Aberdeen-Angus breeders have received a welcome boost on the eve of the breed’s autumn show and sale at Perth on Monday (October 23) as export demand for Aberdeen-Angus cattle continues to soar.

A total of 175 cattle have been exported to five European countries since the export ban was lifted earlier this year and further export sales are in the offing.

The president of the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society, Nigel Hammill, and chief executive, Ron McHattie, have just returned from the Polagra Show in Poland and report strong interest in the Aberdeen-Angus breed.

“This is the second show in Europe where the Aberdeen-Angus breed has been represented in recent weeks and we will be at the Indagra Show in Bucharest (Romania) and the Eurotier Show in Hanover (Germany) next month,” said Mr McHattie.

“It will take time to develop these markets but there is real interest in the Aberdeen-Angus breed which is being driven by the development of a market for quality beef in these countries and demand from other Eastern European countries, especially Russia.”

Russia has recently imported 1000 Aberdeen-Angus from Australia.

“We have a lot of catching up to do because we have been out of the live cattle export market for 17 years because of the export ban,” said Mr McHattie. “But the interest in UK genetics is encouraging and I am confident we will see a continuing strong export demand for Aberdeen-Angus cattle, semen and embryos.”

Aberdeen-Angus cattle have been exported in recent months to Estonia (93), Romania (38), Germany (4), Switzerland (23) and France (17) and a buying delegation from Sweden is due to visit Scotland next month.

Mr McHattie said the development of the export market, coupled with the continuing strong demand and premium prices for prime Aberdeen-Angus cattle in the home market, represented a powerful incentive to commercial beef producers to switch to the Aberdeen-Angus breed.

“All the leading multiple retailers marketing Aberdeen-Angus beef – Marks and Spencer, Waitrose, Costco, Sainsbury’s and the Co-op – are looking for increased supplies to meet escalating consumer demand,” said Mr McHattie.

Commercial beef producers will have the opportunity of sourcing quality Aberdeen-Angus breeding stock at Monday’s Perth show and sale which has attracted an entry of 66 bulls and 64 females, including a draft of 33 females, many with calves at foot, from David Lucas, Cheeklaw, Duns, Berwickshire.

The show will be judged by Caithness-born Angus Baillie who is due to retire next month after many years as manager of The Moss herd on behalf of Mr and Mrs John Moores at North Moss, Formby, Liverpool.

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