Beef
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…
Business and Policy October 2025 – Beef
Finished beef prices have recently plateaued, with prices for week ending 20 September 2025 sitting at 652p/kg/dwt for R4L grades, down 5.2p/kg/dwt from the previous week. At the time of writing, prices have since dropped further, with processors quoting around 645-650p/kg/dwt. At the start of September, the price quoted for R4L steers was 658p/kg/dwt, up…
Easter Howgate Study – Autumn Born Finishing Bulls
When Easter Howgate set out to ease housing pressure caused by an expanding spring calving herd, they found a unique solution. By establishing a “B Herd” of underperforming cows and implementing a synchronised AI programme using sexed male semen, they successfully transformed a previously underperforming group into a productive and valuable unit. The use of…
A Guide to Artificial Calf Colostrum
There are many artificial colostrum products available for dairy and beef calves. They are labelled as either colostrum supplements, colostrum replacers or can be classed as both and it is important to know when to use which product. A replacer is there to completely replace the first feed of maternal colostrum. A supplement should be…
Business and Policy September 2025 – Beef
Falling consumer demand and imported beef impacting on finished prices After a volatile spring, trade for prime cattle rose last month following a period of lower slaughterings, helping to rebalance the market. The start of August saw finishers quietly filled with cautious optimism following several weeks of stable deadweight prices with prices edging upwards. However,…
- « Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- Next »








