Morrisons to give Beef Shorthorn boost under new traditional native breed scheme

Beef Shorthorn scheme, a traditional native British beef breed
Beef Shorthorn scheme, a traditional native British beef breed

Beef Shorthorn has been given a massive boost thanks to a new scheme focusing on Britain’s traditional native breeds launched by Morrison Supermarkets and their subsidiary, Woodhead Brothers.

An additional 16,000 native breed cattle per year will be required to supply the supermarket’s three Woodhead Bros abattoirs, up almost 10% on current throughput.

The scheme is open to all British native breeds and their crosses, but singles out the Beef Shorthorn for a special premium.

"Beef Shorthorns and their crosses will receive 20p/kg in total over Woodhead’s base price, or up to £75 head, while other eligible native breed cattle will receive a 10p/kg premium," says Morrison’s farm operations manager, Andrew Loftus.

"The special premium for Beef Shorthorns reflects the supermarket chain’s long-standing commitment to the Beef Shorthorn breed on its own farm at Dumfries House in Scotland.

"Morrisons has developed a new feeding regime specifically to enhance the inherent eating quality of the breed and produce a premium product."

'Ability to produce functional suckler cows'

Beef Shorthorn BullsBeef Shorthorn Society secretary, Frank Milnes comments: "Approximately 27,000 Beef Shorthorn and Beef Shorthorn cross calves registered by BCMS in 2010.

"This record number demonstrates how the commercial value of the breed is more widely recognised than ever before.

"A major attraction of the breed has been the ability to produce functional suckler cows: now that we have a premium scheme for Beef Shorthorn beef even more farmers will be encouraged to use the Beef Shorthorn bull in their commercial suckler herds."

Morrisons have formed an exclusive partnership with the Beef Shorthorn Society which will promote the use of registered and DNA recorded Beef Shorthorn bulls in the UK suckler herd.

Under the scheme farmers, including those who already supply Woodheads will need to apply for approval at least 100 days before they send their first native breed cattle to one of the firm’s three abattoirs in Lancashire, Lincolnshire and Aberdeenshire.

They must be farm assured and agree to finish cattle on a specially developed cereal-based diet.

Eligible cattle – steer or heifers, must weigh between 260kg and 380kg CCW. Bulls and OTMS cattle are not eligible.

The firm has developed a special carcass grid for the scheme which includes O+ cattle within the target specification.