024

Why Lamb Deserves a Spot on Your Table

When it comes to culinary delights, lamb stands out as a uniquely versatile and delicious option among meats. Whether you’re hosting a lavish dinner party or enjoying a family meal, incorporating lamb into your menu not only elevates the dining experience but also of...

07 Sep 2024

Tönnies to buy Vion’s German Beef Operations

Vion Food Group has successfully brokered a commercial agreement with Tönnies Group for the acquisition of the majority of Vion’s German beef operations. This proposed transaction is a direct outcome of the German portfolio review initiated in January 2024 and signifies a s...

06 Sep 2024

UK Cattle & Sheep Trade & Prices w/e August 31st 2024

Cattle Finished prime cattle prices ticked up again across most regions in the week ending 31 August. This week included the Bank Holiday Monday, as prime cattle numbers saw a dip of an estimated 2,600 on the week before to 29,500 head. However, estimated slaughter remained e...

06 Sep 2024

Irish Pig Trade & Prices w/e August 24th 2024

Prices Deadweight pig prices in Ireland are holding relatively stable after increasing strongly from a low of 190c/kg in mid-February until early August. The average price paid for grade E pig prices in Ireland for the w/e 24 August 2024 was 231c/kg excluding Vat. The curren...

06 Sep 2024

Irish Cattle Trade & Prices w/e August 24th 2024

06 Sep 2024

Australian Cattle and Sheep Market Report w/e 30th August 2024

Cattle The cattle market, although generally mixed, was still supported by a strong foundation this week. Yardings eased by 5,897 to 48,642 head, with year-to-date yardings 7% above current levels. The Heavy Steer Indicator eased by 2¢ to 345¢/kg liveweight (lwt), and prices...

06 Sep 2024

BMPA calls for new veterinary agreement with EU

The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) has called for the government to press ahead with negotiating a new veterinary agreement with the EU, in a new Meat Industry Manifesto. Launching the manifesto, the BMPA warns that the British abattoir industry is under threat f...

06 Sep 2024

Isle of Man bans some EU imports to prevent ‘goat plague’

Importing certain sheep and goat products from the European Union to the Isle of Man has been banned to prevent the highly contagious infection known as “goat plague”. The strict controls, which include postal imports of meat, cheese and milk, are to protect Manx a...

05 Sep 2024

Fall in number of British abattoirs risks ‘seriously jeopardising’ food security

Abattoir numbers have declined from about 2,500 in the 1970s to just 203 today, the British Meat Processors Association said. The fall in the number of British abattoirs from about 2,500 in the 1970s to just 203 now risks “seriously jeopardising” the country’s food secur...

05 Sep 2024

ABP becomes the first Irish beef processor to export to South Korea

ABP Food Group has become the first Irish beef processor to launch in the South Korean market by securing an export agreement with meat importer K Meat. The company said this significant long-term supply agreement has seen it deliver three shipments so far from its locations i...

05 Sep 2024

Hilton Food Group Sees Profits Surge on Increased Volumes

Hilton Food Group’s profits jumped over the first half of the year following significant volume growth in core meats. The food packaging giant revealed its adjusted pre-tax profits climbed by 37.8 per cent at constant currency levels to £33.5million in the six months en...

04 Sep 2024

GB pig prices: SPP falls to lowest level since Feb 2023

The EU-spec SPP lost 0.71p during the week ended August 31 to reach 209.37p/kg, more then cancelling out gains of 0.5p made over the previous three weeks. The price index has fallen to its lowest level since February 2023 and is now more than 15p below the same week last year ...

04 Sep 2024

NPA Calls for Removal of Tolerance on Personal Pork Imports

The NPA is calling for the government to remove the current 2kg allowance for personal pork imports, to match new measures introduced to protect the sheep sector. The NPA has been urging the government to take this step for a long time, in the face of growing evidence that por...

03 Sep 2024

Uncertainty Looms for Poland’s Pig Industry Once Again

Poland’s pig industry made it through a difficult summer. The profitability of many farms declined. There is no certainty that the rest of the year will be much better. A surge in farmgate prices in 2023 brought some long-anticipated relief to Poland’s pig farmers, but the...

02 Sep 2024

Boparan Holdings Announces Sale of European Poultry Business

Ranjit Singh Boparan is planning a “transformation” of his businesses, after announcing the intention to sell his European poultry business. Boparan, the owner of 2 Sisters Food Group said he planned to sell his European poultry operation, currently part of 2 Sisters paren...

02 Sep 2024

Smaller Abattoir Fund Grant Scheme: Deadline Approaching

Smaller Abattoir Fund Grant Scheme Closes Monday 30th September The Scheme The SAF grant scheme closes soon and we understand that many eligible abattoirs have yet to make an application. The scheme represents an excellent opportunity and can fund many types of capital invest...

02 Sep 2024

English Pig Breeding Numbers Plummet to All-Time Low

The English pig breeding has fallen to the lowest level ever recorded, despite an overall increase in pig numbers. Defra’s June livestock population update for England shows that, far from showing any signs of recovery, the breeding herd, including boars, fell back by a f...

02 Sep 2024

Warwick Students’ Union drops vegan pledge

Warwick Students’ Union (SU) has confirmed it will no longer be implementing a fully plant-based catering service by 2027, citing financial challenges. The decision, made by the unions’ Board of Trustees, comes despite the passing of a motion last year that requested all...

30 Aug 2024

Irish Pig Trade: Steady Increase in Deadweight Prices

30 Aug 2024

Police Warn of Unsafe Meat After Sheep Theft in Worcestershire

People in Worcestershire are being warned not to eat meat bought from suspicious sources as it could be unsafe. Three sheep stolen in Chaddesley Corbett may have been illegally slaughtered, according to West Mercia Police. The force added that the animals were on medication wh...

30 Aug 2024

Australian Cattle and Sheep Market Report w/e 23rd August 2024

Cattle market The cattle market was mixed this week, with increases in the Heavy Steer and Processor Cow indicators. Yardings eased for most indicators except for the Feeder Steer and Restocker Yearling Steer, which lifted by 3,046 to 53,855 head. The Feeder Steer Indicator ea...

29 Aug 2024

UK to join CPTPP by 15 December

The UK has secured the sixth and final ratification required to trigger our accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) before the end of this year. CPTPP is a free trade area spanning five continents and almost 600 million pe...

28 Aug 2024

From Soho to Everywhere: The Rise of the Kebab Shop in the UK

The Rich History of the Kebab Shop Nestled in the bustling streets of London, the first Turkish Restaurant in the UK began trading in 1940s Soho as The Istanbul. The kebab shop has become a cornerstone of culinary heritage and others like it only flourished in the 1970s. Found...

28 Aug 2024

£38m ‘Virtual’ Centre Launched to Study Alternative Proteins

A £38 million “virtual” centre that will study whether alternative protein sources such as lab-grown meat, plant proteins and insects could become part of the UK diet is due to be launched in the UK. The National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (Napic), headed up by...

28 Aug 2024

Irish Cattle Trade & Prices w/e August 17th 2024

Throughput There were 32,065 cattle processed in DAFM approved plants during the w/e 17 August, 2024, taking throughput for the year to date to 1,101,190 head. This is a -3,416 head or 0.5% decrease on the corresponding period in 2023 when a total of 1,097,774 cattle were proc...

28 Aug 2024

QMS ‘Meat the Market’ Workshops for Farmers

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) is delighted to announce a series of “Meat the Market” workshops designed to provide farmers with essential knowledge on carcass grading, market specifications, and customer requirements. These workshops will take place at leading proces...

27 Aug 2024

Ireland: Undercurrent of weakening trade threatens lamb prices

While overall, there is little change to the trade for the lambs at the factories for this week, there is an undercurrent of a weakening in the trade being threatened. The processors are quoting 700-710c/kg for the lambs plus the usual 10-20c/kg for quality assurance. The supp...

27 Aug 2024

Beef market held up by tightening supply

Tightening beef markets may continue to give price support for the rest of the year, with lamb prices also seeing support. Deadweight beef prices lagged behind the year before during the three months between April and June, but since then they have pulled ahead. The most recen...

27 Aug 2024

Smithfield Foods Announces Separation of European Operations

Aug 27 (Reuters) – Smithfield Foods, the world’s largest pork processor, on Tuesday announced the separation of its European operations as the Virginia-based firm plans to list in the United States. WH Group, Smithfield’s China-based parent group, was working...

27 Aug 2024

Restrictions after bluetongue virus detected in sheep

A sheep in Norfolk has become the first animal to test positive for the bluetongue virus since March. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) said a case was confirmed on a farm close to Haddiscoe, external, near Beccles. A 20km (12.4 mile) temporary...

26 Aug 2024

Makro planning Argentine exodus?

Makro, a leading wholesale supermarket chain where anyone can shop at more convenient prices, has announced its decision to leave crisis-ridden Argentina after some 30 years in the South American country where sales keep plunging despite President Javier Milei’s administ...

26 Aug 2024

France Starts New Avian Influenza Vaccination Campaign

The French department of agriculture has purchased another 67.75 million doses of a vaccine against high pathogenic avian influenza. The new avian influenza vaccination campaign will begin on 1 October. The government will cover 70% of the costs during the first 3 months of th...

25 Aug 2024

Uruguay seeks to reduce its reliance on China for beef exports

Uruguay is committed to lessen its dependence on the Chinese market for its sales of meat and beef in particular. In recent years China, as with most other Latin American countries has become its main trade partner, absorbing non processed agricultural commodities and minerals...

25 Aug 2024

Shrinking Supply Threatens to “Destabilise” Welsh Beef Industry

The future stability of the Welsh beef industry could be in jeopardy after new half-yearly data reveals a serious shrinkage in cattle supply. There were 213,200 calf birth registrations in Wales during the first six months of 2024, a decrease of over 10,000 calves year-on-year...

25 Aug 2024

Wagyu beef’s wholesale price falls to 4-year low as consumption slows

TOKYO — Wholesale prices of wagyu beef in Japan have fallen to the lowest level since June 2020 when demand for meat from the Japanese cattle breeds slumped amid the COVID-19 pandemic. With prices showing no signs of a rebound, farmers — already tormented by risin...

25 Aug 2024

Waitrose puts lamb hearts back on menu

Waitrose is to reintroduce lamb hearts to its stores as Britons embrace more traditional cuts of meat. The supermarket scrapped selling the hearts in 2016, having first put them on the menu five years earlier. But the chain will offer the delicacy for sale again from Wednesday...

24 Aug 2024

‘No mistreatment’ in activists’ undercover abattoir footage

Undercover footage of a Suffolk abattoir published by animal rights campaigners shows no mistreatment of pigs, according to a leading vet who has watched the clips. This week, the Animal Justice Project (AJP) released a six-minute video of its 2023 operation at C&K Meats, ...

24 Aug 2024

Agricultural Exports from Russia See 10%-11% YoY Growth in 2024

KAZAN. Aug 23 (Interfax) – Russian agricultural exports are 10%-11% higher year-on-year in 2024 in terms of tonnage, Agriculture Minister Oksana Luth told journalists in Kazan. However, there is a lag in terms of value compared to last year’s figures owing to a dec...

23 Aug 2024

Inspired Pet Nutrition acquires Butcher’s Pet Care

Inspired Pet Nutrition (IPN), an independent UK pet food company controlled by CapVest Partners, has announced the acquisition of Butcher’s Pet Care (BPC), a manufacturer of wet pet food. Terms of the transaction are not being disclosed, but it’s expected to be complet...

23 Aug 2024

Australian Cattle and Sheep Market Report w/e 16th August 2024

Cattle market The cattle market was generally positive this week despite a 14¢ decline in heavy steer prices. Yardings eased once again, totalling 48,488 head. The National Young Cattle Indicator lifted 14¢ to 357¢/kg liveweight (lwt). This is the second-highest price this ...

23 Aug 2024

Major changes planned for Bridport Abattoir

EXTENSIONS and other changes are planned for a vacant slaughterhouse at Mangerton Lane, Bradpole. If agreed it could result in a doubling of staff, from 20 to 40, and 1,400 square metres of extra space. The planning proposal is currently out for public consultation with a Sept...

23 Aug 2024

Russia’s Pork Production to Reach 7.1 Million Tonnes by 2030

UFA. Aug 22 (Interfax) – The National Union of Pork Producers forecasts that Russia will increase annual pork production to 7.1 million tonnes in live weight by 2030, Bashkir Meat Company LLC said. “By 2030 pork production in the country will increase to 7.1 millio...

22 Aug 2024

Simulation exercise tests UK preparation for ASF outbreak

The NPA and AHDB have hosted held an ASF simulation exercise, bringing together around 30 individuals from different organisations and government departments to discuss the consequences of an outbreak. The event, in London in late-July, was structured around a hypothetical sce...

22 Aug 2024

Vion sells shares in two German meat sites

Vion Food has signed an agreement to sell its shares in the Vilshofen and Landshut sites to Erzeugergemeinschaft Südbayern (EG Südbayern), which previously held a 49% stake in these sites. The transaction is expected to close later this year, subject to customary closing con...

22 Aug 2024

Isle of Man Meat Plant Management Faces No Confidence Vote

A farmer’s union has declared a vote of no confidence in the management of the Isle of Man’s government-subsidised Meat Plant. The Manx National Farmers’ Union (MNFU) issued an open letter calling for action to be taken. The letter said an increase in cancell...

21 Aug 2024

Australian farmers increasingly concerned about government policy

CANBERRA, Aug 21 (Reuters) – A rising number of Australian farmers are disgruntled with the government’s climate and agricultural policies, a survey showed on Wednesday, as measures to protect the environment draw farmers’ ire in Europe and some other place...

21 Aug 2024

Uncontrolled spread of ASF in Ukraine poses threat to UK

African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks on farms supplying Ukrainian troops and the general public pose a threat to the UK’s pig industry, ministers have been warned. According to the Ukrainian Meat Industry Association (MIA), some farmers dealing with outbreaks have submitted v...

20 Aug 2024

France to start second bird flu vaccination campaign in October

PARIS, Aug 20 (Reuters) – France will launch a second vaccination campaign against avian influenza among farm ducks in October after a successful inaugural programme last year, Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau said on Tuesday. The disease, commonly called bird flu, wa...

20 Aug 2024

Irish Sheep Trade & Prices w/e August 10th 2024

Quotes Base quotes for spring lambs from the major processors have improved slightly this week with €7.00-7.05/kg (+QA bonus) on offer. Relatively tight lamb supplies combined with some stability in demand from the domestic and export markets have contributed to this firming...

20 Aug 2024

Irish Cattle Trade & Prices w/e August 10th 2024

Throughput There were 30,699 cattle processed in DAFM approved plants during the week ending 10 August 2024, taking throughput for the year to date to 1,069,125 head. This is a +6,100 head or 0.5% increase on the corresponding period in 2023 when a total of 1,063,024 cattle we...

20 Aug 2024

Russian pork producers target EU’s share of China’s pork market

MOSCOW, Aug 19 (Reuters) – Russian pork producers are aiming to capture 10% of China’s pork import market in the coming years from a standing start, seeking to take advantage of trade tensions between the European Union and China, the world’s biggest pork con...

20 Aug 2024

Ireland: Lamb prices steady as ewe offerings fall

The sheep trade this week has shown signs of stability for lamb prices, but the same cannot be said for offerings for ewes from some processors. This week (beginning Monday, August 19), base prices for spring lambs are at €7/kg up to €7.05/kg, while quality assured (QA)...

20 Aug 2024

New Zealand Sheep and Cattle Numbers Decline Amidst Carbon Forestry, Drought, and Low Prices

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) has released its annual Stock Number Survey, showing a notable decline in both sheep and cattle numbers as of 30 June 2024. The reduction follows significant decreases in the past couple of years. While the primary driver in previous years has b...

20 Aug 2024

Meat industry decries increased border taxes

Additional costs for importing meat and plant products from the EU have disadvantaged meat traders, who warn of excessive increases for little to no benefit. The introduction of “common user charges” on imports in late April were anticipated to be less than £145 a lorry. ...

19 Aug 2024

Beef Consumption in Argentina Hits 26-Year Low

Beef consumption in Argentina dropped 14.1 percent in the first seven months of 2024 year-on-year and is at its lowest level in the last 26 years, according to data from a top industry chamber. A report by the CICRA (Argentine Chamber of Industry and Trade of Meats and Related...

16 Aug 2024

Australian cattle and sheep market wrap w/e 9th August 2024

Cattle market The cattle market has been generally positive with a 12% lift in the heavy steer price, while yardings eased by 24,406 to 50,244 head (a 30% reduction). The Processor Cow Indicator rose by 20¢ to 290¢/kg liveweight (lwt) while the Dairy Cow Indicator eased by 4...

16 Aug 2024

New Zealand sheep production set to fall

Key points: New Zealand sheep and lamb slaughter rose over 2023–24 to 22.2 million head. In June 2024, slaughter fell 16% when compared to 2023 numbers. Improved conditions on the North Island are likely to assist flock rebuilding. The New Zealand sheep flock has been fallin...

16 Aug 2024

Minerva and Marfrig’s Asset Deal Conditionally Approved in Brazil

Minerva’s asset deal with Marfrig has been granted conditional approval by Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE). Minerva Foods and Marfrig Global Foods are two of the largest meat processors in Brazil. Minerva is focused on beef production an...

15 Aug 2024

Slump in sales of sheepskins and cow hides hits abattoirs

A once lucrative by-product for abattoirs is increasingly becoming a cost for the sector, with sales of sheepskins and cow hides still struggling to recover to pre-pandemic levels. Demand has reportedly been sluggish due to increased labour and energy costs associated with pro...

14 Aug 2024

Meat Processing and Technology: A Modern-Day Investigation

In today’s fast-paced world, technology is playing an increasingly important role in all industries, including meat processing. With advancements in robotics and automation, the meat processing industry is undergoing a transformation like never before. This investigation...

14 Aug 2024

NSA urges government action on illegal sheep meat imports

Vast quantities of sheep meat have been brought into the UK illegally during the past few months, according to industry intelligence. The National Sheep Association (NSA) called for the “alarming rise” in illegal sheep meat imports to be addressed urgently by the new Labou...

13 Aug 2024

Argentina and China: Strengthening Ties through Beef Trade

Argentina’s economic relationship with China has become increasingly important, with growing trade highlighted by increasing Argentine beef exports, points out the English language China Daily. Something which to a certain point is surprising, given the electoral campaign sp...

13 Aug 2024

Danish Crown Appoints Niels Duedahl as CEO

(Bloomberg) — Danish Crown A/S hired Niels Duedahl from energy firm Norlys AS to lead Europe’s biggest pork producer as it combats flagging demand. Duedahl, who has helmed Norlys since 2009, will start on Sept. 2, according to a statement on Monday. He takes over fro...

12 Aug 2024

EU Targeting New Pork Export Markets Beyond China

The antidumping investigation looking at EU pork imports into China has been influencing global trade, as European countries look to target alternative markets. See also: Potential EU-China Trade War and its Impact on Global Pork Trade China issues plan and preliminary results...

12 Aug 2024

Irish Cattle Trade & Prices w/e August 3rd 2024

Throughput There were 32,858 cattle processed in DAFM approved plants during the week ending August 3rd 2024, taking throughput for the year to date to 1,038,426 head. This is a +8,731 head or 2% increase on the corresponding period in 2023 when a total of 1,029,695 cattle wer...

12 Aug 2024

Irish Sheep Trade & Prices w/e August 3rd 2024

Quotes Base quotes for spring lambs from the major processors have improved again this week with €7.00- €7.20/kg (+QA bonus) on offer. Relatively tight lamb supplies combined with some stability in demand from the domestic and export markets have contributed to this firm...

12 Aug 2024

China issues plan and preliminary results of anti-dumping probe into EU pork

China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) issued notice on Thursday, saying that investigating authorities will use a sampling method in anti-dumping probe into EU pork, while providing further details on the sampling plan and the preliminary sampling results for anti-dumpin...

11 Aug 2024

The Ultimate Guide to King Crab Season

King crab season is a much-anticipated time of year for seafood enthusiasts and those in the meat trade alike. This exquisite crustacean, often considered the crown jewel of the sea, has captivated the palates of many with its delicate flavour and tender, succulent meat. If yo...

09 Aug 2024

Argentina Lowers Levy On Beef Exports

The Argentine government is lowering beef export tax 25%, from 9% to 6,75% basically “to promote sales to foreign markets and improve the level of income of producers and processors, favoring the insertion of Argentina in international markets”, points out the decree publi...

07 Aug 2024

UK livestock bodies warn ministers Dover border control failings are a ‘disaster waiting to happen’

A coalition of 26 UK livestock trade associations has written to Defra Secretary Steve Reed to express the industry’s ‘serious concerns’ over the current state of border controls at the Port of Dover. The Livestock Chain Advisory Group (LCAG) told Mr Reed these concerns ...

06 Aug 2024

Australian Red Meat Exports Boom in UK since Free Trade Agreement

One year after the implementation of the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Australian red meat exports to the UK have experienced significant growth, dispelling initial concerns about an influx of lower-cost products. According to data presented at a recent trade event ...

05 Aug 2024

Irish Sheep Trade & Prices w/e July 27th 2024

Quotes Base quotes for spring lambs from the major processors have improved slightly this week with €6.90-€6.95/kg (+QA bonus) on offer. Relatively tight lamb supplies combined with some stability in demand from the domestic and export markets have contributed to this fi...

05 Aug 2024

Irish Cattle Trade & Prices w/e July 27th 2024

Cattle & Beef Throughput There were 32,858 cattle processed in DAFM approved plants during the week ending July 27th 2024, taking throughput for the year to date to 1,005,993 head. This is a +10,143 head or 2% increase on the corresponding period in 2023 when a total of 99...

05 Aug 2024

New Zealand’s Shift: Scrapping Green Policies for Economic Boost

WELLINGTON, Aug 5 (Reuters) – New Zealand’s green credentials are at risk as the government rolls back environmental reforms in a bid to boost a flailing economy and fulfil promises made to its voters. Since taking power last year, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon&...

04 Aug 2024

American Love of Burgers Fuels New Zealand’s Red Meat Sector

An insatiable hunger for beef burgers and a renewed love for lamb are helping keep New Zealand’s red meat sector buoyant, while demand from China remains weak. New Zealand’s red meat exports to the United States and Canada have risen this year. See also: NZ repor...

02 Aug 2024

Australian cattle and sheep market wrap w/e 28th July 2024

Key points: Sheep and lamb slaughter rose 8%, buoyed by processors coming back online after schedules closures. Feeder steer prices lifted to numbers not seen since May 2023. Sheep and lamb yardings eased by 25%. Cattle market The cattle market was positive once again, with al...

30 Jul 2024

Greece Bans Movement of Goats and Sheep Due to ‘Goat Plague’

ATHENS, July 29 (Reuters) – Greece has banned moving sheep and goats from their farms to try to contain a viral infection known as “goat plague” after new cases were detected over the weekend, the agriculture ministry said on Monday. The virus, also known as ...

25 Jul 2024

China Aims to Control Dairy & Beef Output to Stabilise Prices

BEIJING, July 24 (Reuters) – China plans to implement measures to help dairy and beef producers limit production to prevent prices from falling further, an agriculture official said on Wednesday, adding to existing rules on pork producers as meat consumption declines. Th...

23 Jul 2024

Global demand for Australian beef rising

Australia’s market share in Japan and Korea is continuing to lift as the United States emerges as the number one export destination for beef in Q1 2024, according to a new global market update from Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA). MLA’s latest Global Beef Market Updat...

22 Jul 2024

China Targets Danish, Dutch, and Spanish Firms in EU Pork Probe

BEIJING, July 18 (Reuters) – China on Thursday named Danish Crown A/S, as well as Dutch and Spanish pork firms as targets in an anti-dumping probe into European Union pork imports, as Beijing steps up pressure against the bloc’s curbs on its electric vehicle export...

22 Jul 2024

Lidl Invests £1.5bn In British Beef Production

Lidl is beefing up its sustainability commitments with the launch of £1.5bn investment into British beef production over the next 5 years. The discounter is aiming to set a new standard in sustainable beef production through the cash injection, as it partners with British b...

22 Jul 2024

South Korean beef buyers visit Irish farms and processors

Bord Bia is hosting eight beef buyers from South Korea on a tour of Ireland, visiting beef farms and meat processors from July 15th to 20th. The group, which includes leading meat importers and distributors from South Korea, will follow a busy itinerary designed to give them ...

21 Jul 2024

Brazil Suspends Poultry Meat Exports Over Sanitary Concerns

Brazilian authorities halted all shipments of poultry meat to China, Europe, and Argentina on Friday after a case of Newcastle disease was detected in the municipality of Anta Gorda in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. “In line with international standards on trade in poultry ...

18 Jul 2024

Lambs hold above £6/kg as tight supply helps steady falls

The highs of up to £200/lamb witnessed earlier this year may appear a distant memory, however, after a period of decline, lamb prices have started to stabilise again. New season lambs averaged at 645.6p/kg deadweight for the week ending 13 July, with trade still slightly abov...

18 Jul 2024

Britain becomes first country in Europe to approve lab-grown meat

Britain has become the first country in Europe to approve lab-grown meat, paving the way for cultivated chicken to be sold in pet stores as early as this year. British start-up Meatly has received the green light from UK regulators for its lab-grown meat to be used in pet fo...

18 Jul 2024

Petfood Giant Inspired Explores Acquisition of Butchers Petcare

One of Britain’s biggest petfood manufacturers is in talks to add another independent producer to its stable of brands. Sky News understands that Capvest, the owner of Inspired Pet Nutrition (IPN), is orchestrating a bid for Butchers Petcare. Also: German meat group West...

17 Jul 2024

Analysis: English Beef and Lamb Standards vs European Markets

The latest report focuses on EU markets including Ireland, Germany, Poland, France and the Netherlands. The reports, which are independently reviewed, evidence the current position regarding farmgate production standards at both a regulatory and voluntary level in England. Thi...

16 Jul 2024

US invests $110 million in meat and poultry processing

To date, the Biden-Harris Administration has invested a total of over $700 million in 48 states and Puerto Rico for projects that help to expand the nation’s independent meat and poultry processing capacity U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announce...

15 Jul 2024

ASF outbreaks spreading in Vietnam, government say

HANOI, July 15 (Reuters) – African swine fever outbreaks are spreading in Vietnam and could affect its food supplies and put upward pressure on inflation, according to a government document. ASF has for years disrupted the $250 billion global pork market. In the worst ou...

15 Jul 2024

Irish Sheep Trade & Prices w/e July 6th 2024

Quotes Base quotes for hoggets from the major processors have tightened this week with base quotes of €7.00-€7.20/kg (+QA bonus) on offer. Prices have continued to come under pressure this week with reports of weaker demand from some major customers for Irish lamb. Irela...

15 Jul 2024

Irish Cattle Trade & Prices w/e July 6th 2024

Cattle & Beef Throughput: There were 32,340 cattle processed in DAFM approved plants during the week ending July 6th 2024, taking throughput for the year to date to 907,685 head. This is a -8,459 head or 1% decrease on the corresponding period in 2023 when a total of 899,...

12 Jul 2024

Defra Team Urged to Reverse Decline in UK’s Abattoir Network

The new government has been urged by rural campaigners to maintain the progress on action to reverse the decline of the UK’s local abattoir network. Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) has called on the new Defra ministers to announce ‘considered and robust support&#...

10 Jul 2024

GB pig prices: SPP falls

Weekly pig prices and slaughter data for Great Britain. The EU-spec SPP fell by 0.91p to stand at 209.50p/kg during the week ended July 6, cancelling out all the previous week’s gain. The SPP is currently at it’s lowest level since February 2023 and is down by 3.29p/kg s...

09 Jul 2024

Brazil’s Beef Exports Reach New Heights in 2024

Brazil establishes new beef export record in the first half of this year, having shipped 1,29 million tons of animal protein, which represents a 27% over the same period in 2023, with 1.019 million tons. Revenues was up 17%, to US$ 5,69 billion. Also: JBS Exceeds Expectations ...

08 Jul 2024

German Poultry Industry Rejects VAT Increase On Meat Products

The Central Association of the German Poultry Industry (ZDG) has rejected a plan outlined by the government to increase VAT on meat products. The funds raised by the proposed tax increase will be used to restructure livestock farming. The president of ZDG, Friedrich-Otto ...

08 Jul 2024

Irish Sheep Trade & Prices w/e June 29th 2024

Quotes Base quotes for hoggets from the major processors have tightened this week with base quotes of €7.50-€7.70/kg (+QA bonus) on offer. Prices have continued to come under pressure this week with reports of weaker demand from some major customers for Irish lamb. Irela...

08 Jul 2024

Irish Cattle Trade & Prices w/e June 29th 2024

Cattle & Beef Throughput: There were 31,856 cattle processed in DAFM approved plants during the week ending June 29th 2024, taking throughput for the year to date to 875,327 head. This is a -8,851 head or 2% increase on the corresponding period in 2023 when a total of ...

05 Jul 2024

Sheep and Goat Meat Exports from Australia Reach All-Time Highs

The past financial year has seen a huge burst in export volumes, with Australian export numbers for red meat the highest on record at over 2 million tonnes. Lamb, mutton and goatmeat all had record high volumes, while beef exports matched the levels seen during 2019–20. Lamb...

05 Jul 2024

Argentina beef consumption seen at record low in 2024

BUENOS AIRES, July 5 (Reuters) – Beef-loving Argentines are cutting back on their steaks as the country’s economy slumps, meaning cattle consumption will likely hit a record low this year, a market report published on Friday showed. Argentina’s beef consumpti...

04 Jul 2024

Potential EU-China Trade War and its Impact on Global Pork Trade

A potential trade war between the EU and China could have major repercussions for the global pork trade, including in the UK, experts have warned. China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) confirmed in mid-June that it was launching an anti-dumping investigation into EU pork pr...

01 Jul 2024

AIMS: Norman Bagley steps down

Press Statement: Norman Bagley to spend more time with golf clubs. After nearly 25 years of visionary leadership, Norman Bagley, the stalwart founder and driving force behind the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS), is stepping back from his day-to-day role. Since...

01 Jul 2024

China food scientists combine lab-grown pork & chicken with rice

Researchers in Beijing say they have developed rice dishes that involve embedding meat cells into various grain varieties that grow in the laboratory to produce balanced, nutritious meals. Also: South Korean Scientists Develop ‘Beef Rice’ The research, which has not yet be...

01 Jul 2024

NatWest Faces Criticism over Meat Consumption Advice

NatWest is locked in a row with farmers for urging customers to buy less red meat. A “carbon footprint tracker” on the bank’s mobile app uses transaction data to advise customers on how to reduce their carbon footprint by changing their spending habits. The National Farm...

28 Jun 2024

From Knighthood to Culinary Delight: The History of The Sirloin

One of the meat industry’s most popular cuts is the sirloin. With its medieval history and versatility for cooking, it’s easy to see why. Grilled, roasted, pan-seared, or even as leftovers in a sandwich, this cut of beef has a delicious and long-standing history in British...

28 Jun 2024

New Zealand exporters to lead Taste Pure Nature programme

New Zealand exporters will take the lead in advancing the Taste Pure Nature brand and activity programme, which is designed to raise awareness and drive preference for New Zealand grass-fed beef and lamb. “As a sector, our future lies in driving more value and ultimately h...

28 Jun 2024

EU Exports of Pork to UK Plummet

EU countries have exported 181,800 tonnes of pork and pork meat products to the United Kingdom in the first quarter of 2024. Although that might seem a lot, it is the lowest Q1 volume on record, excluding 2021 when Brexit had a severe impact on trade, the agricultural levy boa...

28 Jun 2024

UK Cattle & Sheep Market Wrap: Week Ending 27th June 2024

Key points Prices for week ending 22 June 2024 Average prime deadweight cattle prices were relatively steady in the latest week, as supplies reduced. Cows saw slight pressure in the overall average price despite lower kill. Conversely, new season lamb prices continued on their...

28 Jun 2024

Australian cattle and sheep market wrap w/e 21st June 2024

Key points: Lamb slaughter once again reached record numbers, processing 511,102 head. Cattle slaughter was the highest since January 2020, at 142,390 head. Restocker Yearling Steer prices fell below Feeder Steers for the first time since October 2023. Cattle market The cattle...

28 Jun 2024

Irish Sheep Trade & Prices w/e June 15th 2024

Quotes Base quotes for hoggets from the major processors have tightened this week with base quotes of €8.80-€9.20/kg (+QA bonus) on offer. Small numbers of spring lambs have started to be processed in Irish processing plants with quotes of €9.10-9.20/kg (+QA bonus) avail...

28 Jun 2024

Irish Cattle Trade & Prices w/e June 15th 2024

Cattle & Beef Throughput: There were 29,653 cattle processed in DAFM approved plants during the week ending June 15th 2024, taking throughput for the year to date to 812,584 head. This is a 11,534 head or 2% increase on the corresponding period in 2023 when a total of 8...

27 Jun 2024

Denmark to charge farmers £80 per cow in world-first meat tax

Denmark will charge farmers up to £80 for every cow in a world-first carbon tax on agriculture as the country tries to encourage people to eat less meat to tackle climate change. Agriculture is the largest emitting sector in Denmark, a major pork and dairy exporter and the g...

27 Jun 2024

Worsening financial performance for Ukraine’s largest poultry processor

Ukraine’s largest poultry processor, MHP, saw its net profit plummet nearly threefold due to the devaluation of the hryvnia and a surge in conflict-related costs. During the first quarter of 2024, MHP generated a net profit of US$16 million compared with US$49 million in t...

27 Jun 2024

GB pig prices: SPP falls again – NPA

Weekly pig prices and slaughter data for Great Britain. The EU-spec SPP lost another 0.62p during the week ended June 15 to stand at 209.94p/kg, more than cancelling out the previous week’s gain of 0.4p. After the shock 1.23p reduction during the first week of week of Jun...

26 Jun 2024

Russia exporting pork to Iran

Russia’s southern Rostov region has exported 17 tonnes of pork to Iran over a five-day period, the Russian agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor reported on June 26. Despite the newly listed export market, Iran is technically a pork-free market due to being overwhelming...

26 Jun 2024

Pork market update: EU production steady as prices see some stability

Key points: Total EU production saw marginal gains of 0.3% in the first quarter compared to 2023 Large production declines in Spain and Denmark as slaughter levels fall The EU Grade E pig price was sitting stable before dipping in the week ending 16 June ASF remains a huge cha...

26 Jun 2024

Meat recalled in south east due to food safety concerns

Restaurants, cafes and hotels in the south east and London have been told to remove certain meat products from menus over fears they are not safe to eat. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said it had asked trading standards officers to remove products made by Block and Cleaver, ...

25 Jun 2024

Hilton Foods says plan for Drogheda expansion will add 60 jobs

Hilton Foods, the London-listed meat-processing group, has moved to extend its facility in Drogheda. If successful, the move will add 60 jobs to its 280-strong workforce in Ireland. Last week, Hilton Foods submitted a planning application to Louth County Council seeking to ext...

24 Jun 2024

Poland’s President Urges China to Open Market for Polish Meat

We want to achieve a greater opening on the Chinese market, above all for our meat products, Poland’s President Andrzej Duda said before departing for China on Saturday. During his five-day official visit, the president will meet China’s President Xi Jinping and Pr...

22 Jun 2024

Concerns about ‘Toxic Bullying Culture’ at Hybu Cig Cymru

A Conservative MS called for Hybu Cig Cymru to be made fully independent amid concerns about a “toxic bullying culture” within the meat promotion organisation. James Evans, the shadow rural affairs secretary, warned the farming industry is losing faith in Hybu Cig Cymru (H...

21 Jun 2024

Pig prices: SPP regains some lost ground – NPA

The EU-spec SPP regained some lost ground, increasing by 0.4p to stand at 210.56p/kg during the week ended June 15, following the previous week’s shock 1.23p fall. It is now 3.3p below where it was at the start of the year and more than 12p below a year ago. The APP, ...

18 Jun 2024

Tesco to reduce chicken stocking density by first half of 2025

All of Tesco’s fresh chicken will be grown with 20% more space than the industry standard, the retailer has announced. The measure, announced by the supermarket today (18 June), forms part of a range of improvements to its poultry welfare standards. It means chickens wil...

18 Jun 2024

Danish lobby group urges swift solution to China’s threatened pork tariffs

COPENHAGEN, June 17 (Reuters) – Denmark’s pork industry said it would be hit hard if China restricts imports of European meat, the lobby group Danish Agriculture & Food Council told Reuters on Monday, and called for a solution to be found before July 4. China...

18 Jun 2024

Rival pork exporters could benefit from China-EU trade tensions

SINGAPORE, June 17 (Reuters) – Pork suppliers from South America and the U.S. could gain market share in China if Beijing restricts imports from the European Union in response to escalating trade tensions, traders and analysts said. Russia, increasingly a close trading ...

18 Jun 2024

Welsh red meat body in turmoil after two directors resign

Welsh red meat levy body Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) – Meat Promotion Wales – is descending into chaos amid reports of internal divisions, board members and key staff leaving, Farmers Weekly understands. The role of chairwoman Catherine Smith is coming under scrutiny after 39 m...

17 Jun 2024

Spain Calls for Talks to Avoid Tariffs on EU Pork Exports to China

MADRID, June 17 (Reuters) – Spain on Monday called for negotiations to avoid tariffs on its pork exports to China, after Beijing said it would open an anti-dumping probe into pork coming from the European Union. Also: EU pork industry faces ‘nightmare’ if China restr...

17 Jun 2024

Irish Pig Market Update 12th June

There was no announced change to Irish pig prices on Friday. Producers are reporting quotes of at least €2.26 – €2.33 available from processors in ROI, with some reporting up to €2.35/kg. This signals strong demand for pigs with the average price circa €2...

17 Jun 2024

Irish Cattle Trade & Prices w/e June 8th 2024

Cattle & Beef Throughput: There were 28,736 cattle processed in DAFM approved plants during the week ending June 8th 2024, taking throughput for the year to date to 782,949 head. This is a 14,280 head or 2% increase on the corresponding period in 2023 when a total of 76...

17 Jun 2024

Cattle slaughtered due to bTB incident up 17% in Wales

Total animals slaughtered due to a bovine TB incident in Wales has increased by 17 percent, bleak new government figures show. The figures, covering April 2023 to March 2024, show that a total of 11,197 cattle were slaughtered due to bTB, a rise of 17%. Overall TB herd inciden...

17 Jun 2024

Dawn Meats and Aldi agree new five year deal

Dawn Meats and Aldi have signed a new, five-year supply contract worth €125m. Dawn Meats has been supplying Aldi since 2010 and, under the terms of the new deal, it will increase the amount it sells to Aldi by 35%. It will also add six new lines to the Aldi range. See also: ...

16 Jun 2024

EU pork industry faces ‘nightmare’ if China restricts imports

HAMBURG/LLEIDA, June 14 (Reuters) – Europe’s pork industry faces a “nightmare scenario” of lower prices and falling profitability if China restricts imports from the region, industry executives and analysts said on Friday. Chinese firms have asked for a...

16 Jun 2024

Irish Horse Abattoir Shut Down Amidst Welfare Abuses Investigation

The abattoir where RTÉ Investigates filmed “distressing” footage of welfare abuses on horses has been shut down by Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue. McConalogue said his Department is “actively investigating the absolutely abhorrent mistreatment of animals and s...

14 Jun 2024

NZ report on China market examines when demand may improve

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) has published a market insights report detailing the current and projected state of New Zealand’s red meat exports to China. The report highlights several key factors influencing market conditions and when we may expect to see conditions impro...

14 Jun 2024

China firms seek anti-dumping probe of EU pork imports, ramping up tensions

BEIJING, June 14 (Reuters) – Chinese firms have formally applied for an anti-dumping probe into pork imports from the European Union, the state-backed Global Times reported, escalating tensions after the bloc imposed anti-subsidy duties on Chinese-made electric vehicles....

14 Jun 2024

Is the Australian lamb market becoming more volatile?

Key points: Lamb prices are more volatile as market players become more reactive to market conditions. Slaughter can help indicate the overall supply of the market. Relying on the lamb production life cycle to predict prices without considering the overall market can lead to u...

14 Jun 2024

South Korea lifts restrictions on French and Irish beef

South Korea is reopening its borders to French and Irish beef, after closing them in 2001 following the “mad cow” scandal, the European Commission announced on Thursday (13 June), calling it a “significant development” at a time when EU beef market is stagnating. This ...

13 Jun 2024

Food Security is National Security: Labour’s Stance in Manifesto

Labour has said that “food security is national security” as the party announced its general election manifesto today. Unveiled by Sir Keir Starmer in Manchester, the manifesto says Labour would “champion British farming whilst protecting the environment̶...

12 Jun 2024

GB pig prices for w/e June 8th, 2024 – SPP and APP both record large drops

Weekly pig prices and slaughter data for Great Britain. In an unwelcome shock for many pig producers, the EU-spec SPP dropped back by 1.23p during the week ended June 8, to stand at 210.16p/kg, while the APP has also recorded a big loss. This was the biggest movement either...

12 Jun 2024

LDC to Acquire Cargill’s Polish Konspol Poultry Brand

French poultry processing company LDC is set to acquire the Konspol Poland brand and factory from agri-food giant Cargill. Financial details were not disclosed. The plant is located in Nowy Sacz in southern Poland and generated a consolidated turnover of €35m ($38m) in 2023,...

11 Jun 2024

Browns Food Group Partners with AK Stoddart

AK Stoddart has become Scotland’s largest privately-owned meat business, thanks to a multi-million pound investment from Browns Food Group. This move creates Scotland’s largest privately-owned meat business and reinforces investment in the Scottish meat sector. The com...

11 Jun 2024

Pig prices start to climb as EU market improves

Stagnant GB pig prices have held at about 211p/kg since the beginning of 2024, however uplifts in EU prices and increased domestic demand could help to provide some support moving forward. The EU-spec standard pig price improved marginally during early June to 211.4p/kg, while...

11 Jun 2024

Liz Truss Slams ‘Animal Extremists’ Targeting Farmers

Former Prime Minister Liz Truss has made comments against animal ‘extremists’ who ‘intimidate’ farming businesses. Ms Truss, who was also once Defra Secretary, touched upon the subject while in her constituency South West Norfolk, as she bids to be re-e...

11 Jun 2024

New Zealand Abandons Plan to Price Agricultural Emissions

New Zealand has ended a plan to put a price on agricultural emissions including methane produced by burping sheep and cattle, relenting to farmer pressure that it would make their business unprofitable. The conservative government would establish a Pastoral Sector Group with r...

10 Jun 2024

Irish Sheep Trade & Prices w/e June 1st 2024

Quotes: Base quotes for hoggets from the major processors have tightened this week with base quotes of €8.80-€9.20/kg (+QA bonus) on offer. Small numbers of spring lambs have started to be processed in Irish processing plants with quotes of €9.10-9.20/kg (+QA bonus) ava...

10 Jun 2024

Irish Beef Market Update: Implications for the UK

Irish finished cattle prices have been relatively robust through the first few months of 2024. We recap the key trends in the market, the outlook for the rest of the year, and what this could mean for the UK. See also: Irish Sheep Trade & Prices w/e May 19th 2024 Key point...

10 Jun 2024

The Impact of the 2024 General Election on the Pig Sector

The decision to call a July 4 general election has already had an impact on some big policy issues affecting the pig sector and will have longer-term implications on others. ALISTAIR DRIVER looks into some of the hot topics. Rishi Sunak’s July 4 general election call took pr...

10 Jun 2024

Pilgrim’s Europe Announces Closure of Spurway Factory in West London

Pilgrim’s Europe has announced plans to close its Spurway factory, in West London, resulting in the loss of up to 170 jobs. The Pilgrim’s Food Masters factory in Southall makes chilled and frozen meals for Morrisons, Aldi and Waitrose. See also: Pilgrim’s Ashton pork p...

06 Jun 2024

Jais Valeur to step down as Group CEO of Danish Crown

In May, the Board of Directors of Danish Crown and the Executive Board started work on a new group strategy, which is expected to be ready for presentation in the autumn. Prior to this, Group CEO Jais Valeur has discussed with Chairman of the Board Asger Krogsgaard the need to...

06 Jun 2024

Kazakhstan plans to end dependence on US poultry imports

The Kazakh government has greenlit a plan to boost domestic poultry production by 200,000 tonnes through 2026 thanks to the expansion of 4 major broiler farms. The move will put an end to the decade-long dependence on foreign poultry supplies, primarily from the US. See also: ...

06 Jun 2024

Australian Red Meat Continues to Gain Popularity in the USA

Lamb During May, 36,703 tonnes of lamb were exported, which is the highest lamb export on record for a single month. The United States (US) continues to be the largest market for Australian lamb, followed by China and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The increas...

06 Jun 2024

Lamb trade starts to falter after months of strong returns

Livestock farmers have received a decent return for lambs so far in 2024, with finished deadweight prices staying above £8/kg since mid-March. However, as new season lambs start to come through in greater numbers, its unclear how much longer the trade will be able to hold. Th...

06 Jun 2024

Germany has new African swine fever case

HAMBURG, June 6 (Reuters) – A case of African swine fever (ASF) has been confirmed in farm pigs in east Germany, authorities said on Thursday. It was confirmed on a pig breeding farm in Greifswald in the eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the state’s agricult...

05 Jun 2024

Lamb throughput marginally higher than expected but concerns remain

The latest figures for lambs processed to date were marginally higher than expected, recent processing figures from Defra have revealed, which has been welcomed by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC). However, the red meat promotion body has raised concerns about the...

05 Jun 2024

Product judging underway for 2024 Meat Industry Awards

Product judging for this year’s Meat Management Industry Awards has commenced and judges are already saying that this year will be one of the most competitive ever. Over a busy few days, many hundreds of products will be evaluated at the Regional Food Academy test kitchens, ...

05 Jun 2024

GB pig prices: edge up as slaughter numbers slip

In May the EU spec SPP averaged 211.19p/kg, an increase of 0.29p from April. Weekly movements varied during the period with small declines recorded in the week ending 04 and 25 May. However, these were counteracted by increases through the rest of the month, with notably lar...

04 Jun 2024

UK red meat trade bonus predicted as EU livestock numbers shrink

Early year beef export figures are up – and there could be more to come as latest statistics indicate an internal decline in EU red meat production, according to Hybu Cig Cymru-Meat Promotion Wales (HCC). During the first quarter of the year, Britain exported 27,150 tonnes o...

03 Jun 2024

Nominations now open for Women in Meat Industry Awards 2024

The latest Women In Meat Industry Awards campaign is fully underway for 2024 and is offering the opportunity for companies and individuals across the industry to nominate candidates. The annual Awards is the biggest and most important initiative of its kind, which recognises t...

02 Jun 2024

Greens drop plans to ration meat and dairy

The Green Party has dropped plans for rationing meat and dairy products, as its co-leader insists it will not be included in its manifesto. The party had put among its core aims on its website the policy of “rationing to reduce the amounts of meat and dairy food consumed in...

31 May 2024

What is happening in the Australian lamb market right now?

Over the past year, the lamb market has seen a turnaround, with strong sentiment and an improved weather outlook. The industry has seen prices improve by 10–20% compared to a year ago. When it comes to lambing season, the availability of high-quality feed is critical to not ...

31 May 2024

China approves imports of Danish Crown processed pork

BEIJING (Reuters) – China has approved the import of Danish salami, frankfurter sausages and canned pork, top processor Danish Crown [DACRO.UL] said this week, clearing the way for shipments of higher-value processed meat to the world’s top pork consumer. The agree...

31 May 2024

Irish Sheep Trade & Prices w/e May 19th 2024

Quotes: Base quotes for hoggets from the major processors have tightened this week with base quotes of €9.30-€9.50/kg (+QA bonus) on offer. Small numbers of spring lambs have started to be processed in Irish processing plants with quotes of €9.55-9.65/kg (+QA bonus) ava...

31 May 2024

Irish Cattle Trade & Prices w/e May 19th 2024

Cattle & Beef Throughput: There were 31,984 cattle processed in DAFM approved plants during the week ending May 19th 2024, taking throughput for the year to date to 692,034 head. This is a 18,573 head or 3% increase on the corresponding period in 2023 when a total of 673,...

30 May 2024

China lifts suspension on Australian meat processors

The Australian government has confirmed that China’s suspension of five meat processing establishments has been lifted with immediate effect. Eight beef processing facilities have now had suspensions lifted, while two facilities remain suspended. According to a statement fro...

30 May 2024

GB pig prices w/e May 25th: SPP falls back again

Weekly pig prices and slaughter data for Great Britain. After two consecutive weekly increases, the EU-spec SPP dropped back again during the week ended May 25, losing 0.37p to stand at 211.05p/kg. This partly offset the 0.65p gained over the previous fortnight and means the...

24 May 2024

Vietnam Opens Doors to UK Pork

In a notable boost for the UK pork sector, the Vietnamese authorities have given the go-ahead for pork exports to commence, in a deal estimated to be worth around £12 million over the first five years. Selected pork sites across the UK have been approved to start commercia...

23 May 2024

UK meat sector warns of unfair import costs

The British Meat Producers Association (BMPA) has claimed the UK government played down the costs of new post-Brexit border controls on imports. The UK’s Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), which has been in operation since 30 April, includes physical checks for “the h...

23 May 2024

GB pig prices: big increase for SPP

Weekly pig prices and slaughter data for Great Britain. The EU-spec SPP increased by 0.56p to stand at 211.42p/kg during the week ended May 18, the biggest movement either way since the first week of this year. This follows weeks of small fluctuations over the past three-and...

22 May 2024

Meat smugglers using English vehicles to dodge border checks

Criminal gangs are buying English-registered coaches and vans to smuggle large amounts of illegal meat into the country, Farmers Weekly has learned. Commercial quantities of illegal and diseased meat are entering the UK to be sold into fast-food outlets, pubs, and to “unsc...

22 May 2024

CCTV mandatory in all abattoirs in Wales

New regulations have been approved by the Welsh parliament for the mandatory use of CCTV in all abattoirs in Wales. It means CCTV cameras must be installed in all slaughterhouses in areas where live animals are unloaded, kept, handled, stunned, and killed. Also: Mandatory CCTV...

22 May 2024

NSA welcomes live export ban

Following the royal assent of legislation ending the exports of live animals for slaughter the National Sheep Association (NSA) is welcoming completion of the ban. NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker says: “The export trade for live animals for further finishing or slaughter ha...

22 May 2024

Opportunities at the Saudi Food Show for British Lamb Exporters

This week, British lamb and dairy businesses headed to Saudi Arabia in a bid to meet growing consumer demand and build on long term export opportunities. Exporters from both sectors have joined us at the Saudi Food Show in Riyadh from 21−23 May. The show is Saudi Arabia’s ...

22 May 2024

ABP Perth set to process over 1700 cattle per week at £24.5m abattoir

Friday was an encouraging one for Scotland’s beef farmers with one of the country’s major processors unveiling the results of a £24.5m investment in plant and buildings. The ABP plant at Inveralmond on the outskirts of Perth is now on target to process 1,700 to 1,750 catt...

21 May 2024

Irish Sheep Trade & Prices w/e May 12th 2024

Quotes: Base quotes for hoggets from the major processors have tightened this week with base quotes of €9.30-€9.40/kg (+QA bonus) on offer. Small numbers of spring lambs have started to be processed in Irish processing plants with quotes of €9.55-9.65/kg (+QA bonus) ava...

21 May 2024

Prime lamb auction prices make strong impression

After a firm start to the new season, prime lamb auction prices have made a strong impression at marts, averaging 436p/kg lwt in the second week of May, analysts say. Meanwhile, hogg values continue to hold close to the highs reached at Easter and Ramadan, clearing at 370p/kg ...

21 May 2024

Ireland: Organic lamb numbers set to triple

The number of organic lambs is set to triple, but up to 50pc are currently ‘leaking’ into conventional systems, potentially missing out on premium prices. Jack Nolan, senior inspector with the Department of Agriculture, told a recent Teagasc webinar that Ireland will have ...

21 May 2024

Price cuts on NZ lamb rile UK farmers

Questions are being asked on both sides of the planet about the low retail price of New Zealand lamb in United Kingdom supermarkets. UK sheep farmers are criticising the Morrisons supermarket chain for selling NZ lamb at cheaper prices than local product, and some NZ farmers a...

21 May 2024

NZ: ANZCO Foods Achieves $61m Net Profit Despite challenging year

New Zealand Meat processor ANZCO Foods says despite a challenging business environment, it has posted a net profit before tax of $61 million for 2023. The company has described the result as pleasing despite the net profit being less than half of the $148m achieved in 2022. Tu...

20 May 2024

Export of live animals from the UK now banned

A new ban on exporting live animals came into law today (Monday 20 May) as the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act received Royal Assent, capitalising on a post-Brexit freedoms and bolstering the UK’s position as a world leader in animal welfare standards. The legislation...

20 May 2024

Quarterly Australian Lamb Slaughter Hits All-Time High

The latest livestock products data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows that last quarter, Australia had the highest lamb slaughter on record at 6,935,700 head. The data, analysed by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), also shows that the January-Mar...

20 May 2024

China buys 95,000 tons of beef monthly from Brazil

April 2024 was a historic milestone in beef exports for Brazil having shipped 236,842 tons, generating revenues totaling US$ 1.043 billion, points out Agrilink. Leading the list was China, trailed closely by the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong, which experienced a substanti...

20 May 2024

Beef and Lamb NZ rejects Britain’s NFU ‘lower standards’ claim

Beef and Lamb New Zealand has hit back at claims lamb here is “produced to potentially lower standards than in the UK”. Britain’s National Farmers Union (NFU) made the claim when reacting to news supermarket chain Morrisons is going to start selling New Zeal...

20 May 2024

Irish Cattle Trade & Prices w/e May 12th 2024

Cattle & Beef Throughput: There were 30,743 cattle processed in DAFM approved plants during the week ending May 12th 2024, taking throughput for the year to date to 660,140 head. This is a 18,633 head or 3% increase on the corresponding period in 2023 when a total of 64...

20 May 2024

Smaller abattoir fund boosted

Defra has issued two updates to its Smaller Abattoir Fund, raising the maximum grant amount to £75,000 and the intervention rate to 50 per cent. The move comes as part of an initiative announced last December to help the struggling sector -between 2018 and 2022, the number o...

18 May 2024

ABP Perth completes £24m beef plant expansion

ABP Food Group said today it has completed a £24.5m (€28.5m) investment in its beef processing facility in Perth, Scotland. The investment includes a 2,800 square metre extension, along with refurbishment and upgrades to meat production and maturation areas, storage areas a...

18 May 2024

Lancaster University votes to ban meat and dairy at outlets

Rural campaigners have hit back after a small group of students at Lancaster University voted to ban meat and dairy products at its campus-wide catering outlets. The Students’ Union voted to transition to 50% plant-based catering by 2025, and 100% plant-based catering by 202...

18 May 2024

GB Pig Prices: SPP inches back up

Weekly pig prices and slaughter data for Great Britain. The EU-spec SPP inched back up by 0.09p to stand at 210.86p/kg during the week ended May 11, following recent small declines that have seen it lose nearly 1p over the previous six weeks. The SPP has barely moved over th...

18 May 2024

Ireland Meat Plant Prices

€/kg dw excluding VAT Week Ending % Change Average to Date % Ch Cattle 06.05.2023 11.05.2024 Prev.Week Prev.Year 2023 2024 Steers O3 5.19 5.12 0.0 -1.3 5.14 5.07 -1.4 Steers O4 5.24 5.13 -0.4 -2.1 5.19 5.10 -1.7 Steers R3 5.27 5.22 0.0 -0.9 5.24 5.16 -1.5 Steers R4 5.30 5.22...

18 May 2024

UK approves tariff-free meat imports from Australia and NZ

The UK and EU have ratified a change to the Windsor Framework which allows NI businesses to make greater use of UK trade deals. The change allows tariff-free imports of certain meat products from Australia and New Zealand. The government says the deal addresses a post-Brexit p...

18 May 2024

Backlash as Morrisons trials sale of New Zealand lamb

Morrisons has received a backlash from angry farmers as it trials the sale of New Zealand lamb instead of 100% British lamb in 39 of its stores. The supermarket says the move is due to customer demand for cheaper prices. “The blunt commercial reality is that New Zealand ...

16 May 2024

Sheep farmers ‘dismayed’ as Morrisons drops British only pledge

Sheep farmers are ‘dismayed and frustrated’ after Morrisons announced this week that it will no longer sell solely British lamb in its stores. The retailer said it would be dropping its commitment to source only British lamb, a pledge made in 2017, as part of a ne...

16 May 2024

Dawn Meats Secures Korean Beef Deal

Dawn Meats has it has secured an initial multi-million contract for monthly shipments with a leading South Korean company. It comes as the Department of Agriculture announced the opening of Korea to Irish beef exports for the first time and after a number of high-level trade m...

16 May 2024

Russian poultry becomes a key player in China’s market

Russia secured a spot among the top 3 largest poultry meat suppliers on the Chinese market in 2023. This achievement is expected to pave the way for a substantial increase in volumes in the coming years, marking a significant shift in the global poultry trade dynamics, accordi...

16 May 2024

New mayor puts meat back on the menu

Worcester City’s new mayor has put meat back on the menu at the Guildhall after her predecessor removed it from the Mayor’s Parlour earlier in the year. Speaking at the hall after becoming mayor on Tuesday, Mel Allcott stated: “There will be a variety of refreshm...

15 May 2024

Mexican Visit Highlights Opportunities for UK Pork Exports

An inspection of the UK pork sector by an official delegation from Mexico has been labelled a ‘milestone moment’ in maintaining and expanding market access to the region for the industry. The delegation of Mexican officials spent two weeks inspecting abattoirs and cold sto...

15 May 2024

Live animal exports ban passes final stage in parliament

A ban on live animal exports has passed its final stage in parliament and will soon be enshrined in law. The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill will mean that livestock can no longer be exported from Great Britain for slaughter or fattening. On Tuesday (14 May), members o...

15 May 2024

JBS Exceeds Expectations Despite Market Challenges

In a notable first-quarter turnaround, JBS achieved a profit of $310 million, reversing the losses from the previous year. Brazil-based JBS is one of the world’s largest food companies, processes beef, pork, and other products, playing a vital role in supplying essential pro...

15 May 2024

NZ: Little room for lamb returns to rise

New Zealand Exporters have yet to see signs that overseas markets are prepared to pay more for lamb. Continued market weakness in China and another record lamb production year from Australia continue to dampen global prices, dashing hopes of an immediate boost to sheep farmin...

15 May 2024

Bedfordshire butcher breaks sausage-making world record

A village butcher has broken the world record for the number of sausages made in one minute. Gavin Reynolds, who owns J W Baxter Butchers in Clifton, explained: “I have been making sausages for over 30 years now and found out that there was a world record for the most am...

15 May 2024

South Korea opens market to Irish beef

South Korea has agreed to open its market to Irish beef for the first time. The development comes after intensive negotiations between Korean authorities and the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine, including a visit to South Korea by Minister for Agriculture Charlie...

14 May 2024

Sunak announces funding for new abattoirs and endemic disease control

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a package of industry support measures, as leading figures from across the food and farming industry gathered at Downing for the second Farm to Fork Summit. The package includes a new Endemics Disease Scheme with over £72m of funding and a...

14 May 2024

Ireland: Beef price cuts ‘targeted’ and ‘geographic’

A further 5c cut in beef prices set to be pushed through by factories this week sees quotes now back 15c in three weeks and 10-15c/kg below where they were this time last year. Beef finishers are said to be reeling from the cuts as they contend with high costs, while factory a...

14 May 2024

Paraguayan beef granted entry into Canadian market

Canada’s Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) greenlighted the entry of Paraguayan meat into their market with nine packing plants already authorised to start shipments. Paraguayan President Santiago Peña celebrated the good news with postings on social media. “I congratulat...

14 May 2024

Morrisons drops pledge to source only British lamb

Morrisons has announced it will ditch its commitment to source only British lamb as part of a new trial, with the sector calling it ‘hugely disappointing’ news. The retailer, which is seen as a significant supporter of British farming, has dropped its pledge to sel...

14 May 2024

Kelly Turkeys calls for national campaign to promote turkey

The turkey industry needs a national voice to help safeguard the future of British production, according to Paul Kelly, managing director of FarmGate Hatcheries which supplies around half of the poults reared for Christmas. “The British turkey market has declined dramaticall...

14 May 2024

Little to be Found: Bans on Lab-Grown Meat Products

Two U.S. states and one European country are banning manufacturing, selling, and distributing cultivated meat and poultry products. Italy enacted a ban last year, and Florida and Alabama enacted their laws on the books in only the last few days. The bans were enacted after the...

11 May 2024

Pig Prices: SPP dips again

The EU-spec SPP dropped back by another 0.2p to stand at 210.76p/kg during the week ended May 4, following the previous week’s 0.1p decline. The SPP has now fallen for five of the past six weeks, during which time it has lost 0.84p. However, after more than three months of s...

11 May 2024

Australian exports stay firm as global landscape shifts

Beef Beef exports lifted 46% from April 2023 to 113,431 tonnes. This is the largest beef export volume for April since 2015, and the second highest on record. Exports lifted in most major exports markets, with the United States remaining the largest beef market with exports ri...

11 May 2024

Australia to ban controversial live sheep exports by sea from May 2028

SYDNEY, May 11 (Reuters) – Australia’s government said on Saturday it would ban live sheep exports from the country by sea from May 2028, fulfilling a pledge to end a practice long opposed by animal welfare advocates. “We are giving certainty to sheep produce...

10 May 2024

BSE case confirmed in Ayrshire

A case of classical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) has been confirmed on a farm in Ayrshire. Precautionary movement restrictions have been put in place at impacted premises and cover animals which have been in contact with the case. Further investigations to identify t...

09 May 2024

Italy sends in the troops to hunt wild boar in face of African swine fever threat

The Italian Government has announed it is sending in troops across the country to hunt wild boar in order to protect its pig industry from African swine fever (ASF). The mission, reportedly spearheaded by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, is aiming to curb Italy’s wild boar p...

07 May 2024

Irish Sheep Trade & Prices w/e April 28th 2024

Quotes: Base quotes for hoggets from the major processors have improved this week with base quotes of €9.20-€9.40/kg (+QA bonus) on offer. Small numbers of spring lambs have started to be processed in Irish processing plants with quotes of €10/kg (+QA bonus) available. ...

07 May 2024

Irish Cattle Trade & Prices w/e April 28th 2024

Cattle & Beef Throughput: There were 33,164 cattle processed in DAFM approved plants during the week ending April 28th 2024, taking throughput for the year to date to 596,422 head. This is a 17,139 head or 2.8% increase on the corresponding period in 2023 when a total...

07 May 2024

Tyson Foods investing in insect protein

Tyson Foods, a major US producer of beef, pork and chicken, is betting on protein that comes from insects. The meat processor said on Tuesday that it has invested in Protix, a Netherlands-based insect ingredients maker. Tyson is not only taking a minority stake in the company,...

06 May 2024

More illegal meat seized in Dover amid funding cuts

The government has been told to reverse its decision to slash funding for checks on illegal meat imports at the Port of Dover as another 3.4 tonnes of illegal meat was seized. Dover District Council warned that a failure to act could expose the UK livestock industry to devasta...

06 May 2024

New Zealand Red meat exports slump due to weaker Chinese demand

Weaker pricing and demand from China continue to impact New Zealand red meat export earnings. New Zealand exported $2.58 billion worth of red meat products in the first quarter of the year, down 5% from the first quarter of 2023 and the lowest value for the quarter since 2018,...

05 May 2024

Ron DeSantis bans ‘global elite’ lab-grown meat

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has banned lab-grown meat, saying he will “save our beef” from the “global elite” and its “authoritarian plans”. “Florida is fighting back against the global elite’s plan to force the world to eat me...

03 May 2024

Brazil declares country foot-and-mouth disease-free without vaccination

SAO PAULO, May 2 (Reuters) – Brazil declared itself on Thursday as free of foot and mouth disease without vaccination, and will request World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) to recognize that status as it seeks to open more markets for its meat exports. Brazil̵...

03 May 2024

UK Meat Exports to EU: No Threat Despite NZ Trade Deal

Sheep meat, dairy and beef exports from the UK to the EU should ‘hold firm’ despite a free trade agreement between the bloc and New Zealand coming into force. New Zealand will have improved access to the European market as part of the new NZ-EU free trade agreement...

02 May 2024

Welsh dairy farms sought for AHDB programme driving positive change

Welsh dairy farms are being sought to apply to a national programme by the AHDB which seeks to drive positives changes on-farm. Successful applicants to the Strategic Dairy Farm programme will be appointed for three years and will collaborate with experts to develop a tailored...

01 May 2024

Dover border checks: Illegal sheep meat posed risk, officials say

Sheep carcasses transported to the UK without temperature controls, with blood dripping on other food such as pig parts, chicken, beef and cheese, were seized at the Port of Dover days before new controls came in, officials said. Dover Port Health Authority (DPHA) said it seiz...

30 Apr 2024

EU pork imports push Serbian pig farmers back into danger zone

Local farmers in Serbia say that a surge in pork imports from European Union (EU) member states has pushed the average profitability in the country’s pig industry below the break-even point again. The recovery trend in the Serbian pig industry did not last long, local news o...

30 Apr 2024

Uncertainty remains as new border control checks come into force

The Government’s new system of import checks finally comes into force today, after five delays and more than three years after we formally left the EU. However, while proper checks on meat products that could pose a risk of diseases like African swine or foot-and-mouth under...

30 Apr 2024

US to test ground beef in states with bird-flu outbreaks in dairy cows

CHICAGO, April 29 (Reuters) – The U.S. government said on Monday it is collecting samples of ground beef at retail stores in states with outbreaks of bird flu in dairy cows for testing, but remains confident the meat supply is safe. Federal officials are seeking to verif...

29 Apr 2024

Beef & Lamb NZ chief executive steps down

The chief executive of Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the New Zealand Meat Board Sam McIvor has resigned and is taking up another leadership role in the primary sector. In announcing his resignation Beef + Lamb New Zealand chair Kate Acland said McIvor was taking up another leade...

29 Apr 2024

How wild boars are threatening Italy’s prosciutto ham industry

Italy’s iconic prosciutto ham is under grave threat from burgeoning numbers of wild boar infected with swine fever, and the army should be drafted in to eradicate them, producers say. The number of wild boar infected with African swine fever (ASF) is on the rise across Italy...

28 Apr 2024

How might the EU-NZ trade deal impact trade?

The EU-NZ Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will enter into force on 1 May 2024. Trade of goods between the two countries was worth almost 9.1 billion euros in 2022. The agreement provides improved access into the EU market for New Zealand products. Improved access for New Zealand go...

27 Apr 2024

Colombia becomes first country to restrict US beef due to bird flu in dairy cows

CHICAGO, April 25 (Reuters) – Colombia has restricted the import of beef and beef products coming from U.S. states where dairy cows have tested positive for avian influenza as of April 15, according the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is the first country to officiall...

27 Apr 2024

Lidl Investing £500m In British Pork Sector

Lidl has announced a £500 million investment package into the British pork sector, including a new pricing model for suppliers and farmers. As part of the move, the discounter has moved pork producers to an open-book model – the ‘Lidl Pork Standard’ – that inc...

26 Apr 2024

ASF Russia: Half a million pigs culled in 2023

Russia’s ministry of agriculture estimated that the country culled nearly 486,000 pigs in 2023 due to African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreaks. Despite the losses, the Russian government believes its efforts to crack down on illegal online pork trade have improved the veterinary ...

25 Apr 2024

Delays in NZ lamb imports due to shipping challenges

THE trade of chilled lamb from New Zealand into the UK remains significantly below the levels seen before the pandemic struck, according to industry body Beef and Lamb New Zealand. The upheaval to supply chains during the COVID crisis had a marked effect, with perishable chil...

25 Apr 2024

UK minister says Brexit food checks will ‘have a light touch’

The UK has said post-Brexit border control on food and plant products due to start on Tuesday will be “light-touch” in order to avoid disruptions to businesses trading with the European Union. “We’re trying to cut down the amount of red tape and bureaucracy and so we a...

25 Apr 2024

‘Let’s Change Lamb’ campaign helps drive demand in France

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has announced it will be participating in a French promotional campaign to drive demand for lamb among younger consumers. France is the UK’s largest market for lamb with exports of sheep meat to France from the UK in ...

23 Apr 2024

Farming unions call on food retailers to ‘back British’

UK farming unions have called on retailers to support industry in response to “challenging and disruptive” weather this spring. In a joint letter on behalf of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), NFU Scotland, NFU Cymru and Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU), the trade bodies l...

23 Apr 2024

Consumers save £1.3bn using supermarket deals – Kantar

According to Kantar’s latest supermarket share update, consumers saved £1.3 billion collectively through supermarket deals in the last four weeks. Grocery price inflation fell to 3.2% over the four weeks to 14th April, aided by “a significant increase in promotional spend...

22 Apr 2024

Welsh producers to highlight sustainability during Great British Beef Week

According to Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC), Welsh Beef producers will highlight the sector’s sustainability credentials during Great British Beef Week, held 23-30th April. The nationwide campaign was created by Ladies in Beef, and founded by Devon beef produc...

22 Apr 2024

Sofina acquires Scottish farms to improve its pork supply chain

Food processor Sofina Foods Europe (Sofina) has announced that it has acquired equipment, livestock and a number of farms from Rattlerow Scotland as part of its plan to strengthen its integrated pork supply chain. The deal will see up to 12 Rattlerow Scotland employees transfe...

22 Apr 2024

Livestock & Meat Commission for N.Ireland weekly bulletin

Deadweight Cattle Trade The deadweight trade for prime cattle in NI came under some pressure last week due to an increased supply, with 8,332 prime cattle slaughtered in local plants. This was the highest weekly prime cattle throughput in NI since November 2023. There was also...

19 Apr 2024

Irish Sheep Trade & Prices w/e April 13th 2024

Quotes: Base quotes for hoggets from the major processors have improved this week with base quotes of 900-930c/kg (+QA bonus) on offer. Small numbers of spring lambs have started to be processed in Irish processing plants with quotes of 960c/kg (+QA bonus) available. The stro...

19 Apr 2024

Irish Cattle Trade & Prices w/e April 13th 2024

Throughput: There were 34,425 cattle processed in DAFM approved plants during the week ending April 13th 2024, taking throughput for the year to date to 529,442 head. This is a 14,293 head or 11% increase on the corresponding period in 2023 when a total of 515,149 cattle ...

19 Apr 2024

Meat and dairy prices still higher in long term despite falling inflation

Annual UK food price inflation fell to 4% last month down from 5% in February, but meat, dairy and eggs still remain significantly pricier compared to 2019 levels. The figures, published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), show that bread prices rose by just under 1% ...

19 Apr 2024

AHDB Porkwatch survey “largely positive”, says NPA

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has released its latest Porkwatch survey, reporting a higher proportion of British pork and sausage products on shelves than last year. The survey, which looked at the performance of pork and pigmeat during the month of...

19 Apr 2024

Academics work together to highlight positive red meat research

Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) has backed a group of academics working together to project positive news about eating red meat as a result of their mutual concerns about the impact of inaccurate work in the same field of research. The group, including Professor ...

19 Apr 2024

Pig Prices: SPP falls for third week in a row as slaughter numbers rise

SPP falls for third week in a row as slaughter numbers rise The headline pig price continues to fall, as prices in Europe stagnate, while last week saw a notable increase in estimated slaughter numbers. The EU-spec SPP fell for the third consecutive week during the week ended ...

19 Apr 2024

Danish Crown closes slaughterhouse in Denmark

COPENHAGEN, April 20 (Reuters) – Danish Crown will close one of its major slaughterhouses in Denmark and will lay off about 800 employees as part of a restructuring process, the meat producer and exporter said on Thursday. The company said it expects to hire up to 450 ne...

18 Apr 2024

China lifts ban on some German beef imports

BEIJING, April 16 (Reuters) – China has lifted mad cow disease-related bans on some German beef imports, Chinese customs authorities said, after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pressed Chinese counterparts for better market access in a visit to Beijing. The easing applies ...

18 Apr 2024

Meat prices fall to lowest rate since 2021 – ONS

According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), meat prices fell by 0.5% between February and March. The figures showed that the annual rates for most types of food product eased between February and March 2024, with bread, cereals and meat seein...

18 Apr 2024

Scottish farming calls for domestic food production commitments

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Scotland met with MPs and Lords in the House of Commons to outline the importance of domestic food production. The event, held on Tuesday 16th April, was an “ideal opportunity” for the Union’s presidential team to present the key requi...

17 Apr 2024

QMS provides butchery apprentices with value-added educational events

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has reported that it has provided learning and development opportunities for 24 apprentice butchers across Scotland. QMS partnered with butchery businesses to hold educational events at Yorkes of Dundee and Strachans Craft Butchers in Larkhall, led ...

17 Apr 2024

Slow down in China’s beef demand hits key suppliers

China’s beef imports are dwindling amid slowing consumption and ample domestic supply, dealing a blow to its biggest supplier, Brazil. Official data shows the value of China beef imports fell last year for the first time since at least 2016, with prices plunging to the l...

16 Apr 2024

Brazil says China clears 38 more meat plants for export

SAO PAULO, March 12 (Reuters) – The Brazilian government has said 38 additional meat plants have been cleared to sell products to China in what it said was an historic move as both countries celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations, according to a statement on Tu...

16 Apr 2024

“Wronged” red meat gets global academic approval

A group of highly-respected, independent international academics have banded together to project positive news about eating red meat as a result of their mutual concerns about the impacts of inaccurate and partisan work in the same field of research. The group, including Profe...

16 Apr 2024

Welsh Beef producers shine during Great British Beef Week

Welsh Beef producers are set to take centre stage with Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC), shining a light on the sectors sustainability credentials during Great British Beef Week (23-30 April). As part of its activity, which will feature beef farmers from across Wa...

16 Apr 2024

First shipment of Russian pork arrives in China

MOSCOW. April 15 (Interfax) – The first shipment of Russian pork has been delivered to the Chinese market according to Miratorg, the first company to begin deliveries after China lifted restrictions on Russian pork imports last September. A consignment of products weighi...

15 Apr 2024

Welsh abattoir submits request to build meat vending machine

A livestock market site has sought permission from Ceredigion County Council planners to construct a meat vending machine building at its abattoir site Cig Oen Caron in Wales. Cig Oen Caron currently operates from Rhyd Y Gwreiddyn in Tregaron and according to the planning perm...

15 Apr 2024

Review warns of deficiencies associated with plant-based diets

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has looked at the findings of a review published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, which reported that switching to plant-based diets appears to “put us at risk of nutrient deficiencies”. QMS highlighted that the authors of ‘Impac...

15 Apr 2024

Scientists find beef imports into Europe largely safe

The presence of foodborne pathogens in raw beef imported into the European Union is low, according to a study. Microbiological quality of 100 raw beef samples sent to the EU was investigated. Samples of beef imported from November 2021 to May 2022 were collected at the Border ...

15 Apr 2024

Australian meat exports continue to climb

Despite an early Easter, red meat exports in March rose 9% from last year to 182,480 tonnes, making this past month the largest March in terms of exports since 2015 and the second largest on record. Beef Australia exported 106,574 tonnes of beef over March, 8% more than last y...

15 Apr 2024

Cut backs at Shetlands abattoir as financial pressure grows

Shetland’s abattoir will replace its full time manager with a part time role as financial pressures mount. Cuts were “reluctantly” made at the abattoir, Shetland Livestock and Marketing Group (SLMG) said. Due to financial pressures, which are being experienced across the...

14 Apr 2024

JBS to double capacity of Brazil beef plant

JBS, the world’s largest meat producer, will invest 150 million reais (US$29.2 million) to double-fold processing capacity at its Campo Grande II beef plant to 4,400 cattle heads per day, the company announced Friday in a statement. The announcement, which comes after th...

13 Apr 2024

Lula Reunites With JBS Brothers as Brazil’s China Ties Deepen

(Bloomberg) — The billionaire Batista brothers’ stunning comeback is thrusting them into Brazil’s highest circles of power less than three weeks after their appointment to the board of JBS SA. Wesley and Joesley Batista — who grew their family butcher shop into t...

11 Apr 2024

Record-breaking lamb trade hits peak but stays above £8/kg

The spike in demand for lamb from Easter and Ramadan may be passing, with Eid al Fitr ending proceedings on 10 April. However, deadweight lamb prices have continued to hold strong, with tight supplies carrying the trade. Deadweight lambs averaged 829.5p/kg this week, back from...

11 Apr 2024

QMS drives innovation within the butchery sector

Scotland’s apprentice butchers are benefiting from a focus on innovation provided through the Scotch Butchers Club, run by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS). It recently partnered with industry leaders to provide learning and development opportunities for 24 apprentice butchers ac...

10 Apr 2024

Ireland: Weekly Cattle Prices 10th April

Prices reported as quoted or paid to IFA Members. Strong demand. Factories paying above quotes. Steer base €5.20/5.30/kg. Heifer base €5.25/5.35kg. Young Bulls R/U €5.10/5.50/kg. Higher prices for larger and specialised lots. Cows €4.10/€4.90/kg. In-spec bonus 20c/kg...

09 Apr 2024

Wolverhampton abattoir lays off staff over pig supply issue

Many of the staff at a Black Country pork producer and wholesaler have been laid off with no supply of pigs for slaughter given as the reason. The measure at F A Gill at Parkfields, Wolverhampton, took effect on Monday and affected staff, including 40 butchers, have been told ...

09 Apr 2024

Australia manages more than half global sheep meat trade in 2023

Australian sheep meat made up more than half of total global trade for the first time in 2023, according to Meat & Livestock Australia global supply analyst Tim Jackson. “With Australian lamb and mutton production reaching record highs, exports have lifted substantially,...

09 Apr 2024

UK Cattle & Sheep Trade & Prices w/e 30/03

Cattle Deadweight prime cattle prices were generally pressured in the latest week, with the GB all-prime average measure down by 2p/kg to 487.7p/kg for the week ending 30 March. The measure is now in-line with the same week last year. Breaking the prime category down, overall...

09 Apr 2024

Britain’s Best Butcher’s Shop: who will win the title in 2024?

With the Meat Management Industry Awards nomination and voting process well underway, we take a look at one of the programme’s most prestigious awards – Britain’s Best Butcher’s Shop. Last year’s winners Gigli’s Butchers explain what winning the award meant to them...

09 Apr 2024

Irish Cattle & Sheep Trade & Prices w/e 31/03

Cattle & Beef Throughput: There were 31,967 cattle processed in DAFM approved plants during the week ending March 31st 2024, taking throughput for the year to date to 462,669 head. This is a 10,947 head or 2.4% increase on the corresponding period in 2023 when a total o...

09 Apr 2024

Abattoir to diversify with meat vending machine

An application for self-serve meat vending machines has been submitted to council planners. Abbatoir Cig Oen Caron is seeking permission from Ceredigion County Council for two vending machines at Tregaron cattle market. The machines would be “stocked on a daily basis”, wit...

09 Apr 2024

Plukon Food Group buys Polish poultry business Algas

Wezep – Katowice, 2 April 2024, Plukon Food Group (Plukon) has reached an agreement in principle with the shareholders of Algas SP Sp. z o.o. (Algas) to acquire 100% of their slaughtering and processing activities. Algas, under the leadership of the Szatan family, is a secon...

08 Apr 2024

Farmer survey aims to help researchers learn about lungworm outbreaks

A survey has launched for cattle farmers and vets to help researchers find out more about lungworm and its treatment across the UK. Through the survey, the Control of Worms Sustainably (COWS) group hopes to learn more about when outbreaks of lungworm are occurring. It also see...

08 Apr 2024

AHDB showcases British red meat at Canada expo

British beef, lamb and pork will be featured at the Restaurants Canada (RC) Show in Toronto from 8-10th April, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). The show, which AHDB said is expected to attract more than 22,000 visitors from Canada and aro...

07 Apr 2024

First Russian pork on its way to China

A Chinese regulator granted permission for pork export to the first 3 Russian pig companies, Russian veterinary body Rosselhoznandzor announced. RusAgro, a large Russian pig producer, scheduled to deliver the first pork to China in March 2024, Agroexport reported. The first co...

07 Apr 2024

‘Vet attestation’ rules for meat exports to be tightened

UK farmers will be barred from exporting non-assured livestock or products derived from them to the EU from next week, unless they have a vet-supplied declaration that their animals have been inspected in the past 12 months. The new rules initially took effect last December, r...

05 Apr 2024

Irish Cattle & Sheep Trade & Prices w/e 24/03

Cattle & Beef Throughput: There were 33,106 cattle processed in DAFM approved plants during the week ending March 24th 2024, taking throughput for the year to date to 430,700 head. This is a 11,783 head or 3% increase on the corresponding period in 2023 when a total of 41...

05 Apr 2024

QMS relaunches Scotch Beef Club in Italy

Scotch Beef is now high fashion in Milan after Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) relaunched the Scotch Beef Club in Italy, focussing on increasing exports to this high-profile, premium market. To celebrate the relaunch, an audience of leading foodservice stakeholders in the Italian ...

04 Apr 2024

Six Charged Following Protest at Cranswick Abattoir

Six people have been charged with aggravated trespass after a protest at a pig abattoir. Operations at the pig processing plant run by Cranswick Country Foods in Watton, Norfolk, were disrupted when animal rights protesters made their way into the site at around 6am on Wednesd...

04 Apr 2024

Exporters prepare for inward mission from Mexican contingent

In a few weeks’ time, the UK will host a two-week reapproval inspection audit from Mexico for British pork. To help exporters prepare, AHDB and the UK Export Certification Partnership (UKECP) held a workshop on Tuesday 19 March 2024. Highlights from the workshop included...

04 Apr 2024

UK has self-declared zonal freedom from highly pathogenic bird flu

The UK has self-declared zonal freedom from highly pathogenic avian influenza following its worst ever outbreak, which began in 2021. The development, announced today (3 April) by Defra, means the UK is now in line with World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) rules. The de...

04 Apr 2024

New AHDB Pork Sector Council chair announced

Glen Nimmo has been appointed as the new chair of the AHDB Pork Sector Council, Defra has announced. Mr Nimmo has previously worked in a family-run multi-site integrated pork processing business, covering slaughter, primal processing and retail packing. Replacing Mike Sheldo...

04 Apr 2024

Pig prices: SPP drops back as market stability continues

The pig price has been remarkably stable of late and this continued during the week ended March 30, as the EU-spec SPP dropped back by 0.22p to stand at 211.39p/kg. This continued the recent pattern of small dips and gains in quick succession, cancelling out the previous wee...

04 Apr 2024

Australian goatmeat exports surge in 2023

Australian goatmeat exports for 2023 reached their second highest volume on record for a calendar year since 2014. A total of 33,891 tonnes of shipped weight (swt) Australian goatmeat was exported in 2023, a significant increase on the 21,831 swt exported in 2022. While volume...

04 Apr 2024

Vegan Activists Occupy Cranswick Abattoir, Seven Arrested

Police have been called to a Norfolk abattoir where anti-meat demonstrators are staging a protest above one of the slaughterhouses. The group, led by an activist and filmmaker known as Joey Carbstrong, entered the Cranswick food facility at Brandon Road, Watton, earlier t...

03 Apr 2024

Hilton Food Group plans further expansion and more takeovers

Hilton Food Group is planning further geographic expansion and potential takeover deals after profits jumped by nearly two-thirds last year. The food packaging company, which supplies major supermarkets including Tesco, Morrisons, and Waitrose, reported bumper pre-tax profits ...

30 Mar 2024

Ireland: IFA Livestock chair calls for sustained beef price rises

IFA Livestock chair Declan Hanrahan said beef price rises of 10c/kg over the past week must continue. He said demand for beef in our key UK and EU markets is strong with supplies in these markets reducing for the year, creating real potential for strong and sustained growth in...

30 Mar 2024

Three Councils Defy Plant-Based Movement in Support of Farmers

Three councils, including the first in Scotland, have defied the plant-based movement in a show of support for farmers of all sectors. Rutland County Council, Peterborough City Council, and Highland Council have all passed new pro-farming motions, becoming the latest to do so....

30 Mar 2024

QMS reports early signs of seasonal uplift in the pig market

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has indicated that the pig market is showing early signs of a seasonal uplift. After experiencing downward pressure at the start of 2024, the GB Standard Pig Price (SPP) has been relatively stable in February and March. Notably, carcass prices for w...

30 Mar 2024

Boosting pork exports to Southeast Asia: Russia launches the Meat Shuttle

The Russian government and logistics firm FESCO have launched a ‘Meat Shuttle’ – a railway service for the delivery of perishable products in refrigerated containers from Russia to China and countries of Southeast Asia. The new route will boost the export potential of ...

29 Mar 2024

Excessive cost rise impacts Scottish meat chain

Scotland’s meat industry is at risk of being rendered ‘uncompetitive’ in comparison to the rest of the UK by the imposition of huge cost increases by Food Standards Scotland (FSS). An April 1st price hike by FSS of 20% for the provision of Official Veterinarians (OVs) an...

28 Mar 2024

The outlook for global poultry markets in 2024 – Rabobank

The outlook for global poultry markets in 2024 is moderately positive, with demand expected to gradually recover. Here are some key points from Rabobank’s report: Demand Recovery: There’s an anticipated shift from consumer focus on prices to a recovery in demand for value-...

28 Mar 2024

What is Great British Beef Week?

Great British Beef Week 2024. Great British Beef Week (GBBW) is a nationwide campaign in the UK that celebrates the versatility and exceptional taste of British beef. It also highlights the commitment and dedication of British beef farmers to sustainable practices. The 14th an...

28 Mar 2024

Pig prices: SPP moves up again

The EU-spec SPP followed last week’s small dip with a small gain of 0.3p during the week ended March 23 to stand at 211.61p/kg. The price index has been extremely stable since the end of January, when it stood at 211.36p/kg, fluctuating up and down since. It is now 2....

28 Mar 2024

Polish poultry meat sector insists products are safe

Representatives from the poultry meat sector in Poland have responded to reports in the United Kingdom about the risk of Salmonella in products. Broadcaster ITV and The Bureau of Investigative Journalism said UK food safety chiefs were considering banning some poultry product...

27 Mar 2024

Retailers accused of ‘morally wrong’ pricing as they cut price of lamb ahead of Easter

Retailers have been accused of ‘morally wrong’ pricing as the price of lamb, potatoes and vegetables are cut this week. IFA President Francie Gorman said that vegetables, potatoes and lamb are being sold below the cost of production this week at prices that are “insultin...

27 Mar 2024

Argentina’s beef exports surge to highest level in decades

Foreign sales of Argentina’s famed steaks and other cuts of beef soared last month to reach their highest level in more than five decades, according to official data published on Tuesday, in a rare bright spot for the South American country’s ailing economy. The da...

27 Mar 2024

Scottish government changes farming payments from 2025

New details about the actions Scotland’s farmers and crofters will have to take to receive agricultural support payments from 2025 have been unveiled. From next year, farmers and crofters will have to deliver new things in return for basic payments, the Scottish governme...

27 Mar 2024

Pig producers must consider ‘very real threat’ of African swine fever

Pig producers have been warned to consider the ‘very real threat’ of African swine fever (ASF) in the UK as the virus continues to spread in Europe. In new guidance, the National Pig Association (NPA) has urged farmers to consider whether they are doing everything ...

27 Mar 2024

NSA urges new Welsh First Minister to rethink SFS

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has continued to urge Welsh Government to rethink Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) as the new Welsh First Minister is appointed. Vaughan Gething was appointed First Minister following a vote in Welsh Parliament, which NSA commented was a �...

27 Mar 2024

Government response to Australia meat export barrier is “disappointing”- BMPA

The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) has expressed disappointment with Government response to its letter regarding Australian meat exports. The organisation said that it had recently written to Trade Minister Kemi Badenoch MP regarding meat export opportunities to Au...

27 Mar 2024

Billionaire Brothers to Join Board of JBS

(Bloomberg) — Brazilian billionaire brothers Joesley and Wesley Batista were named to the board of JBS SA, paving the way for their return to the family’s meat empire after years of absence following a massive corruption scandal. The brothers will take two extra seats ...

27 Mar 2024

GI status boost for Welsh lamb and beef exports to Japan

Welsh lamb and beef have officially been recognised with Geographical Indication (GI) status in Japan. The protected status means that the premium products can be exported to Japan with added assurance that they are protected against imitations. The announcement from the Depar...

26 Mar 2024

Tight supplies and demand uplift drive EU pork prices

Improved demand has fuelled a welcome increase in EU pork prices over the past six weeks or so. The first five weeks of the year saw EU pi prices drop off sharply, losing on average 12p/kg, on the back of seasonally weak demand. However, in the latest six weeks, ending March...

26 Mar 2024

Over 100 tractors rally outside parliament as concern over policy grows

More than 100 tractors rallied outside the Houses of Parliament as part of the industry’s latest protest against the direction of government policy. Tractors taking part in the go-slow protest on Monday evening (25 March) made their way through central London’s str...

26 Mar 2024

NFU Scotland welcomes mandatory legislation to tackle Avian Influenza

National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Scotland has welcomed the announcement of new legislation requiring all bird keepers to register their flocks. The mandatory requirement follows a long-running campaign driven by the “continued threat” of Avian Influenza to Scottish poultry,...

26 Mar 2024

UK Halal sector expected to be worth £13.5bn by 2028

The Halal Monitoring Committee has published a report on the halal sector, which looks at the importance of the halal market to UK farming and to the UK economy. Research conducted by Dr Awal Fuseini, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s (AHDB) halal sector senio...

26 Mar 2024

Lamb prices soar as supply tightens and demand rises

Deadweight lamb prices have soared by more than 20 per cent in the last nine weeks with increased consumer demand around religious festivals and a tightening of supply to market playing a significant part. Nine consecutive weekly price rises have carried the current deadweight...

25 Mar 2024

Ireland: Weekly Cattle Prices 20th March

Prices reported as quoted or paid to IFA Members. Strong demand. Factories paying above quotes. Steer base €5.15/5.25/kg. Heifer base €5.20/5.30kg. Young Bulls R/U €5.10/5.50/kg. Higher prices for larger and specialised lots. Cows €4.10/€4.90/kg. In-spec bonus 20c/kg...

25 Mar 2024

Taste of Japan: Wagyu beef a cut above

If “wagyu” simply means Japanese cow, does that mean that all beef in Japan is wagyu? No. Not all Japanese beef is created equal. Over the decades, a lot of dairy cattle – mainly Holsteins – have been imported in Japan. Many have also been crossbred with local wagyu ca...

25 Mar 2024

NZ and EU trade agreement to take effect on May 1

SYDNEY, March 25 (Reuters) – New Zealand said on Monday a free trade agreement with the European Union would come into effect on May 1, after the country’s parliament ratified the deal. New Zealand notified the European Union it ratified the agreement earlier on Mo...

24 Mar 2024

U.S. drought and weak yen lift Japan’s beef import costs

TOYOTA — Japanese wholesale prices for imported beef have hit the highest level since the market was opened up in 1991, as a drought in southern U.S. states curtails supply, prompting restaurants to weigh price hikes. Domestic wholesale price of U.S. belly meat used in b...

24 Mar 2024

Australian Government leads red meat mission in the UK

The Cook Government’s Minister for Agriculture and Food is leading the first Western Australian delegation of its kind to the United Kingdom, which includes some of the State’s major sheep meat and cattle producers. Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis is le...

23 Mar 2024

South Korean Scientists Develop ‘Beef Rice’

South Korean researchers have combined cow muscle cells with rice grains. They say the new rice is an important step towards a sustainable, less costly source of protein. The researchers suggested it could replace the meat of farmed cattle, or beef. Professor Jinkee Hong of Y...

23 Mar 2024

Belgium says free of bird flu in poultry

PARIS, March 22 (Reuters) – Belgium has regained its status of being free of bird flu, which will allow producers to resume poultry exports and other countries to lift trade bans, Belgian food safety authorities have said. The Paris-based World Organisation for Animal He...

22 Mar 2024

Red Tractor Axes Greener Farms Commitment Module

Red tractor assurance today announces that it is dropping its greener farms commitment module (gfc), following feedback from its members. The module was developed to help farmers, processors and retailers meet the growing need for all to demonstrate sustainability, but ...

22 Mar 2024

AIMS announces speakers for its 2nd Annual Luncheon

The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) has announced the speakers attending its Annual Luncheon on Friday 12th April at Butcher’s Hall in London. The luncheon will commence with a short address from the Master of the Worshipful Company of Butchers, Chris Wood. ...

22 Mar 2024

Meat wholesaler Macduff 1890 ceases operations

The family-owned, fourth-generation meat wholesale company Macduff 1890, under the leadership of Andrew Duff, the great-grandson of its founder, has ceased operations and closed. Andrew Duff expressed his great disappointment that trading conditions had given him no other opt...

21 Mar 2024

Scottish farmers demand clarity on £40m beef support scheme

NFU Scotland has called again on the Scottish Government to urgently bring forward details of its proposed reform of the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS). Government has confirmed that the scheme, currently worth £40 million, will be a feature of future support ...

21 Mar 2024

Pig prices: Slaughter numbers plummet as SPP drops back

The EU-spec SPP has dropped back again, but the most eye-catching part of the latest of AHDB’s market data is the drop of in estimated slaughter numbers. If these turn out to be accurate – and they are often revision – weekly GB slaughterings, at 141,000 fo...

21 Mar 2024

Florida bans lab-grown meat

Florida became the first state to ban cultivated meat, which is made by replicating the cells of real meat without the need to actually raise and slaughter the animal, The Free Press has reported. Other states, including Arizona, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and Alaba...

21 Mar 2024

Soaring lamb trade reaches new record high of £8/kg

Finished deadweight lambs have surpassed £8/kg for top E- and U-grades in the past week. Tight supplies and exceptional demand driving up prices to new all-time highs. The GB old-season lamb SQQ averaged 789.8p/kg, an increase of 46.1p/kg on the previous week, and up by almos...

21 Mar 2024

New NI TB compensation proposals gains largest ever farmer feedback

Nearly 5,000 Northern Irish farmers have responded to a consultation proposing to cut the compensation rate for cattle removed under the bTB programme. This is the largest number of responses to date on a bovine TB consultation proposal in Northern Ireland. The controversial p...

21 Mar 2024

Scottish beef farmers frustrated by lack of detail on calf scheme reform

The Scottish government has been urged to release more details on its reform of the suckler beef support scheme, as farmers raise frustration with the lack of detail. The Scottish government recently confirmed that the scheme (SSBSS), currently worth £40 million, will be a fe...

21 Mar 2024

PGI Welsh Lamb campaign “a major success” says HCC

Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) has reported that its multi-platform consumer campaign, ‘Uniquely Welsh. Experts in their field’, has resulted in a “considerable uplift” in brand awareness. The campaign, which aimed to increase brand awareness of PGI Wels...

21 Mar 2024

NCB provides butchers with legal advice in Trading Standards Manual

National Craft Butchers (NCB) has launched its Trading Standards Manual, which it said provides “comprehensive legally backed advice” for retail, catering and wholesale butchers. The manual was produced after NCB contacted East Sussex Council to investigate forming a “co...

21 Mar 2024

Derbyshire abattoir expansion plans approved despite concerns

An abattoir in Derbyshire has had expansion plans approved despite concerns from residents. At a South Derbyshire District Council meeting on Tuesday, plans to expand Pickstock Abattoir in Coal Lane, between Hartshorne and Ticknall, were approved by councillors. A resident had...

20 Mar 2024

Ongoing poor weather ‘placing farmers under serious pressure’

St Patrick’s Day is seen as a turning point in the farming calendar, but ground is saturated due to wet conditions that stretch back to the middle of last year. Ongoing weather conditions are placing farmers under “serious pressure and adding to stress levels for famil...

20 Mar 2024

Defra looks at greater use of electronic tags for pig identification

The government has promised to work with the pig industry on any future changes to pig identification, including the possible greater use of electronic tags. Defra has now responded to a 2022 report by AHDB into pig movements, identification and traceability, commenting on all...

20 Mar 2024

Lamb roast sales and exports on the rise in 2024

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has predicted that traditional roast lamb sales in 2024 will increase on the year through Easter, Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr, as HCC predicts boost in Welsh sheep exports. The trade body reported that in 2023, British shop...

20 Mar 2024

Interest in meat-free products “waning” says AHDB

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has revealed that in January 2024, meat-free products experienced less demand compared to last year. The trade body said that in January 2023, it saw “poor performance” for both meat-free and dairy-free products com...

20 Mar 2024

FSA criticised over push to fast-track ‘lab-grown meat’ approvals in the UK

Criticisms have been raised at the Food Standards Agency (FSA) for wanting to accelerate approval of lab-grown meat for the UK market. The FSA is reportedly planning to use the approval of regulators in other countries to allow technologies like lab-grown meat and insect-based...

20 Mar 2024

Avara Foods criticises ‘opportunistic’ legal threat over river Wye pollution

Avara Foods has described as ‘opportunistic’ and ‘without merit’ the threat of a legal claim for compensation for those affected by pollution in the river Wye. Avara Foods operates within the catchment of the river Wye, however all its birds are housed, and there is no...

19 Mar 2024

Abattoir ‘found to be transporting warm meat’ fined thousands

Higginshaw Abattoir Ltd, based in Royton, Oldham, was ordered to pay £12,000 after being found guilty of charges relating to the dispatch of over-temperature meat. The law states that meat must be immediately chilled and kept below 7°C, and below 3°C in the case of offal,...

19 Mar 2024

New measures to help protect poultry industry from bird flu

New measures to better protect the poultry sector from future avian influenza outbreaks have been set out by the government today (19 March). Under the changes announced there will be new requirements for all bird keepers – regardless of the size of their flock – t...

19 Mar 2024

Farm to fork Assurance Review officially launched

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) have announced that an industry wide review of farm to fork assurance has been officially launched. The independent review has been jointly commissioned by the NFU and AHDB along ...

19 Mar 2024

LMC sees drop in NI calf registrations for January 2024

The Livestock and Meat Commission in Northern Ireland (LMC NI) has reported a 6.9% year-on-year decrease in calf registrations in January 2024. Using data from the Northern Ireland Food Animal Information System (NIFAS), LMC confirmed that a total of 40,587 calves were registe...

19 Mar 2024

New U.S. meat labelling rules causing Canadian cattle industry concern

New meat labelling rules in the United States could have an impact on the ability of Canadian beef producers to move their product into its largest consumer market. The changes are part of a decade-long battle between Canada and the U.S. over country-of-origin labelling (COOL)...

18 Mar 2024

China removes anti-dumping tariff on Brazilian poultry

China has removed the anti-dumping process against Brazilian poultry that increased importation tariffs up to 34.2%. In addition, the Chinese government has also authorised 12 new chicken plants from Brazil to export. This has been agreed following negotiations between Brazil ...

18 Mar 2024

Poland begins poultry exports to the Philippines

Poland has sent the first containers of poultry to the Philippines, with deliveries expected to perk up in the coming months. In the meantime, farmers insist on their demands to protect the domestic market from cheap imports. The Philippines is a big market made up of 115 mill...

18 Mar 2024

Welsh lamb to be showcased in the US

Welsh red meat exporters will be heading across the Atlantic to promote PGI Welsh Lamb on a trade visit facilitated by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC). Welsh lamb will feature at the Annual Meat Conference (AMC) which this year is taking place in Nashville, Ten...

17 Mar 2024

Python ‘tastes like chicken and should be part of our diet’

Python meat should be seen as a serious alternative to chicken and beef because of its environmental benefits, according to a scientific study. Academics say the non-venomous snakes require less food than traditional livestock such as pigs or cattle and can grow at a faster ...

14 Mar 2024

Government confirms new phase of bovine TB vaccine field trials

Farmers are one step closer to seeing a deployable bovine TB cattle vaccine as government field trials move on to a third phase. Following the completion of phase 2 of the trials, the government has published an update confirming it will undertake an additional phase. Phase 3 ...

14 Mar 2024

Scottish gov told to return £46m to ag budget or ‘jeopardise’ food security

The Scottish government must return £46 million to farmers or risk ‘jeopardising’ food security and net zero plans, an MSP has warned. Ring-fenced funding was removed from the agriculture budget, including £33m in Bew Review funding during the emergency budget re...

14 Mar 2024

Craft butcher named Scotland’s Apprentice of the Year

A craft butcher from Falkirk who credits his apprenticeship with changing his life has been named as Scotland’s Apprentice of the Year. Marc Ingram picked up the Modern Apprentice of the Year SCQF Level 5 award at the Scottish Apprenticeship Awards, held at the P&J Live ...

12 Mar 2024

Farmers concerned about cheaper imports to protest outside parliament

Farmers concerned about cheaper food imports are set to stage a new protest outside the Houses of Parliament later this month. Campaign groups Save British Farming and Fairness For Farmers said they wanted to “bring the countryside to the lawmakers in parliament”. ...

12 Mar 2024

Russia sends first pork shipment to China in 15 years

Russia has announced that it has sent pork to China for the first time since 2008 when the Chinese Government imposed a ban on Russian due to African Swine Fever. Russia sent 27 tonnes of pork to China on Thursday, according to Russia’s veterinary and phytosanitary service, ...

11 Mar 2024

USDA says more than $200M will help meat processors expand

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Agriculture Department announced more than $223 million in grants and loans Wednesday to help small- and mid-sized meat processing plants expand as part of a larger $1 billion effort to boost competition in the highly concentrated industry. The effort ...

11 Mar 2024

Meat industry leaders pledge gender equality

Industry leaders representing nine businesses across the meat processing, retail and foodservice supply chain have agreed that more progress is needed to improve gender inclusion within the sector. The group came together at a recent round-table forum organised by the Meat Bus...

11 Mar 2024

Marel: Optimizing the fundamentals of pork cutting and deboning

The landscape of pork processing is changing, but the one thing that remains a constant is the essential steps to get from carcass to commodities. This journey involves intricate processes requiring precision, skill, and an understanding of consumer preferences. By continually...

11 Mar 2024

First female leadership team for Q Guild of Butchers

The Q Guild of Butchers has cut through tradition and appointed a female chair and vice chair – the first women to ever hold these positions at the Guild in its 37 years. Supporting the craft butchery trade, the Q Guild of Butchers represents over 120 of Britain’s butchers...

09 Mar 2024

The Origins of Corned Beef

Corned beef, with its succulent taste and rich history, has traversed continents and centuries, captivating palates worldwide. The term “corned beef” is thought to have originated from the English term “corn,” which referred to the coarse grains of sa...

08 Mar 2024

AHDB designs “optimum” red meat packaging using data from research

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has looked at how producers and retailers can optimise packaging and labelling to “improve shopper purchase intent” for red meat. The research, which was undertaken by AHDB in collaboration with consumer insights co...

08 Mar 2024

Annabel Croft to host Women In Meat Industry Awards 2024 ceremony

To celebrate International Women’s Day today (8th March), organisers of the annual Women In Meat Industry Awards (WIMIA) have announced that tennis star, TV broadcaster, and ‘Strictly’ finalist Annabel Croft is to be the celebrity host at this year’s 5-star ceremony in...

08 Mar 2024

Blanket reduction in meat could cause nutrient deficiencies – FSS

The meat industry has responded to research from the University of Edinburgh commissioned by Food Standards Scotland (FSS) looking at the impact of red meat consumption in relation to climate change mitigation. Upon request from the Scottish Government, Food Standards Scotland...

07 Mar 2024

Study warns against meat reduction targets for vulnerable groups

A balance needs to be struck between climate objectives and the health and nutrition of the population when reducing meat and dairy intake, researchers say. Although the assumption is that meat and dairy reductions would be of benefit to climate change mitigation and human hea...

07 Mar 2024

England’s pig herd fell by 10 percent last year, Defra says

The overall pig herd in England fell by 10 percent in 2023, following the huge contraction of the breeding herd in 2022, figures show. Defra’s December census showed that the breeding herd stabilised last year, but showed little sign of growth. There was also a drop in young...

07 Mar 2024

Battle starts for bakers to be crowned UK pie champion

Hundreds of bakers will put their skills to the test hoping to be crowned the supreme champion at the 16th British Pie Awards. Vegan, dessert and the traditional pork pies were sampled on Wednesday in the Leicestershire town synonymous with the savoury favourite, Melton Mowbra...

07 Mar 2024

Red Tractor told Greener Farms Commitment should be ‘discontinued’

Red Tractor should drop its controversial Greener Farms Commitment (GFC) module and instead adopt a more transparent approach which works better for farmers, according to UK farming unions and levy body AHDB. Issuing a joint response today (March 5) following the findings of...

06 Mar 2024

AHDB showcases British red meat in Hong Kong

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has partnered with professional chefs in Hong Kong to showcase British red meat as part of a month-long campaign. The campaign was launched on Friday 1st March 2024 and will run throughout March with chefs Saito Chau of...

05 Mar 2024

AHDB: Global demand for lamb helps drive UK red meat exports

In 2023, red meat exports from the UK were worth £1.7 billion, largely driven by strong demand for UK lamb on international markets, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. Full-year figures from HMRC show that in 2023, red meat exports, including off...

05 Mar 2024

Kent farmers demand Government prioritise British produce

Kent farmers have protested foreign imports of food in supermarkets, leading a “go-slow” protest through Canterbury. The farmers led a convoy of farming vehicles through Canterbury city centre on Sunday 3rd March 2024, displaying signs reading “No Farmers, No Food, No Fu...

04 Mar 2024

Sheep trade: Suez Canal shipping issues driving hogget prices

Issues with the supply of lamb from New Zealand to the United Kingdom (UK) is having a knock-on effect with the sheep trade in Ireland. Shipping through the Suez canal has recently become impossible for some ships, which have instead re-routed around the Cape of Good Hope in ...

04 Mar 2024

Australia: Operator of northern WA’s only abattoir enters voluntary administration

The operator of the only large-scale abattoir in northern Western Australia has called in administrators amid an ongoing government investigation and the pursuit of its parent company over millions in unpaid debts. Documents from the Australian Securities and Investments Commi...

04 Mar 2024

Bernard Matthews confirms closure of Norfolk headquarters

Poultry producer Bernard Matthews has confirmed the closure of its headquarters. The company has been based at the site in Great Witchingham, Norfolk, since 1955 and employs about 600 people there. The company previously said the factory had become “loss-making and not ...

04 Mar 2024

‘Very positive day’ for Irish beef marking registration of PGI

It is a “very positive day” for Irish agriculture as an event is held to mark the registration of Irish Grass Fed Beef as an all-island Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). The granting of this PGI status for Irish Grass Fed Beef places it on the “same ...

04 Mar 2024

Hundreds of farmers stage go-slow tractor protest in Canterbury

Hundreds of farmers have staged a go-slow tractor protest in Canterbury as concerns over cheaper food imports and government policy grows. A convoy of tractors and other agricultural machinery was driven through the city centre on Sunday afternoon (3 March). Anger over the low...

04 Mar 2024

Lottery grant worth £100,000 to help Peak District farmers boost nature

Dozens of Peak District farmers have been awarded a £100,000 lottery grant to help spearhead nature recovery and peatland restoration. Peakland Environmental Farmers (PEF), an environmental co-operative of 77 farmers, has been awarded the grant from the National Lottery Herit...

04 Mar 2024

Welsh livestock farmers call for ‘major overhaul’ of SFS scheme

A major overhaul of the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) will need to take place before it is workable for Welsh livestock farmers, NFU Cymru has warned. The union’s livestock board met recently to discuss in detail the Welsh government’s third and final consultation o...

04 Mar 2024

Irish grass-fed beef given all-Ireland EU status

The attainment of PGI status within the EU for Irish grass-fed beef has been described as a ‘tremendous accolade’ for farmers in both Northern Ireland and the Republic. Irish grass-fed beef has been awarded an all-Ireland Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), a ...

02 Mar 2024

A Look at the Middle East’s Meat Industry

The Key Players: A Dive into the Middle East’s Meat Industry The Middle East’s meat industry stands as a cornerstone of the region’s economy, reflecting its rich cultural heritage and diverse culinary traditions. From succulent lamb dishes to sizzling kebabs,...

29 Feb 2024

Staffordshire Council votes to proactively support local farmers

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council has voted to proactively support local farmers by buying meat and dairy for council-organised events. The motion ensures that all catering at council-organised events is sourced from local suppliers, following campaigning by the Country...

29 Feb 2024

National Butchers Week returns for 2024

March 4th to 10th is National Butchers Week! National Butchers Week is your invitation to dive into the world of exceptional meats available right at your local butcher shops. Why should you get involved? Here’s why: Your local butcher is a treasure trove of premium, oft...

29 Feb 2024

Hilton Food Group among the speakers to address Meat Business Women Conference

Steve Murrells, CEO, Hilton Food Group, Ruth McDonald, Corporate Services Director, Morrisons and Jane Treasure, Food & Beverage Director, Pizza Express have been announced as the keynote speakers at the UK & Ireland Meat Business Women conference in May 2024. The...

29 Feb 2024

New York Sues JBS Over Climate Impact

New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against JBS S.A., the world’s largest meat processor, over its climate impact, marking a significant move in holding corporations accountable for environmental harm. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of New York, accuses...

28 Feb 2024

FSA launches consultation on Mechanically Separated Meat

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched a public consultation seeking views on new guidance relating to Mechanically Separated Meat (MSM). The FSA has developed new guidance to provide support for food businesses following a series of court judgments on the definition o...

28 Feb 2024

Processors warn of damage to industry of new immigration salary rules

The British Meat Processors Association has written to the Home Secretary James Cleverly to outline the damage to the UK meat and wider food industry that the new £38,700 immigration rule will cause. A salary of £38,700 for butchers from overseas represents a 49% increase in...

28 Feb 2024

Defra confirms funding withdrawal for Dover illegal meat checks

Defra has confirmed that grant funding for checks for illegal meat imports at Dover will be withdrawn at the end of April, after which it will be up to the Port Health Authority (PHA) to start charging offenders to recover costs. The information is set out in a letter from bio...

28 Feb 2024

Lamb prices hit £7 a kg at abattoirs

A flying finished lamb trade and a positive outlook for the spring will offer some confidence to sheep farmers during the next few months. Strong retail demand, tight supply, increased export trade and firm buyer interest in the build-up to Ramadan should all help to of...

28 Feb 2024

Avara focuses on optimisation after tough year

Avara Foods has pledged to streamline its business after posting a second successive loss in its annual accounts. The leading poultry supplier’s latest accounts, for the financial year ended May 2023, showed an increase in turnover to over £1.5bn, but an overall loss of £1...

28 Feb 2024

Albania: Europe’s 28th country to report ASF virus

African Swine Fever has also reached the wild boar population of Albania, which means that the virus has been reported in every country in Middle and Eastern Europe. Albania is the 28th country in Europe to have reported African Swine Fever, genotype II, ever since the virus e...

28 Feb 2024

2023 UK pigmeat export volumes down by 20%

UK Pigmeat export volumes, including offal, fell by 20% last year to 298,000 tonnes, as a result of lower UK production and subdued demand in Asia. The value of pigmeat shipments fell by a lower proportion, 9% to £570 million, due to higher prices. Most export categories were...

28 Feb 2024

Plans For Isle of Wight Abattoir

Discussions about establishing an abattoir on the Isle of Wight are progressing, with representatives of the National Farmers Union set to meet with the Farming Minister this week. Local MP Bob Seely has arranged the meeting with Farming Minister Mark Spencer following a discu...

28 Feb 2024

France issues new ban on meat names for plant protein

PARIS, Feb 27 (Reuters) – France on Tuesday issued a ban on using terms like steak and ham for plant protein products, a second attempt by the government to regulate meat alternatives as it tries to assuage livestock producers who have been at the heart of farmer protest...

28 Feb 2024

Lamb market at record high for the time of year

After A firm end to 2023, the lamb market has risen further, reaching record levels for the time of year. This month, hoggs have averaged well above 300p/kg lwt at Scottish marts, and averaged around 315p/kg in the second and third weeks of February. Price rises have also been...

28 Feb 2024

Thousands of Welsh farmers to protest in Cardiff over SFS

Thousands of Welsh farmers will take part in a protest in Cardiff this afternoon over heightening concerns at the Welsh government’s vision for the industry. Up to 10,000 farmers are expected to make their way to the Welsh capital in a show of anger centred on a series o...

28 Feb 2024

Lamb trade “takes off” as prices rise 30-40c/kg in just a week

The quality bonus, worth 10-20c/kg, only adds to the shine for Irish lamb producers, writes Martin Ryan. It is sunshine all the way under blue skies for the lamb trade as the price ‘take off’ continues to deliver for producers supplying the factories for this week....

28 Feb 2024

Romania’s poultry industry leader expects to double turnover and profit by 2026

Building on the momentum of the last three years and having successfully achieved its overall turnover and profit targets in the previous year, TRANSAVIA, Romania’s chicken market leader, announces its Solid Growth Acceleration Plan for the next 3 years, with a doubling ...

28 Feb 2024

China scraps Brazilian poultry tariff

SAO PAULO : China’s government has opted to not renew a tariff on imports of poultry products from Brazil, the South American nation said on Tuesday. China hit Brazil with a tariff of between 17.8 per cent and 34.2 per cent in 2019 on its poultry in a bid to prevent R...

28 Feb 2024

Castrate squirrels and serve prisoners culled deer meat, says latest net zero plan

Squirrels will be chemically castrated and deer will be culled, cooked and served to prisoners under net zero plans to protect England’s trees. The Government is drawing up options to control the deer and squirrel population to protect woodlands in an effort to limit the n...

27 Feb 2024

Study examines ‘virus and host’ factors in ASF

Researchers from The Pirbright Institute are joining UCL experts in a study to understand how African swine fever virus (ASFV) enters and replicates in pig cells. Scientists at UCL’s Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, led by Professor Finn Werner and funded ...

27 Feb 2024

Britain’s biggest meat industry awards open for product nominations

This year’s Meat Management Industry Awards, the sector’s biggest, longest-established and most successful awards initiative, is set for a record number of product entries – according to organisers. Culminating in the much-anticipated black-tie dinner and awards ceremony...

27 Feb 2024

UK red meat exports close to “record year” driven by demand for lamb

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has announced that red meat exports from the UK in 2023 were worth £1.7 billion, which it said was “largely driven by strong demand for UK lamb” on international markets. Full year figures from HMRC showed that in ...

26 Feb 2024

Gulfood Dubai started with very good movement for Argentine meat

The IPCVA participates together with 13 exporting companies in the most important food fair in the Arab countries. With a large influx of people, the Gulfood Dubai fair began with a notable presence of Argentine Beef. During the day, the 13 exporting companies that participate...

26 Feb 2024

INTERPORC highlights the opportunities that the pig sector offers for the young generation

The Interprofessional of the White Coated Pig (INTERPORC) participates and supports, since its creation, the training of specialists in the pig sector taught in the Master in Pig Health and Production organized by the University of Lleida, the University of Zaragoza and the Un...

26 Feb 2024

Sainsbury’s Backs British Farmers with New Section

Sainsbury’s has added a ‘buy British’ section to its website in a move to better champion and profile British grown food. It becomes the largest supermarket to launch a dedicated ‘Best of British’ page on its groceries website following a campaign push by...

23 Feb 2024

Red Meat Industry Rejects Sustainability Push

The red meat industry has questioned the inclusion of environmental impact, accessibility, and food affordability as considerations in new official dietary advice. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is reviewing guidelines about what Australians should ...

23 Feb 2024

Egg Producers Fear for Future Amid Market Volatility

Farmers have been extremely exposed to high input costs, poor returns, and the threat of disease to their flocks. The poultry industry has been “too volatile” in the last couple of years with producers questioning their futures, as they are just about “keeping the bills ...

23 Feb 2024

Retailer Price Cuts Hit Irish Farmers

ICSA beef chairman John Cleary said Aldi’s “assertion that their price cuts will not affect their suppliers is simply unacceptable”. Cutting the prices of Irish beef and lamb in shops “directly undermines the efforts and livelihoods of Irish farmersR...

23 Feb 2024

Mixed Fortunes for UK Meat Exports

A global demand for lamb helped drive UK red meat exports last year, achieving a similar level in value to the record levels seen in 2022, but beef and pork shipments saw major declines. Red meat exports from the UK in 2023 were worth £1.7 billion, largely driven by strong de...

23 Feb 2024

Welsh Farmer Honoured for Dedication

A poultry farmer from Powys has been honoured at the NFU Conference for her dedication and commitment to the UK farming industry. This year’s Meurig Raymond Award – named after the NFU’s former President – was presented to mid-Wales broiler producer Sharon Hammond. Far...

23 Feb 2024

Beef Week Back for 14th Year

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has announced that Great British Beef Week (GBBW) will launch on Tuesday 23rd April 2024. The week will commence in order to celebrate the “iconic” flavours and versatility of British beef and the sustainable practi...

21 Feb 2024

Aussie Red Meat Production Hits New High

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released its quarterly statistics on livestock slaughtered and meat production, highlighting record lamb and sheep production, as well as the highest slaughter of lambs ever at 24,909,600 lambs, up 16.38% year-on-year (YoY). Accord...

20 Feb 2024

China lifts the ban on Spanish beef imports

Since 2000, Beijing has imposed a ban on the European Union from exporting beef products due to the emergence of several cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or “mad cow” disease, in several members of the bloc that year. “It is good news, especially fo...

20 Feb 2024

UK Wagyu Herds Double in Size

The Wagyu Breeders Association (WBA), a promotional body for British Wagyu, has said that the demand for Wagyu beef shows “no sign of slowing”, as figures released by the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) for 2023 show that British Wagyu more than doubled its numbers ...

20 Feb 2024

Pig Sector Calls for Border Protection

The pig sector has called on all parties to act to deliver fairness in the supply chain and to protect borders from diseases like African swine fever (ASF), ahead of an expected election this year. The National Pig Association (NPA) has today published its election manifesto, ...

19 Feb 2024

Irish Food Takes Aim at US Market

The United States has long forged its place in history as the ‘land of opportunity’, but there really is no better way to describe it for the Irish agri-food firms making top dollar offering a taste of the Emerald Isle stateside. The United States is Ireland’...

17 Feb 2024

Farmers warn food security ‘really under threat’ amid supermarket protest

Farmers in Kent are stationing their tractors in a supermarket car park to protest against cheap imports and “win over” the British public. Around 20 tractors are parked at Tesco Extra in Whitfield, near Dover, to raise awareness of the threat to food security in the UK, b...

16 Feb 2024

Herefordshire meat supplier get go-ahead to expand

A high-profile Herefordshire meat supplier has been told it can expand its packing and distribution plant – despite objections from neighbours. Neil Powell of Country Tastes, Longmeadow Industrial Estate, Ewyas Harold applied in March last year for planning permission for th...

16 Feb 2024

Small abattoir closures ‘spells disaster’ for rural areas, campaigners warn

The closure of the only small abattoir in the Yorkshire Dales ‘spells disaster’ for the rural community, landscape and local food, campaigners have warned. McIntyre Meats will shut down for good on 27 March after 23 years in business, serving 1,800 customers repres...

16 Feb 2024

Wiltshire set to join growing number of councils defying plant-based movement

Wiltshire Council is set to join a growing number of local authorities who are defying the plant-based movement in a show of support for farmers of all sectors. A campaign by the Countryside Alliance to push councils into expressing support for farmers while rejecting compulso...

14 Feb 2024

Improvements still needed at meat plant – minister

Governance at the Isle of Man’s meat plant has been “improved significantly” but more needs to be done, the minister with responsibility for it has said. Environment, Food and Agriculture Minister Clare Barber took over as chairman of the loss-making plant...

14 Feb 2024

Dublin Butcher Slams Rogan’s Diet as ‘Propaganda’

A Dublin butcher has warned against the carnivore diet trend popularised by podcast star Joe Rogan and others. The carnivore diet has also been promoted by psychologist Jordan Peterson, and various TikTok stars including Courtney Luna. But Barry Kerrigan, who runs Kerrigan...

13 Feb 2024

EU dumped lab meats from climate plans on farm chief’s demand

BRUSSELS — The European Commission scrubbed a push to promote lab-grown and plant-based meats from a key climate proposal at the urging of Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski. The EU released proposed plans for a strict new climate goal for 2040 on Tuesday. The ann...

13 Feb 2024

EU Court Backs Belgian Slaughter Rules

The European rights court on Tuesday upheld the right of two Belgian regions to ban ritual animal slaughter without prior stunning. Two of the country’s three regions — Flanders and Wallonia — in 2017 and 2018 banned the slaughter of livestock that have not b...

13 Feb 2024

Irish Pig Farmers See Brighter Future

The market for pig farmers “appears to be settling and turning a corner”, according to the Irish Farmers’ Association. Some producers selling their pigs to smaller processors received an increase of 4c/kg while producers selling pigs to Northern Ireland are r...

13 Feb 2024

Florida Still Says No to Cultured Meat

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — It’s called “cultivated meat” — protein not from an animal but grown in a lab using cells from livestock — and Florida is now inching closer to banning it. A large agriculture bill that includes the restrictions cleared another com...

13 Feb 2024

Rollercoaster Year for NZ Red Meat

The value of New Zealand’s red meat exports last year suffered an 11% drop to $10.2 billion, compared with the 2022. But according to the Meat Industry Association (MIA), this was despite the fact the actual volume of meat exported was up. The drop in value, according to Mea...

11 Feb 2024

Massive Chicken Theft in Cuba

Cuban authorities have charged 30 people for stealing around 133 tonnes of chicken meat and selling it on the street in a major food heist in Havana. Suspects are said to have taken 1,660 white boxes from a state facility in the capital and used the sale proceeds to buy refri...

11 Feb 2024

AHDB Pork Outlook predicts slow pig industry recovery in 2024

AHDB is forecasting only very limited recovery in both pork production and pig breeding numbers in 2024, despite much more favourable market conditions, as producers remain very cautious about expanding their herds. Its 2024 Pork Outlook predicts that pork production will grow...

11 Feb 2024

What is Wagyu beef?

Wagyu beef is a Japanese delicacy known for its superb quality, rich flavours, and sumptuous textures. The term ‘Wagyu’ directly translates to ‘Japanese cow,’ and this high-grade beef originates from a selection of Japanese cattle breeds. There are four princip...

09 Feb 2024

AHDB Levy to Rise from April

The pork levy will increase by 20% from April, after Ministers in Defra and the Devolved Administrations approved levy rate hikes acoss AHDB’s four sectors. The increases will see the overall pork levy rate rise from £1.05p/pig to £1.26/pig. The producer and processor ra...

09 Feb 2024

Beef Farmers Fear Carbon Scheme Disadvantage

A County Londonderry farmer has raised concerns about a scheme aimed at reducing carbon emissions from beef cattle. Jonathan Blair is the third generation of his family to work their farmland near Ballykelly. His focus is on regenerative agriculture, mimicking nature and tryin...

09 Feb 2024

Tariff-Free Trade for Ukrainian Eggs and Poultry Extended

Poultry and eggs from Ukraine will be able to be imported to the UK without tariffs for an additional two years, after the government extended a commitment put in place following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago. The UK was the first country to remove tariffs on al...

09 Feb 2024

Vietnam’s rare ‘dragon chickens’ all the rage for Lunar New Year

HANOI, Feb 8 (Reuters) – Known for their strangely large feet, Dong Tao chicken has for generations been a delicacy in Vietnam and mostly consumed during the Lunar New Year holiday. The rare breed of poultry, also known as dragon chicken, feature a pair of scaly red feet...

08 Feb 2024

Bullying claims at Welsh meat promotion firm

Concerns have been raised about alleged bullying of staff at a meat promotion company overseen by the Welsh government. North Wales Senedd Member Llyr Gruffydd has called for a Senedd committee inquiry into Welsh meat promoter Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales. Six m...

08 Feb 2024

Production manager prosecuted after obstructing FSA inspector

A production manager who worked at Northampton meat company has been prosecuted after obstructing a Food Standards Agency (FSA) inspector. Emma Nakova, of Braunston Close, was sentenced at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on January 17, 2024 after pleading guilty to the obstru...

08 Feb 2024

NZ Meat Exports Take a Hit in 2023

Issues affecting the red meat sector have been laid bare with exports worth 11 percent less in 2023 compared to the year before. New figures from the Meat Industry Association show despite red meat exports growing in volume last year the value was down to $10.2 billion. China ...

08 Feb 2024

McIntyre Meats abattoir to close

A Wensleydale family-run abattoir is to close after 23 years in business. The owners of McIntyre Meats, based near Bainbridge, say they have taken the decision due to increased bureaucracy and rising overheads. The company was started by Martin and Lindsey McIntyre 23 years a...

07 Feb 2024

Dover Officials Conduct Hundreds of Illegal Meat Seizures But No Arrests Made

Dover health officials have conducted at least 584 individual seizures of illegal meat at the British port since September 2022 amid reports that the Government intends to cut funding for border checks, GB News can disclose. Figures obtained by GB News reveal that at least 546...

07 Feb 2024

German meat group Westfleisch adds to pet-food portfolio

German meat giant Westfleisch has expanded its pet-food arm with the acquisition of local specialist The Petfood Company. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Westfleisch already does business in dry pet food, selling products under its Dog’s Nature brand. The P...

07 Feb 2024

Lab-Grown Meat Removed from Menus

In recent years, three companies in the world received permission to market cultured meat, and offered dishes in a limited quantity in only 3 restaurants. Recently, all restaurants stopped offering these dishes to the public. The industry itself is at a crossroads, and has to ...

07 Feb 2024

China’s Pork Market Rebounds

In a notable turn of events, pork and hog prices in China experienced a resurgence last week, driven by last-minute stockpiling activities ahead of the Lunar New Year. This boost in values occurred against the backdrop of inclement weather conditions, including snow and rain, ...

07 Feb 2024

Australia’s red meat exports surge as US beef production falls

CANBERRA, Feb 7 (Reuters) – Australia’s red meat exports rocketed last year as a plunge in livestock prices made its products more competitive at a time when beef production in rival exporter the United States is falling. Shipments accelerated as the year went on, ...

07 Feb 2024

EU Backtracks on Net Zero

The European Union has caved in to angry protests from farmers, cutting its target to scrap specific agricultural emissions which formed part of the bloc’s net zero drive. A demand to reduce nitrogen, methane and other emissions linked to farming by almost a third has been�...

07 Feb 2024

China opens wide for NZ red meat exports

New Zealand Exporters are wasting no time in getting products on the water after the biggest opening of the Chinese market to meat exports in the best part of a decade. The Ministry for Primary Industries confirmed that four meat plants have been granted new access for chill...

06 Feb 2024

NZ: Celebrating National Lamb Day

New Zealanders are being encouraged to celebrate lamb as the meat that made a nation. February 15 has been designated National Lamb Day as it was on that date in 1882 the sailing ship Dunedin departed from Port Chalmers carrying the first shipment of frozen lamb to London. A...

05 Feb 2024

Dover Demands More Funding for Meat Checks

Dover District Council has called on Defra to scrap its plans to cut funding, worth £3 million, for essential checks for illegal imports at the Port of Dover. In a DDC report, published ahead of a cabinet meeting today, it has emerged that Defra has tried to justify the cut...

05 Feb 2024

Three men sentenced for £318k chicken fraud

Three men who worked together to fraudulently supply a company with more than £318,000 worth of chicken have been sentenced. Darren Williams, 68, and Elliot Smith, 33, worked at the 2 Sisters Food Group in Llangfefni, Anglesey, and supplied the meat to Townsend Poultry. More ...

05 Feb 2024

Argentina’s Beef Boom: A Record-Breaking Year of Exports to China

Argentina is forecasted to increase 5,1% beef and calf production this year, reaching some 3,3 million tons with a domestic consumption of 2.43 million tons, according to the latest report from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This follows on a record beef e...

05 Feb 2024

Vion Announces Factory Closures

Netherlands-based meat producer Vion plans to close a factory in Germany and offload three others. The pork and beef company said it is adjusting its strategy on its main markets, including “downsizing through divestments and closures” due to increasing competition and the...

05 Feb 2024

Beef recalled due to incorrect use-by dates

A second recall of beef products on the Isle of Man was due to an issue with use-by dates, the Isle of Man’s meat plant has confirmed. The environment department ordered Isle of Man Meats to destroy more products last week, following an investigation after an earlier re...

02 Feb 2024

French farmers up in arms over EU free-trade agreements

French farming unions are taking aim at the European Union’s free-trade agreements, which they say open the door to unfair competition from products arriving from overseas. At a time when the EU is urging farmers to adopt more sustainable – and sometimes more costly – ag...

02 Feb 2024

Record Christmas Meat Sales

Consumer spending on fresh red meat in Great Britain surged to a record £656.2 million in the four weeks leading up to Christmas 2023, marking a significant 9.6% increase compared to the previous year, according to data from Nielsen. This remarkable growth defied the c...

01 Feb 2024

French protests concern lamb exports but trade holds firm

UK lamb prices are holding up, despite major protests by farmers in France who have been blocking roads, which has disrupted British lamb exports heading to the Continent. The GB deadweight lamb SQQ increased by 23.6p/kg on the week to 631.8p/kg, with lower throughputs at abat...

01 Feb 2024

Post-Brexit controls on food and farm imports start

Post-Brexit controls on food, plant and animal imports to Britain from the EU have come into force. Health certificates will now be required on EU goods ranging from cut flowers, to fresh produce including meat, fruit and vegetables. Some industry bodies raised concerns the ru...

01 Feb 2024

British pork exporters on a mission in California

British pork exporters have taken the first steps towards maximising new opportunities in California following the introduction of the controversial Proposition 12 legislation in the state. California’s Prop 12 legislation came into force on January 1, establishing stricter ...

31 Jan 2024

Unlikely Allies Want to Bar JBS From U.S. Stock Markets

A giant Brazilian meatpacking company is facing persistent opposition to its plans for a listing on the New York Stock Exchange because of concerns about corruption settlements, accusations of Amazon deforestation and its growing market share in the United States. The proposed...

29 Jan 2024

Poultry disappears from Russian grocery shelves

In the first weeks of 2024, occasional shortages of poultry were reported in the biggest Russian cities, Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk, Ulyanovsk, and Samara, as well as in some parts of Moscow. The authorities insist that poultry is in sufficient supply, while retailers and farm...

29 Jan 2024

Falklands: Abattoir debate resurfaces

The decision by the Falkland Islands Executive Council, and approved by the Standing Finance Committee, to provide additional financing of £1 million to the Falkland Islands Meat Company (FIMCO), has not been without controversy. The additional funding, which also came with s...

28 Jan 2024

New Brexit rules and EU vet shortage put meat imports at risk

A lack of vets in Europe could force meat suppliers in the EU to hold back deliveries earmarked for the UK under new post-Brexit rules set to come in this week, experts have warned. The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) has concerns that imports may be held back due t...

28 Jan 2024

‘Culinary alliance’ in EU wants debate on lab-grown meat

BRUSSELS, Jan 28 — A “culinary alliance” started by EU members Austria, France and Italy is seeking a public debate around lab-grown meat, agriculture ministers said on Tuesday while attending a meeting in Brussels. Synthetic meat cannot be sold in the European Union as ...

27 Jan 2024

Australian lamb and mutton exports hit record high

Australian exports of lamb and mutton reached record highs in 2023, with Chinese sales up significantly. Exports of lamb reached 326,014 tonnes, with mutton exports at 209,580t, according to Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA). Tim Jackson, MLA global supply analyst, said: R...

26 Jan 2024

Ireland: Early indicators of a seller’s market for beef

Demand for beef animals art the factories is putting more pressure on the processors to release their grip on the upward only movement on the prices being demanded by the producers. The intake last week of more than 35,200 head was up by 1,500 head compared to the same week la...

25 Jan 2024

China encourages Pig farmers to reduce capacity after price slump

BEIJING: China will “guide” farmers to reduce pig production capacity as it steps up regulation of the industry, the agriculture ministry said on Tuesday (Jan 23), after an aggressive expansion drive led to an oversupply of pigs and heavy losses. Big agribusinesses...

25 Jan 2024

British Pork marketing campaign returns

The £1m TV-led campaign is scheduled to hit screens in February, airing on ITV, Channel 4 and Sky, alongside popular on-demand shows and YouTube. Consumer research showed that following our autumn campaign, more people (+3%) are planning to buy pork when they go shopping, ...

24 Jan 2024

ASF hits Montenegro – 27 European countries now infected

Montenegro has reported its first official cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) on record, as the disease continues to cause difficulties around the world and disrupt the exportation of pork product. The disease, which has been rapidly spreading across Europe since 2007, was ...

24 Jan 2024

Nearly all households continuing to buy meat despite budget squeeze

Huge numbers of the public are sticking with meat despite the squeeze on domestic food budgets, according to consumer research. Some 97 percent of all households are still buying red meat despite the pressures on the family purse, Kantar figures show. Avneet Chana, Kantar’s ...

23 Jan 2024

Local farmers fear Scotch brand is lost in red meat industry

Levy payers have been given the chance to hear how Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) plans to deliver its five-year strategy and make the country the choice for premium red meat. Over a dozen workshops have taken place across the country, with the first levy increase in more than a ...

23 Jan 2024

2023 UK pig meat production plummets to five-year low

The volume of pigmeat produced in the UK in 2023 plummeted by 11% to a five-year low, as slaughtering declined by 10% to the lowest figure in a decade. The latest Defra slaughter statistics showed the UK produced 71,900 tonnes of pigmeat in December, a massive 18% decline o...

23 Jan 2024

Russian pork exports to China begin ahead of schedule

The Russian veterinary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor has commenced registration of the first 3 companies for pork exports to China. The first shipments are due in the next 2 months. Previously, Russia’s deputy prime minister Victoria Abramchenko and the Russian pig farmers anti...

23 Jan 2024

Farmers lead funding bid to save last local small abattoir

Cotswold campaign which has support from nearby farmer Jeremy Clarkson needs to raise £3m in pledges in just days. A farmer-led community group has launched a funding bid to save Warwickshire’s last small abattoir from being sold off to housing developers. The ‘...

23 Jan 2024

Austria, France and Italy lead charge against lab-grown meat

Vienna, Paris and Rome, along with nine other EU countries, are set to argue that meat grown in a laboratory is a threat to “genuine food production methods”, a claim a diplomatic source told Euractiv is “exaggerated and premature”. Lab-grown meat “does not constitut...

23 Jan 2024

UK industry fears disruption from new post-Brexit border checks

LONDON, Jan 23 (Reuters) – British businesses are warning of a new wave of post-Brexit trade disruption because EU exporters are not ready for UK customs changes which start this month, and Britain’s port infrastructure might be unprepared too. Britain left the Eur...

19 Jan 2024

Vion reviews German business portfolio

In line with trends seen across the entire meat industry, Vion Food Group, a leading international producer of meat and plant-based alternatives, is adjusting its strategy in its main markets.  Focus on future-proof performance and sustainability  Vion is reviewing its op...

19 Jan 2024

Israeli company gets green light to make world’s first cultivated beef steaks

An Israeli company has received a preliminary green light from health officials to sell the world’s first steaks made from cultivated beef cells, not the entire animal, officials said. The move follows approval of lab-grown chicken in the US last year. Aleph Farms, of Reho...

19 Jan 2024

Irish beef exports to China to resume immediately

China has reopened its market to Irish beef after exports were suspended late last year due to the detection of an atypical BSE case in a cow during routine Department of Agriculture tests. The announcement was made on Wednesday by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar during a visit to Du...

19 Jan 2024

New legislation banning live exports from Britain moves to Lords

Legislation putting an end to the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening from Great Britain will now move to the House of Lords for further scrutiny. The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill delivers on a Conservative Party commitment to ban the export of live a...

19 Jan 2024

Meat plant liquidator asks court to make directors liable for €2.7 million debts

The liquidator of a meat processing company has asked the High Court to make the firm’s directors personally liable for debts of €2.7 million owed to parties including more than 100 farmers and businesses in the northwest. John Healy, who is the official liquidator of Eden...

19 Jan 2024

Dover officials warning over Defra’s plans to slash funding for illegal meat seizures

Defra is planning to slash funding for vital work in seizing illegal meat imports at the Port of Dover, in a move officials within Dover Council have warned could have disastrous consequences for the UK pig sector. Dover Port Health Authority (DPHA) and the Council are urging ...

19 Jan 2024

China Pork Output Boom Outpaced Demand

China increased its pork output in 2023 to a near-record level. But prices plummeted, indicating the market didn’t want that much pork. Analysts say the industry needs to downsize, but companies backed by friendly banks and officials are content to burn through cash unti...

19 Jan 2024

UK pork imports rise, UK exports plummet

UK pigmeat import volumes continued to increase towards the end of last year, as the EU-UK price differential grew, making imports an attractive proposition to full domestic shortfalls. Pigmeat import volumes totalled 71,300 tonnes in November, up by 1,200t on October, the fou...

19 Jan 2024

Philippines bans poultry imports from Japan

Hanoi (VNA) – The Philippines has imposed a temporary ban on the importation of poultry and poultry products from Japan due to an outbreak of bird flu there, the Philippine Department of Agriculture said on January 18. The department said Philippine Agriculture Secretary F...

17 Jan 2024

Bord Bia to reactivate €1.6 million campaign in China as Irish beef exports resume

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has confirmed the resumption of Irish beef exports to China after a ten week suspension by the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC). Bord Bia CEO Jim O’Toole has welcomed the lifting of the suspension by ...

16 Jan 2024

Dover: Fears over African swine fever from illegal meat

African swine fever could be brought into the UK in illegal pork meat, officials fear. Port health officials believe they are “barely scratching the surface” of illegal pork meat entering at Dover. African swine fever is currently spreading through Europe and could...

15 Jan 2024

New restrictions in movement of meat products between GB and NI

The movement of meat products between GB and NI will see new restrictions from today, in what the sector has called a further ‘erosion’ of firms’ ability to trade flexibly. It is now no longer possible to bring in bulk meat shipments from overseas to a centra...

15 Jan 2024

Beef exports should feature in Ireland-China talks, says think tank

The head of an Ireland-Asia think tank has said he hopes the ban on beef exports to China will be on the table when Taoiseach Leo Varadkar hosts Chinese premier Li Qiang this week. China’s second most powerful politician after President Xi Jinping will meet Mr Varadkar for b...

15 Jan 2024

Calls for alpacas and llamas to be included in export-for-slaughter ban

A ban on exporting livestock for slaughter and fattening should be extended to protect alpacas, llamas, and deer, Labour has said. Plans to ban such exports from Great Britain for cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses are due to be considered by the House of Commons on Monda...

12 Jan 2024

China lifts ban on Belgian pork

Beijing ends embargo five years after swine flu outbreak, as Belgian PM visits Beijing. BEIJING — China has lifted its ban on imports of Belgian pig products, five years after an outbreak of African swine flu slashed the sector’s access to the crucial Asian market. The ne...

11 Jan 2024

Mexico opens doors for British pork offal

British pork exporters are set to benefit from additional trade with Mexico with the market opening further to include offal with a potential estimated value of £18m over the next five years. The announcement represents another boost for the sector and has come two years afte...

11 Jan 2024

UK faces ASF risks from illegally imported pork

Growing amounts of illegal pork imports into the UK significantly increase the risk of the introduction of African Swine Fever (ASF) into the country. The National Pig Association (NPA) has therefore called for all non-commercial pork imports to the UK be made illegal and f...

11 Jan 2024

Cranswick acquires pork and poultry value added procressor

Cranswick has announced the acquisition of Froch Foods Holdings, an added value processor of predominantly pork and poultry related products. Froch Foods operates from a dedicated facility in Stourton, Leeds, employing 74 people, and provides specialist processing capabilities...

11 Jan 2024

Australian meat ad labelled ‘best in history’

An Australian meat advertisement making fun of the population’s generational gap has gone viral and some viewers are calling it the “best ad in history.” The advert titled “The Generation Gap” was released on Sunday (7 December) by “Australian Lamb”, which is ope...

11 Jan 2024

Irish beef exports in 2023 estimated at €2.7 billion

The total value of Irish primary beef exports in 2023 is estimated at €2.7 billion, which is an increase of 2% over 2022, according to Bord Bia’s Export Performance and Prospects report for 2023/24. The report was launched yesterday (Wednesday, January 10) by the Ministe...

11 Jan 2024

Bernard Matthews Great Wichingham site may close

Hundreds of jobs have been put at risk after the poultry producer Bernard Matthews announced it was looking to close one of its sites. The company said its factory at Great Witchingham, Norfolk, had become “loss-making and not commercially viable” despite recent in...

10 Jan 2024

Kildare Chilling takeover sees three companies control 90-95pc of sheep kill – CCPC

Ireland’s three main meat processors will have a combined market share of approximately 90-95pc in the purchase of live lambs after Dawn Meat’s acquisition of Kildare Chilling. Despite the ‘highly concentrated’ nature of the market for the purchase of l...

09 Jan 2024

World’s Top Meat Supplier Should Not Join NYSE, UK Lawmakers Urge

(Bloomberg) — A group of UK lawmakers is planning to push the US Securities and Exchange Commission to block listing JBS SA, the world’s largest meat supplier, on the New York Stock Exchange, citing efforts to fight climate change. JBS “has a well-documented history ...

09 Jan 2024

South Korea bans dog meat trade

The slaughter and sale of dogs for their meat is to become illegal in South Korea after MPs backed a new law. The legislation, set to come into force by 2027, aims to end the centuries-old practice of humans eating dog meat. Dog meat stew, called “boshintang”, is c...

08 Jan 2024

Wolverhampton meat factory fire believed to be accidental

Fire investigators of a meat factory fire on the Stafford Road in Wolverhampton believe the fire started accidentally. The fire, which occurred shortly after 2:05a.m on Sunday, January 7, at a meat factory, was attended by 55 firefighters over the course of two days. West Mi...

07 Jan 2024

FSA urged to back introduction of edible insects

Consumers and food safety groups should get over the ‘yuck factor’ and embrace edible insects as part of a more sustainable food system, according to a new report. The UK Edible Insect Association (UKEIA) study, produced with support from the University of Sheffield&...

07 Jan 2024

Firefighters tackle blaze at ScotBeef meat processing unit

Dozens of firefighters tackled a large fire in the early hours at a meat processing factory in Wolverhampton. Crews were called just after 02:00 GMT to the single-story unit occupied by food provider ScotBeef in Stafford Road. West Midlands Fire Service said about 40 firefight...

06 Jan 2024

NPA calls for tougher illegal meat import rules

The National Pig Association (NPA) has called for tougher rules on meat imports after ‘deeply worrying’ quantities of illegal meat were seized at the Port of Dover. It was revealed 57 tonnes of illegally imported pigmeat has been seized at the Port of Dover since Sept...

04 Jan 2024

Argentina lifts restrictions on beef exports

The Argentine Government of President Javier Milei has authorized the export of seven “popular cuts” of beef which had been banned from sales abroad under Alberto Fernández, it was reported in Buenos Aires. The National Agrifood Health and Quality Service (SENASA) greenli...

03 Jan 2024

Ireland: Weekly Cattle Prices 3rd January

Prices reported as quoted or paid to IFA Members. Prices up 5c/kg to 10c/kg. Factories paying above quotes. Steer base €5.00/5.10/kg. Heifer base €5.10/5.15kg. Young Bulls R/U €5.00/5.50/kg. Higher prices for larger and specialised lots. Cows €3.80/€4.60/kg. In-spec ...

03 Jan 2024

AHDB Pork market update: domestic round up

Key points: GB pig prices continue to fall but with a steady decline Production grew for November to 85,200 tonnes but remains below last year More pigs came forward ahead of Christmas, bringing slaughter to 910,500 head Imports grew for October, as EU product remains competit...

03 Jan 2024

‘Unprecedented’ volumes of illegal meat seized at Port of Dover

Vast quantities of illegally imported meat are being seized by Dover Port Health Authority (DPHA) at the Port of Dover, with the authority fearing this could be just the ‘tip of the iceberg’. The revelation comes against the backdrop of growing industry concerns over repe...

03 Jan 2024

Lab-meat dubbed one of 2023’s biggest tech failures

It has been a difficult year for alternative proteins, topped off by a Massachusetts Institute of Technology Review assessment that laboratory-grown meat is one of the worst technology failures of 2023. The billions per year ploughed by investors into the alternative protein s...

03 Jan 2024

Meat Business Women Announces New Territory Partner For Australia

Meat Business Women, the pioneering membership community for women in the global meat industry, is stepping up its presence in Australia with a new three-year partnership with industry affairs specialist Stacey McKenna. The partnership will commence in January 2024 and will ...

02 Jan 2024

AHDB launches new Let’s Eat Balanced campaign

The theme for the vibrant January campaign is ‘THIS and THAT’, encouraging consumers to adopt a sustainable, healthy and nutritiously balanced diet. The campaign adverts will highlight that British beef, lamb, and dairy are natural sources of protein and vitamin B1...

21 Dec 2023

Final steps in securing Irish beef access to South Korea

Ireland has reached the final steps in securing beef access to South Korea. It has been announced this week the decision of the National Assembly of South Korea to advance Ireland’s application for beef access to the next stage. This follows Minister for Agriculture C...

21 Dec 2023

ABP Food Group expands pet-food factory in Ireland

ABP Food Group is to invest in a pet-food plant in Ireland, with plans to boost the site’s production capacity. Through C&D Foods, the pet food branch of ABP, the company is investing €48m ($52.6m) in the project at the factory in County Longford, Ireland. The project ...

19 Dec 2023

Saudi Arabia gives green light to Paraguayan meat exports

Saudi Arabia’s Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has given the green light to the purchase of beef from Paraguay after a successful audit, the South American country’s National Service for Animal Quality and Health (Senacsa) announced Monday in Asunción. The audit, w...

14 Dec 2023

Meat could be answer to ending world hunger, says UN report

A new study has urged developing nations to boost livestock production in order to provide essential nutrients Meat production could be the answer to addressing world hunger and should be ‘ramped up’, according to a UN report which was unveiled at COP28. The United Na...

14 Dec 2023

£4m fund launched to support smaller abattoirs in England

For the first time, smaller abattoirs in England will be able to apply for capital grants through a new £4 million fund designed to boost the sector. Smaller abattoirs are really important. They’re vital to farmers getting their products to market. Smaller abattoirs are a...

13 Dec 2023

China lifts restrictions on Australian abattoirs as trade tensions ease

China has lifted suspensions from three Australian abattoirs in a further easing of punitive trade sanctions. China’s customs agency has removed bans on Teys Australia in Naracoorte, South Australia, Australian Lamb Company in Colac, Victoria, and JBS in Melbourne. But e...

13 Dec 2023

Fears Australian lamb imports could topple firm market

Many sheep producers’ Christmas wish lists will have an end to bluetongue virus and continued goodwill between China and Australia written firmly at the top. Fears that containers of Australian lamb will flood the market have mounted across the UK after the country’s sheep...

13 Dec 2023

Jersey abattoir reopens after Storm damage

The only abattoir in Jersey has reopened earlier than expected after being damaged in Storm Ciarán. The St Helier facility sustained extensive damage and was forced to close in November. The abattoir will be operating on extra days to make sure all animals are processed in ti...

13 Dec 2023

Applications open for new £4 million fund to support smaller abattoirs

The government has today (Wednesday 13 December) launched the £4 million Smaller Abattoir Fund to boost the sustainability and efficiency of red meat and poultry smaller abattoirs across England. The smaller abattoir sector has an important role in maintaining British food se...

12 Dec 2023

Channel 4’s beef programme ‘amounted to an onslaught’ on British farming

Channel 4’s recent programme looking at the beef sector ‘amounted to an onslaught’ on British farming, the NFU has said. The union has sent a letter of complaint to Channel 4 and the producers of ‘The Big British Beef Battle’, aired on 1 December 2023. Th...

09 Dec 2023

Meat processors raise concern over new immigration rules

Meat processors have expressed concern that new rules will restrict access for migrants to fill critical labour shortages whilst liberalising access where no vacancies exist. The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) said the government was in danger of imposing blanket r...

04 Dec 2023

Bord Bia secures EU funding for an organic beef and lamb campaign

Bord Bia has won two new EU contracts to promote organic EU beef and lamb and a separate campaign to promote EU mushrooms, as announced by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The combined value of the two campaigns is €5.7 million over three years. This compr...

30 Nov 2023

JBS Mulls More Investments In Saudi Arabia

J&F, parent company of food processor JBS SA, said the meat giant is mulling new investments in Saudi Arabia as a Brazilian government delegation that includes president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva meets local officials to boost business ties. “Every day we become m...

30 Nov 2023

Italy could face EU fines over ban on lab-grown meat

Italy could face EU fines over a ban on lab-grown meat aimed at protecting the country’s culinary heritage and farmers’ livelihoods. The law prohibits the production, sale and consumption of laboratory-produced food “from cell cultures or tissue derived from vertebrate...

30 Nov 2023

Australian sheep flock hits record high

Australia is reporting a record sheep flock, 78 million head, which means the price of mutton has collapsed, as low as 80 US cents per kilo, and many farmers are culling or not mating their ewes to cut costs and implement a workable sustainable food/flock relation ahead of the...

29 Nov 2023

Vegan diet to be ‘imposed’ on Warwick University students

Tens of thousands of students from one of Britain’s top Russell Group universities will now be served vegan food after activists won a vote to ban all meat and dairy products. Students at the University of Warwick supported a motion to ensure union-run catering outlets g...

29 Nov 2023

Welsh secure new lamb deal with Japan

Sushi, Tempora, Gyoza, Welsh Lamb…that could be a gourmet menu in Japan as early as next week after the announcement of a new export deal by Hybu Cig Cymru-Meat Promotion Wales (HCC) at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair today. “I can tell you today that Welsh Lamb is on its way ...

29 Nov 2023

Irish Angus beef pushes for PGI status

Irish beef farmers are a step closer to achieving protected geographical indication (PGI) status in the EU for certified Irish Angus Beef. If successful, this could allow beef producers in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland to receive a premium for Aberdeen Angus cat...

23 Nov 2023

AHDB: Beef market update for October

GB deadweight cattle prices varied throughout October. The all-prime average price started the month at 479.2p/kg and stabilised before a slight drop of around 2.5p for the last two weeks. Overall cow prices fell with some large drops through the month, down by 30p throughout...

23 Nov 2023

AHDB: Lamb market update for October

The liveweight SQQ averaged 255p/kg in October, up by just under 4p since September. Liveweight SQQ prices ended the month as they started, averaging 252p/kg for the week ending 4 November, having peaked at 258p/kg in the second week. The deadweight SQQ averaged 564p/k...

23 Nov 2023

Ireland: Work permit quotas for meat processors ‘exhausted’

The provision of work permits for meat processors have been supplied to the extent that their quotas have now been described as “exhausted” by a government minister. This was said by Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE), Neale Ric...

22 Nov 2023

Californian market opens up to UK pork in January

NSF, the only Red Tractor Certification Body for pork, can now certify British pork for the lucrative Californian market. NSF has become one of the first UK certification bodies to offer California’s Proposition 12 (Prop 12) certification for UK pork. This certification is c...

21 Nov 2023

JBS resumes operations, expands beef plant in Brazil

JBS has resumed operations at its Friboi facility in Diamantino, Mato Grosso, Brazil, following a fire in June this year. The factory, which has a processing capacity of 3,600 heads of cattle per day, will stand as the largest beef facility in Latin America, employing 3,000 w...

21 Nov 2023

Jersey abattoir closure a ‘massive blow’ for farmers

The only abattoir in Jersey will remain closed until mid-December, the island’s infrastructure minister has said. The abattoir in St Helier was forced to close after sustaining extensive damage during Storm Ciarán. The government said there was “a large amountR...

21 Nov 2023

Farmer’s Alliance calls for lab grown meat to be banned in Ireland

The Farmer’s Alliance political party have called for lab grown meat to be banned in Ireland to protect “traditional” meat products. The announcement was made by the new political party on the social media platform X, as the group called for a ban on “the production, s...

21 Nov 2023

Italy bans lab-grown meat due to social and economic risks

Italy has become the first nation to ban lab-grown meat, in what the Italian Minister for Agriculture, Francesco Lollobrigida described as a bid to prevent social and economic risks. The law was passed by Italy’s lower house of parliament, having already been approved by the...

16 Nov 2023

NI beef farmers to benefit from all-Ireland protected status

Irish grass-fed beef is to be granted special recognition by the European Commission for its characteristics and geographical origin. The commission is in the final stage of granting Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status, which has been passed with no objections. The ...

15 Nov 2023

5,600 pigs killed in Hong Kong after ASF outbreak

The Hong Kong authorities ordered the culling of around 5,600 pigs after African swine fever (ASF) was discovered at a local pig farm, Reuters reports. The pig farm at Lau Fau Shan, rural Yuen Long area, near the mainland China border, tested positive for the ASF virus after s...

14 Nov 2023

Serbian poultry farmers want access to the European market

Access to the European poultry market could effectively double Serbian poultry production, a local poultry association estimated. Poultry production in Serbia is thriving, especially by the gauge of the local livestock industry, Ivan Stanojlović, chairman of the Serbian assoc...

14 Nov 2023

Barclay named Defra Secretary as Coffey resigns

Former Secretary of State for Health Steve Barclay has been named as the new head of Defra. The appointment follows the resignation of Therese Coffey who announced she would be ‘stepping back from Government’ amid the Prime Minister’s emergency reshuffle. Ms Coff...

14 Nov 2023

Brazil projected to claim top spot for poultry exports in 2024

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicts that global exports of chicken meat will increase by 2.91% to at least 14 million tons next year. Brazil is expected to dominate this market with a projected 36% of worldwide exports, while the United States, the worl...

13 Nov 2023

Tyson Foods to shut two more US sites

US meat processing company Tyson Foods is closing two of its case-ready meat production facilities. The sites affected will be in Jacksonville, Florida and in Columbia, South Carolina, the company confirmed to Just Food. Commenting in a statement, Tyson described the news as...

13 Nov 2023

ABP ‘cleared’ to acquire Scotbeef businesses

A competition regulator has ‘cleared’ Anglo Beef Processor’s (ABP) acquisition of Scotbeef after concerns the deal could have ‘undermined competition in the red meat sector’. The Competition and Markets Authority confirmed it had approved the Irish proces...

13 Nov 2023

Irish Cattle & Sheep Trade & Prices w/e October 29th 2023

Cattle & Beef Throughput: Up until the week ending October 29th 2023, cattle throughput in DAFM approved plants totalled 1,462,398 head, a 3% decrease from the corresponding period last year. Prime cattle have been presented for slaughter a few weeks later that normal th...

13 Nov 2023

Reviving UK Pork Exports to China

Defra Secretary Thérèse Coffey has discussed the suspension of pork exports to China from key UK pork plants during a visit to the country this week. China suspended the export licences from three key UK pork plants during the Covid epidemic – Pilgrim’s Ashton plant, w...

13 Nov 2023

Russian government issues poultry export ban

The Russian Agricultural Ministry has published a draft decree under which poultry and egg exports from the country will be banned for the next 6 months in order to bring price relief to the domestic market. The measure was rolled out shortly following a government meeting whe...

13 Nov 2023

Bird flu confirmed on South Lincolnshire turkey farm

Bird flu has been confirmed on a turkey farm in south Lincolnshire, just days after the government lowered the risk level of the disease. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was confirmed in commercial turkeys on 9 November at an indoor turkey farm near Donington. A 3km p...

10 Nov 2023

Irish beef exports to China suspended after BSE case

Beef exports from the Republic of Ireland to China have been suspended after a case of atypical BSE, commonly known as mad cow disease, was detected in a cow. Irish broadcaster RTÉ reports that the case was confirmed on Friday after tests were carried out by Irish Department ...

10 Nov 2023

Government’s live export ban ‘bad news’ for the home market

The government’s intention to ban live exports is ‘bad news’ for the home market, the industry has warned amid fears that farmers may see lower prices. The industry has responded with concern to the announcement of a live export ban which was included in th...

10 Nov 2023

GB pig prices for w/e November 5th 2023

Weekly pig prices and slaughter data for Great Britain. The EU-spec SPP fell by a further 1.1p during the week ended November 4 to stand at 217.78p/kg, meaning the price index has now fallen by nearly 8p since mid-August. The decline followed the previous week’s dip of 0.7...

10 Nov 2023

China’s economy back in decline as pork prices continue to plummet.

BEIJING, Nov 9 (Reuters) – China’s consumer prices swung lower in October, as key gauges of domestic demand pointed to weakness not seen since the pandemic, while factory-gate deflation deepened, casting doubts over the chances of a broad-based economic recovery. T...

10 Nov 2023

Australia: Meat inspectors and vets strike over pay

The meat industry says it will take days to recover after hundreds of workers walk off the job around Australia today. Plant veterinarians and food safety meat assessors — from the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fis...

07 Nov 2023

King’s Speech: Government commits to end live animal exports

The government has committed to end the live exports of animals from Great Britain for slaughter or fattening, despite warnings from the industry. The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill will deliver on a government promise – made in December 2020 – to end th...

07 Nov 2023

Portsmouth becomes latest council to defy vegan trend

Portsmouth is set to become the fourth council in recent weeks to defy the vegan trend in a show of support for farmers of all sectors. A campaign to push local councils into publicly expressing support for farmers while rejecting compulsory plant-based menus has now reached P...

03 Nov 2023

Japan opens doors to British cooked poultry meat

British cooked poultry meat products will soon reach Japanese tables thanks to a new market access deal that will benefit UK farmers, meat processers and exporters. The industry estimates that this market could be worth over £10 million in the next five years. UK poultry me...

03 Nov 2023

NZ: Plenty to bleat about as lamb price tumbles

New season lamb schedule prices are falling earlier and further than many predicted, reaching levels last seen in 2017. AgriHQ senior analyst Mel Croad says the lamb schedule fell by 10-30c/kg this week, further and a week or two earlier than expected, with some companies now...

03 Nov 2023

Red Tractor suspends its Greener Farms Commitment

Farm assurance body Red Tractor has put its controversial plans for a new Greener Farms Commitment (GFC) on hold, pending an NFU-commissioned review of the organisation’s governance. The voluntary GFC module is supposed to come into effect next April, providing a framework f...

02 Nov 2023

‘Significant disruption’ to pork production in Northern Ireland, as Government vets strike

There is set to be significant disruption to pork production in Northern Ireland this week, as Government vets carry out a five-day strike over an unsatisfactory pay deal. Union members of the Veterinary Service Animal Health Group (VSAHG) and the NIPSA union, which represents...

02 Nov 2023

Irish beef farmers need ‘significant’ price increase ‘without delay’

Factories must increase their prices to close the gap between prime Irish beef prices and the prime export benchmark price, the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has urged. IFA president Tim Cullinan said that the Irish price is now over 40c/kg behind the Bord Bia prime e...

27 Oct 2023

Pig welfare outweighs climate concerns for consumers

Consumers would rather pay more for higher-welfare pork than for pork with a reduced climate footprint, according to a thought-provoking study by the University of Copenhagen. Researchers from the University looked at whether consumers from Denmark, Germany, the UK and Shang...

25 Oct 2023

China stops buying Dutch lamb & beef over bluetongue concerns

China has banned the import of beef and lamb from the Netherlands due to the spread of the bluetongue disease. The official prohibition applies to all ruminant animals and products derived from them. The Asian country has also banned the import of beef and lamb products from B...

25 Oct 2023

Strikes end at Browns of Kelloholm as pay deal agreed

A series of strikes at a meat processing firm in southern Scotland is over after workers secured a 13.2% pay rise. Unite union members at Browns in Kelloholm carried out several rounds of industrial action in August and September. It said workers had now secured an “exce...

20 Oct 2023

Jobs at risk as Avara factory closure announced

More than 300 jobs are at risk as poultry firm Avara has proposed closing down its Newent factory. Avara said the decision comes after facing significant inflationary pressure over the past two years. It hopes the closure will result in fewer, better-invested facilities and mo...

20 Oct 2023

Smithfield market traders’ anger over works delays

THE chairman of the Smithfield Market Tenants’ Association used a formal breakfast this week to complain about delays to the opening of the Museum of London on the Smithfield site. Speaking on Wednesday in the presence of Lord Mayor Nicholas Lyons at Butcher’s Hall in Bart...

20 Oct 2023

GB pig prices for w/e October 14th, 2023 – another big drop, EU prices plummet

Weekly pig prices and slaughter data for Great Britain. The EU-spec SPP was down by a further 1.62p during the week ended October 14 to stand at 220.12p/kg, after stabilising the previous week. This was the second biggest fall of the year, meaning the SPP has now lost 5.5p s...

20 Oct 2023

Shropshire trio face court date over meat fraud

THREE men convicted of conning foreign meat firms out of more than £600,000 will discover how much they will be expected to pay back next month. Dale Seymore, Darren Williams and Fahd Bux all pleaded guilty in April this year to being concerned in an arrangement which facilit...

20 Oct 2023

Irish Sheepmeat Prices – w/e October 15th 2023

Quotes: Base quotes for lambs from the major processors have held steady this week with 600-610c/kg (plus QA bonus) available. Market demand for lamb continues to be subdued in key export markets with inflation, higher levels of imports from non-EU markets and competition fro...

20 Oct 2023

Irish Beef Prices – w/e October 15th 2023

Throughput: Up until the week ending October 15th 2023, cattle throughput in DAFM approved plants totalled 1,381,842 head, a 3% decrease from the corresponding period last year. Prime cattle have been presented for slaughter a few weeks later that normal this autumn due to ...

17 Oct 2023

EU pork production down, prices down

Pork production in the EU was 8% down, at 11.9Mt, over the first seven months of this year, the second successive year of significant decline. The production figure for January to July was also 10% down on the five-year average. The EU Commission’s latest forecast is for p...

12 Oct 2023

GB pig prices for week ending October 7, 2023 – SPP stabilises after biggest loss of the year

Weekly pig prices and slaughter data for Great Britain. The EU-spec SPP stabilised, gaining 0.01p to stand at 221.73p/kg during the week ended October 7, after recording its biggest drop of the year, 1.75p, the previous week. The tiny increase ended a run of six consecutiv...

05 Oct 2023

Butchers excluded from Shortage Occupation List

The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) has expressed disappointment that the Government’s advisory body on labour has rejected calls to add butchers and poultry dressers to the Shortage Occupation List (SOL). The Migration Advisory Committee have just published...

28 Sep 2023

ASF Italy: Almost 35,000 pigs culled

The number of culled pigs due to African Swine Fever (ASF) in the northern Italian region of Lombardy has grown to almost 35,000 on 22 farms. This number of pigs had to be culled to stop further spread of the virus. It was confirmed by the Italian veterinary authorities. Fra...

28 Sep 2023

China permits Russian pork supplies

MOSCOW. Sept 28 (Interfax) – China has granted Russia permission to supply pork to the Chinese market following ten years of Russia seeking entry to the country’s large pork market, the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor...

26 Sep 2023

Dawn Meats’ Kildare acquisition is cleared

The competition watchdog has cleared the proposed acquisition of Kildare Chilling by Dawn Meats after a full investigation of the deal. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) had determined in June that a full probe was needed to establish whether the propos...

21 Sep 2023

£4m small abattoir fund to open by end of 2023

A Small Abattoir fund will open by the end of this year, providing £4m of funding in England to help improve productivity, enhance animal health and welfare and encourage investment in new technologies in vital local plants. Small abattoirs have come under increased pressure ...

21 Sep 2023

Webinar will offer tips on exporting red meat to Canada

Red meat businesses will have the opportunity to gain valuable insight on exporting to Canada through a webinar scheduled for October 19th. The event will offer a comprehensive overview of key considerations, including tips for navigating route to market, compliance, and custo...

15 Sep 2023

New Zealand: Meat exports crash as China stalls

New Zealand’s largest red meat export market has hit the wall, with China taking much less of our sheepmeat and beef. Latest figures from the Meat Industry Association (MIA) show that China is still our largest red meat export market. However, during the month of July, t...

15 Sep 2023

Sweden faces pork export bans after ASF discovery

A number of countries have banned imports of Swedish pork after African swine fever was discovered in wild boar for the first time in the country. Armenia, Australia, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Ukraine have halted pork shipments from the country even though ...

15 Sep 2023

New Zealand: Meat exporters face tough times

Meat processor and exporter Alliance Group concedes it is facing tough global market conditions with both weaker demand and pricing. In its latest newsletter to supplier/shareholders, chief executive Willie Wiese says, like all red meat exporters, Alliance’s livestock pr...

14 Sep 2023

Minerva set to become Brazil’s second-largest beef processor

Minerva Foods has made a major move to strengthen its position in the beef market with the acquisition of cattle slaughtering and deboning plants from Marfrig for BRL 7.5 billion (approx. $1.53 billion). This significant deal includes 11 plants and a distribution center in Bra...

11 Sep 2023

NZ: Staff cuts on the cards at meat processor Alliance

Alliance Group is currently conducting a review of its operational framework, which may lead to a few staff members being made redundant. The review aims to ensure that the company is adequately meeting the demands of its farmers, customers, and global market conditions. Conse...

11 Sep 2023

Irish Cattle & Sheep Trade & Prices w/e September 3rd 2023

Cattle & Beef Throughput: Up until the week ending September 3rd 2023, the overall cattle throughput in DAFM approved plants has totalled approximately 1,165,586 head, a 3% decrease from the corresponding period last year. Cattle are coming forward later that normal d...

11 Sep 2023

GB pig prices for w/e September 2nd 2023 – SPP drops back again

Weekly pig prices and slaughter data for Great Britain. The EU-spec SPP fell by 0.58p to 224.76p/kg during the week ended September 2, its biggest backward step since the first week of the year. This latest drop, following the previous week’s 0.32p reduction, means the SP...

11 Sep 2023

Farmers still cautious as pig numbers drop

Pig numbers in England have fallen to their lowest levels in over a decade as the impact of last year’s reduction in breeding sows filtered through the supply chain. Latest Defra livestock population figures revealed England’s pig herd fell by almost half a million...

11 Sep 2023

Lab-grown meat can be kosher and halal, experts say

(Reuters) – Lab-grown meat can be labeled kosher and halal as long as its cells are derived in methods compliant with religious standards, according to two panels of experts commissioned by the nascent industry. The opinions are a win for cell-cultivated meat companies, ...

11 Sep 2023

U.S. clears Smithfield’s acquisition by China’s Shuanghui

(Reuters) – The U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment has cleared the way for Shuanghui International Holdings Ltd’s proposed $4.7 billion acquisition of Smithfield Foods Inc. The deal, which would be the biggest purchase of a U.S. company by a Chinese firm, still needs...