Livestock Business News

As the UK beef sector is expected to face a growing supply and demand gap by 2030, needing an additional 278,000 tonnes of beef to reach self-sufficiency, Quality Meat Scotland said that two additional cows per herd each year could solve the problem.

A report warning parliamentarians of the disparity between UK animal welfare and that of nations locked in free trade negotiations should be reassuring for sheep farmers fearing substandard imports, the National Sheep Association said. 

The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) has filed papers with the High Court seeking permission to judicially review the hourly charges for official controls and enforcement that came into effect on 1st April.

The Red Tractor’s Pigs Sector Board is seeking views on proposals to introduce tiered welfare standards and labelling for UK pig meat. The proposed approach is set to reduce audit cost, complexity for producers and simplify consumer choice.   

Ahead of Great British Beef Week, the NFU has shared its vision for British beef and set out the key actions needed to secure a thriving, profitable and sustainable future for the sector. 

International sheep shearers have once again been allowed to enter the UK following months of lobbying and a special concession that was recently granted.

Arla Foods and DMK Group have announced a merger that aims at creating “the strongest dairy cooperative in Europe”.

The decision to extend the ban on personal imports to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has been welcomed by British farming and meat industry leaders. 

Defra has pledged to tackle illegal meat imports by offering £3.1 million in funding for checks at the Port of Dover in 2025/2026. However, the port authority said that this is not enough to protect the livestock sector from potentially devastating disease outbreaks. 

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has responded to claims made by the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) denying that the producers are facing a 25% fee increase.

While the British meat industry is preparing for the latest blow from its own regulator, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is also making it harder for producers by imposing an increase in meat inspection charges. They came into force on April Fool’s Day, and, unfortunately, it is not a joke.

NFU Cymru said that “sobering” new figures showing a record number of cattle culled in Wales last year because of bovine TB further underline the need for change in strategy.