18/10/06
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.
The show commences at 8.30 a.m. followed by the sale at 1.00 p.m.
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