Scottish farmers and butchers to get behind auction marts
Members of NFU Scotland’s livestock committee will meet with Scottish butchers in four regional meetings next month to encourage greater sourcing of quality Scottish beef and lamb through the auction mart system.
John Sleigh, NFU Scotland’s Livestock policy advisor.
The SFMTA will represent Scottish butchers in the talks. The meetings will aim to promote the quality of prime Scottish cattle and sheep passing through auction marts to support an ongoing project of the livestock committee to boost the numbers of primestock passing through sale rings. For cattle, in particular, live sales have been falling in recent years.
John Sleigh, NFU Scotland’s Livestock policy advisor said: “At these meetings we will be discussing local beef and lamb rearing and sourcing stock through the live auction ring. We are particularly looking at reversing the recent trend of falling number of prime cattle at markets. There has also been a fall in the number of butchers buying cattle this way.
“By farmers and butchers talking to each other, we hope to give more butchers the confidence to get to the ring side to source their stock and encourage farmers to support their auction mart by sending their cattle and sheep,” Sleigh said.
Douglas Scott from SFMTA added: “Butchers, like their customers, are very keen to support local farmers. As well as being able to develop long lasting business relationships, it is important to be fully conversant with the special attention, rearing and husbandry of passionate local suppliers.”
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