18/01/06
Aberdeen-Angus breeders are looking at “very positive” marketing
opportunities in 2006 as beef consumption continues to grow and
export markets re-open.
And a return to live cattle exports to the rest of Europe is envisaged as annual
registrations of Aberdeen-Angus cattle in the UK and Ireland exceed 11,000
for the first time, the annual report of the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society
to the year to October 31, 2005, reveals.
“Confidence in investing in Aberdeen-Angus breeding stock
remains at an all-time high and we remain focussed on being the
number one beef breed in the UK,” the report states.
“The continued growth in beef consumption both at home and
around the world, set against tightening supplies, is sending a
clear message to producers.
With the prospect of exports once again becoming reality, Aberdeen-Angus
pedigree breeders are for the first time in over a decade looking
at a very positive market opportunity.”
A record number of European breeders visited the UK and Ireland
during 2005 to assess what Aberdeen-Angus breeders have to offer.
“We have laid the foundations for what will be a growing
trade in live exports in the year ahead,” the report adds. “A
decade bereft of opportunity has the prospect of delivering tangible
economic benefit to those willing to explore the boundaries of
this developing frontier.”
The beef sector had weathered the negative impact of the high
volume of cattle slaughtered off grass last year and the prospects
for a “substantial and profitable” sector looked more
positive.
But the report warns of increased volatility in the beef market
following the decoupling of support from production and the introduction
of the Single Farm Payment.
“Decoupling and the move to world market prices will see
more volatility in the market with much greater movement in prices
than we have been used to historically,” the report suggests.
“This transition has seen forward thinking breeders start
to restructure their businesses to accommodate the inevitability
of reducing single farm payments whilst others have yet to decide
where their future opportunities lie. Time is not on the side of
the undecided.”
The Society achieved a surplus of income over expenditure of £59,048
in 2005 compared with £60,966 the previous year. Reserves
have increased from £926,368 to a record £1,029,256.
Registrations reached a record level of 11,096 in Volume 129 of
the Herd Book and membership of the Society is now 2235, with 220
new members joining during the year.
The report says the Society is well positioned to deliver an expanded
range of services to members following significant investment in
IT which had streamlined the registration system and improved cash
flow and delivery times.
More members were now conducting their business on-line and the
Society's trading arm, Pedigree Cattle Services Ltd, was
now handling data for a number of other beef breed societies which
had created a new income stream.
The Society's annual general meeting will be held at Perth
on Sunday, February 5, on the eve of the Perth bull sales.
Top
Aberdeen-Angus Award for Cardona Herd
Cardona supreme at
Skipton Aberdeen-Angus Calf Show
Angus
in the Lakes and Dales Sale
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