Soaring demand for top-quality beef creates opportunities for farmers
Livestock farmers in the North of England have an exceptional opportunity to profit from the production of top-quality Aberdeen Angus beef and rose veal, meat products which are currently undersupplied but in great demand, with a ready market. That was the underlying message given to potential beef producers at a recent open day organised jointly by Blade Farming Ltd, BOCM PAULS and Pfizer Animal Health at Messrs W. Fairbairn & Sons’ Waterside House Farm, Alnmouth in Northumberland.
David and Ken Fairbairn, who hosted the event, are typical of the type of farmers to whom this production system appeals. They sold their herd of 100 dairy cows in 2010 but having always had beef cattle on their 400 acres took up Blade Farming’s Aberdeen Angus contract last year because it provided them with a better way to profit from beef through a production ’blueprint’, with the benefit of a guaranteed supply of uniform, healthy weaned calves.
Their first batch of 45 Aberdeen Angus calves arrived at Waterside Farm in June 2010, went straight out to grass, were brought in during October and turned out to pasture again in April this year. Three months before these animals leave the farm in September, at approximately 500 - 550 kg liveweight, another batch of calves will arrive to continue the Blade programme, which is working well.
Speaking at the beef open day event, which provided farmers from the North of England with an opportunity to learn more about the quality beef market and how to add a potential additional revenue stream to an existing livestock business, Richard Phelps, Managing Director of Blade Farming, stated:
"That the market for top-quality beef is currently undersupplied is largely due to the fact that the British beef industry is generally uncoordinated and very traditional, with most beef farmers producing animals ’on spec’ under widely varying systems, which leads to an inconsistent end-product. The UK beef industry is currently not geared up to deliver the premium product which an increasing number of customers require and clearly that situation has to change if producers are to reap the rewards which are available to those who meet higher standards."
Blade Farming offers a wide range of options to market top-quality beef into premium outlets and because the beef which is produced through its Aberdeen Angus finishing scheme is extremely tender, succulent and full of flavour this has led to a surge in demand, opening up a wealth of opportunities for contracted producers to achieve premium prices. However, Richard Phelps explains that his company’s ability to fulfil this demand depends entirely on being able to deliver consistently high quality products, and that can only be achieved via a proven production system which utilises consistent inputs to generate uniform end products.
The big attraction of the system is that Blade Farming offers contracted producers a guaranteed forward price for the lifetime of the animal, operates a batch system which makes the system easy to manage, provides a supply of consistent, healthy weaned calves from dedicated rearing units and sets out exactly how to produce high-quality beef. Producers simply follow a simple, easily-managed production protocol which helps to achieve target liveweight gains, focuses on the quality of the animal, increases profitability and maximises meat quality.
Well proven over the last 10 years, the Blade Farming programme encompasses a comprehensive package of support, including the Blade Farmworks cattle management programme to measure financial and physical data, plus full support from BOCM PAULS, the UK’s leading animal feed manufacturer and Pfizer Animal Health.
Following eight years of success in the UK the Blade Farming production model was expanded into Northern Ireland during 2008 with the launch of Linden Livestock to develop rearing and finishing franchise operations, the objective being to create an exclusive supply of cattle for Linden Foods. A market leader within the Northern Ireland fresh meat processing industry, sourcing and processing top-quality beef and lamb, Linden Foods is part of the Linden Food Group, a major integrated fresh meat processing operation which services a wide range of retail multiples, their dedicated convenience food manufacturers and the wider meat packing industry in the UK and Europe. Three years ago the Group added to its manufacturing facilities with the purchase of an abattoir at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside and is now looking to increase throughout there to fulfil demand for its products.
Gavin Iles, Operations Director of Blade Farming, explains that in addition to seeking additional producers in the North of England to meet booming market for its Aberdeen Angus beef the company is also looking to grow its rose veal business to satisfy domestic and export markets, the majority of production currently being exported to Europe and Scandinavia. Blade Farming, which processed its first batch of rose veal bulls three years ago, emphasises that it is in everyone’s interests to secure an outlet for surplus calves from the dairy industry and that welfare-friendly rose veal production is providing a viable enterprise on selected finishing units.
To meet the requirements of this niche market Holstein YB cattle are fed a specific ration and slaughtered at less than 12 months of age, the price paid currently being ’2.90/kg deadweight, equivalent to ’3.35/kg and above for cattle of 180kg to 230kg deadweight based on the current UK grading systems. Mr Iles points out that the rose veal system is particularly attractive to producers because it generates good margins, a very favourable cash-flow, doesn’t use up grass, requires only minimal labour, makes good use of spare accommodation and keeps buildings full year-round.
"BOCM PAULS has worked closely with Blade Farming for a number of years and the collaboration enables producers to fulfil the high genetic potential of calves, achieve optimum production efficiency and optimise financial returns,"
emphasises John Telfer, Account Manager for BOCM PAULS. He adds:
"The only way to produce consistent high-quality beef from a fully-sustainable production system is to start with a high-quality calf and build on that firm foundation with high-quality nutrition and health programmes. The Blade Scheme’s structured approach to production is proving very attractive to livestock farmers who are looking for greater business security. However, correct nutrition is critical in achieving target growth rate as well as optimising the sale value of the animal by enhancing the final quality of the animal and enhancing the flavour of the meat.
"Aberdeen Angus cross calves which arrive from Blade Farming’s rearing units go onto contracted producers’ farms at three months of age and are reared on to be finished, ideally by 20 months of age. This simple, extensive system requires the cattle to be grazed for at least six months of their life and they are finished on a high cereal diet with a mineral supplement. Cattle that fit these requirements and specifications, and which achieve the minimum carcass weight of 245 Kg deadweight, command a significant premium."
