Careful optimism for the future of red meat

"I am carefully optimistic about the future for the Welsh lamb industry," Hybu Cig Cymru’s Marketing Manager, Bill Joyce, told members of NFU Cymru’s Less Favoured Area (LFA) Board when he addressed their recent meeting.

Mr Joyce gave details of the work Hybu Cig Cymru / Meat Promotion Wales is currently doing on behalf of Welsh red meat producers. He focussed on lamb production in particular and told those present that his forecast for the short to medium term was that tightened supply of Welsh lamb and the weak pound are likely to maintain export demand. In the longer term HCC would be working on the export of light lamb to countries such as Spain, Portugal and Italy.

Although the UK is currently in a recession Mr Joyce was pleased to report that recent discussions with supermarkets had shown that surprisingly retail sales of lamb were still quite buoyant. The major retailers were still looking for premium lamb but shoppers were currently buying more mince as opposed to larger joints for roasting. Mr Joyce added, "We are learning that a lot less people are eating out due to the current economic climate. However, they are buying good food to take home to cook instead. Food seems to be a comfort factor in times of recession."

In regards to Wales’ main lamb producing competitor, New Zealand, Mr Joyce told the LFA Board that they have seen a 15% drop in the amount of New Zealand lamb on the market this year. This is a trend that is happening everywhere though with lamb numbers declining everywhere. Mr Joyce added, "There are very few places where numbers of sheep are increasing. If Wales could fill New Zealand’s production gap that would be good. I’m not suggested we increase sheep numbers in Wales however."

John Owen, a beef and sheep farmer from Mid-Gwynedd, Chairman of NFU Cymru’s LFA Board, thanked Mr Joyce for his presentation. He said, "It has been very useful to hear of all the work HCC is doing on behalf of those of us producing lamb in the hills and uplands of Wales. With the landscape we farm we are very restricted to what we can produce and it is heartening to hear that our product is well received across the world even in tough times like at present."