Beef
Business and Policy February 2026 – Beef
New Year Prices Remain Historically High Finished beef prices have started strongly and as of mid-January for week ending 24 January R4L grades were sitting at 650p/kg/dwt. Although prices remain historically high, prices have continued to trend downwards in recent weeks, with processors reducing prices by 4-6p/kg/dwt. Carcass imbalance remains a concern for processors as consumers opt for cheaper cuts and…
Artificial Insemination (AI) in the Suckler Herd
While more commonly used in the dairy industry and pedigree beef cattle, artificial insemination (AI) still has a place in commercial suckler herds because of the increased costs of replacement females and bulls, greater focus on calving intervals, and strong desire to improve financial and environmental efficiency within the beef industry. Conception rates achieved through AI using conventional semen can be 60 – 70% and…
West Coast Calves – Key Facts and Figures
Calves born and bred on the West Coast of Scotland play a hugely important role in contributing to maintaining Scotland’s critical herd mass. Suckler herds on the Western Isles contribute significantly to biodiversity, where extensive cattle grazing systems provide habits for some of the UK’s rarest species including Pipistrelle bats, dung beetles, Great Yellow Bumblebee…
Business and Policy January 2026 – Beef
2025 Beef Trade Recap 2025 will no doubt be remembered for record farmgate prices with beef prices reaching unprecedented levels in the spring. At the start of the year, prices rocketed, with consumer demand and tightening cattle supplies contributing to prices lifting by 25p/kg/dwt in a fortnight. At the end of January, 2025 prices were sitting at 610-615p/kg/dwt….
Stock Talk – Basil Lowman: 55 years of Driving the Beef Industry Forward and Pioneering New Ideas
Welcome to Stock Talk hosted by Kirsten Williams. On today’s episode Kirsten is joined by Dr Basil Lowman who has been a beef specialist with SAC Consulting for 55 years. Kirsten describes Basil as a legend in the beef industry. We hear about Basil’s varied career, his passion for the industry, how he thrives on challenge and is a pioneer of new ideas. Episode Timestamps 01.37 Let’s go back in time…
Rural Roundup – 4. Unsung Heroes – Birks Farm – Efficiency (Calving at Two)
Welcome to this special episode of the Rural Roundup, one of a six-part series called “Unsung Heroes”. In this episode Calum Johnston visits Douglas Frame at Birks Farm where they discussed Calving at two. Through speaking to Douglas it was clear that on his family beef farm, their unsung hero is efficiency and despite climate change not being his primary driver, Douglas talks about the reduction he’s seen…
Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS) 2025
The Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS) is open for applications. Online submission is the easiest and quickest way to apply, and the closing date for submitting 2025 claims is 14th January 2026. It is anticipated that the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme will continue until 2028. However, from 2025, calves will only be eligible…
Business and Policy December 2025 – Beef
Festive Demand And here we are in December! However, finishers hoping for increased seasonal demand and a price uplift could be lacking festive cheer. ‘Static’ best describes the beef trade currently, with deadweight prices marginally lifting over the past few weeks but certainly not lifting as much as expected for the Christmas trading period. Prices…
Stock Talk – Robert Gilchrist & Gavin Hill
Welcome to Stock Talk hosted by Kirsten Williams. On today’s episode Kirsten is joined by two industry experts to discuss the beef industry. It’s a lively discussion covering many topics, including: replacement strategies, where the market is it at just now, sustainability and the future of the Scottish herd. Gavin Hill is a Senior Beef…
Business and Policy November 2025 – Beef
Festive Demand We are now in the last quarter of the year, with only 3-4 weeks left of Christmas supermarket orders as processors plan their Christmas kill schedules. Prime cattle prices have held firm throughout September and the first half of October, despite a seasonal lift in weekly slaughter, pointing to resilient demand. While prices…