by Hannah Clarke / AHDB

Dunbia has applied for planning permission for a new beef chilling unit and other modernisation works on its site at Walton Summit to add to the £20m it has already spent there in the past two years.

 

 

By Brian Ellis / Lancashire Evening Post

New Zealand’s red meat sector exports reached $10 billion in 2021 despite the disruption caused by COVID-19, according to an analysis by the Meat Industry Association (MIA).

The exports represented a nine per cent increase on 2020. The value of red meat and co-products exported in December 2021 was also up 22 per cent year on year, at just over $1 billion.

Sirma Karapeeva, chief executive of MIA, said the sector had worked tirelessly in the face of ongoing global logistical challenges to continue to achieve the best possible results for farmers, the 25,000 people working in the industry and for the New Zealand economy.

“Despite all the disruptions and labour shortages, we were able to make the most of the global demand for red meat and generate record export revenue.

“The sector is continuing to perform for New Zealand in the most difficult conditions. However, supply chain challenges will significantly disrupt exports for some time to come and we do not yet know what impact that will have on the Easter chilled trade.

“This illustrates very clearly how critical it is for the industry to have access to sufficient labour including overseas migrants to capture the greatest market value and support the jobs of thousands of hard-working Kiwis.”

 

Overall, both sheepmeat and beef exports increased by five per cent and nine per cent year-on-year respectively, with both worth more than $4 billion for the year. Co-products exports also increased by 19 per cent, to almost $2 billion.

Red meat exporters have responded swiftly to adapt to rapidly-changing logistics environments – for instance, by converting chilled product to frozen, when needed, to address risks in the disrupted supply chain, says Ms Karapeeva.

While chilled sheepmeat exports to the UK dropped by 42 per cent in December, to the lowest volume in 25 years, frozen sheepmeat exports to the UK increased by 95 per cent.

Ms Karapeeva said that while there has been some softening in Chinese demand for sheepmeat from the previous high levels, prices in China have remained strong.

Overall sheepmeat export volumes to China dropped by 15 per cent in the fourth quarter. However, the value of sheepmeat exports to China increased by three per cent in the same period.

China remained the largest overall importer for the quarter (41 per cent), followed by the US (20 per cent), the UK (4 per cent) and Japan (4 per cent).

 

 

scoop.co.nz

Defra Secretary George Eustice has claimed lamb exports to the EU will return to pre-Brexit levels in future.

British sheepmeat exports to the bloc have fallen by 25 per cent since the UK left the EU, with industry leaders blaming the sharp drop on non-tariff barriers such as paperwork and checks.

Last year, the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) warned UK meat exporters were having to spend an extra £1,000 to send a lorry through a port.

Smaller exporters, in particular, have struggled to handle the 29 different processes required to send meat to the continent.

Giving evidence to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee this week (February 1), Mr Eustice said he expected the trade to bounce back over the coming years.

“Things like salmon have actually seen an increase in their exports since we have left the European Union, driven by high demand for premium product,” he told the MPs.

“I think we will see a similar situation on our other major agricultural exports like lamb. There will be some impact because of the additional export processes which are required and the costs associated with that, but the big exports we rely on will resume just as Scottish salmon already has.”

But National Sheep Association (NSA) chief executive Phil Stocker questioned whether this would be the case.

“[Trade] will never return to the way it used to be, and seeing the effect border control posts and export health certificate controls are having on exporters, I do not see our volumes to the EU returning to where they were,” he said.

 

 

 

By Abi Kay  / Farmers Guardian

 

Reduced throughputs at UK abattoirs will have a knock-on impact on future trading patterns, industry chiefs have warned. 

It comes as tight supplies of cattle and sheep have supported the continuing trend of above-average market prices into the first month of 2022.

But last year saw cattle throughputs reach their lowest level since 2015 at 2.7 million head, a 5.7 per cent drop on 2020 and 4.3 per cent below the five year average, according to Defra figures.

Glesni Phillips, data analyst at Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC), said the decrease in cattle throughput at UK abattoirs last year was not unexpected.

“Increased numbers were processed during 2020 and this led to fewer cattle on the ground,” she said.

“This was especially true for adult cattle which saw throughput fall by almost 6 per cent on the year.”

 

 

Hannah Binns / Farmers Guardian

Lamb is making a resurgence among consumers, with sales of roasting joints soaring during the last two festive periods.

Most proteins saw roasting joints or whole cut volumes decline on the heights of 2020 but lamb was the exception, up 0.9 per cent and 3.3 per cent on Christmas 2020 and 2019 respectively, latest data from Kantar has shown.

Despite grocery price inflation reaching 3.5 per cent in December 2021, adding an average of £15 to shoppers’ monthly bills, consumers spent £662.5 million on lamb in 2021, a 12.6 per cent increase compared to 2019.

The average price of lamb also rose, up 4.6 per cent year-on-year.

 

Hannah Binns / Farmers Guardian

Meat & Livestock Australia’s highly anticipated Australian lamb summer campaign is back in a new TV commercial that celebrates Australia reuniting with the rest of the world after years of isolation.

An Australian tradition, the annual lamb campaigns have built a strong legacy of highly topical advertising and thought-provoking creative content, which continue to generate widespread conversation and subsequent publicity for Australian lamb. The campaign also encourages Lamb purchases when shoppers are making their key protein choice across retail and food service environments.

Building on the ‘Share the Lamb’ brand platform, the six-week integrated campaign reflects upon how Australia has become isolated from the rest of the world due to strict international border closures during the pandemic.

MLA Domestic Market Manager, Graeme Yardy, said the advert was a reminder that Australia is a country not to be forgotten and we see heart-warming reunions as returning travellers make their way back to sunnier climates and lamb barbies.

“Each year the ‘Share the Lamb’ brand gives us a great opportunity to showcase how the unmistakeable flavour and aroma of lamb brings Aussie’s together, even through the very toughest of times. In 2021 we were all about breaking down state borders, but this year we’re ready to finally open back up to the rest of the world, and what better way to issue the invite than with tasty Australian Lamb,” Mr Yardy said.

 

Farm Weekly

 

 

By Louise Cullen / BBC NI

After faltering for the past two weeks, liveweight lamb prices have again moved upwards this week. In the week ended 22 December the GB liveweight NSL SQQ increased by almost 9p, to 280.43p/kg. Throughputs were slightly lower than in other recent weeks at 115,000 head, reflecting that the Christmas kill is now over.

Meanwhile, the GB deadweight NSL SQQ reflected the previous move in liveweight prices, dropping 11p, to 620.4p/kg for the week ending 18 December. Estimated kill for that week totalled 237,000 head, 24% down on the same week last year.

 

 

By Rebecca Wright / AHDB

Liveweight lamb prices have continued to strengthen in the most recent week. Having fallen last week, this week prices gained back what was lost, and more.

In the week ended 24 November the GB liveweight NSL SQQ rose by 4.4p to stand at 269.57p/kg. Throughputs slipped 3% week-on-week, to 117,000 head.

Liveweight lamb prices have continued to strengthen in the most recent week. Having fallen last week, this week prices gained back what was lost, and more. In the week ended 24 November the GB liveweight NSL SQQ rose by 4.4p to stand at 269.57p/kg. Throughputs slipped 3% week-on-week, to 117,000 head.

 

By Rebecca Wright / AHDB