The UK is facing a shortage of British and Irish beef on supermarket shelves from this summer. Supermarkets could be left scrambling to source beef as UK supply constricts and Irish producers consider switching their business to more lucrative markets, producers have warned.
Last year 125,000 fewer beef cross calves were born than the year before, while 115,000 bull calves, which could have been used in the meat industry, were culled by the dairy industry between April and December.
The UK faced a 10% shortfall in the number of slaughter cattle in the beef supply chain from August onwards, the Beyond Calf Exports Stakeholders Forum predicted. The problem has been exacerbated by discontent in Ireland. Producers have threatened to stop supplying the UK, claiming they were getting €126 a head less than their British counterparts for beef cattle.
The lower prices meant Irish producers would no longer be able to supply beef to UK retailers on a year-round basis, and consumers would end up paying more because of the scarcity, warned the Irish Farmers’ Association.
Almost two-thirds of the UK’s 247,000 tonnes of imported beef comes from Ireland and a reduction in supplies would have a major impact on availability. Processors’ “price-cutting” tactics had wiped out profitability for winter finishers, undermining the industry’s capacity to supply UK and European retail markets on a year-round basis, said the IFA.
Processors in the Republic claimed the lower prices reflected decreased production costs, but the IFA has insisted processors and supermarkets were retaining a higher share of the sale price.
Beef from the dairy herd currently accounts for about 52% of production. Retailers, including Asda, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Morrisons, have introduced a number of initiatives to incentivise dairy farmers to put more cattle into the beef supply chain.
Last year 125,000 fewer beef cross calves were born than the year before, while 115,000 bull calves, which could have been used in the meat industry, were culled by the dairy industry between April and December.
The UK faced a 10% shortfall in the number of slaughter cattle in the beef supply chain from August onwards, the Beyond Calf Exports Stakeholders Forum predicted. The problem has been exacerbated by discontent in Ireland. Producers have threatened to stop supplying the UK, claiming they were getting €126 a head less than their British counterparts for beef cattle.
The lower prices meant Irish producers would no longer be able to supply beef to UK retailers on a year-round basis, and consumers would end up paying more because of the scarcity, warned the Irish Farmers’ Association.
Almost two-thirds of the UK’s 247,000 tonnes of imported beef comes from Ireland and a reduction in supplies would have a major impact on availability. Processors’ “price-cutting” tactics had wiped out profitability for winter finishers, undermining the industry’s capacity to supply UK and European retail markets on a year-round basis, said the IFA.
Processors in the Republic claimed the lower prices reflected decreased production costs, but the IFA has insisted processors and supermarkets were retaining a higher share of the sale price.
Beef from the dairy herd currently accounts for about 52% of production. Retailers, including Asda, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Morrisons, have introduced a number of initiatives to incentivise dairy farmers to put more cattle into the beef supply chain.
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