The red meat industry in Scotland
Scotland’s commercial livestock is raised amidst a clean and unpolluted environment, and the Scottish meat industry enjoys a well-deserved reputation for the quality of its beef, lamb and pork.
Scottish farmers have generations of livestock production expertise, which they combine with high welfare standards and state-of-the-art animal husbandry techniques to create a modern, thriving red meat industry.
Strengths of the red meat industry in Scotland
Scottish processors sold 180,000 tonnes of beef, 27,500 tonnes of sheep meat and 55,800 tonnes of pig meat with a combined value of some £690 million during 2005. Nearly 70 per cent of this production was sold outside Scotland, meaning the red meat industry makes a significant contribution to the Scottish economy.
- Around 60 per cent of Scottish red meat is sold to multiple retailers.
- The red meat industry has a turnover of more than £1.6 billion and contributes around 0.75 per cent of Scottish GDP.
- Over 32,000 people are employed in the meat industry in Scotland.
- The EU is the largest domestic market in the Western world.
- Scotland is a niche producer of red meat products, operating in a global market dominated by large producers.
The Scottish red meat industry’s advantage
The industry responsible for high-quality Scotch beef, Scotch lamb and specially selected pork is policed by a fully integrated assurance programme that guarantees high quality and welfare standards, plus complete traceability. The scheme includes farmers, feed companies, auction marts, hauliers and processors working in the red meat industry in Scotland.
- The geographical origin and traditional methods of production have brought further recognition to the specific qualities of Scotch beef and Scotch lamb.
- Sheep production is the most common farming activity, with 31 per cent of Scottish holdings having some involvement in sheep production.
- 27 per cent of Scottish holdings have some involvement in cattle production while pig production is concentrated on 1.5 per cent of Scottish holdings.
Scottish meat industry skills/research and development
Research and Development is a core activity within the overall strategy of Quality Meat Scotland, an organisation established to promote the red meat industry in Scotland. The aim of the R&D strategy is to aid the development of new technologies within the red meat sector. These will make a positive contribution to profitability and aim to improve:
- Efficiencies in production and processing.
- Quality and marketability of the product.
- Traceability systems.
- Communication of research results.
QMS have established a committee, made up of farmers, processors and Government representatives, to direct the R&D activities of the beef and lamb sectors.
Scottish food and drink are renowned for their quality across the world. Find out how the various Scottish food and drink sectors help sustain a vibrant and growing industry.