Opportunity knocks for beef farmers

- Published: 21 July, 2006

The National Beef Association is alerting beef farmers to opportunities made possible following the removal of the OTM rule in

November and the recent

re-opening of export markets.

NBA chairman, Duff Burrell, said a solid market for manufacturing beef and a booming trade for breeding cattle meant this summer was a good time for cost-efficient businesses to look toward the imminent re-building of Britain's beef cow herd.

"Averages of 160p deadweight for beef-bred cull cows and the expectation that beef exports from the UK could top 1,000t a week in August mean that now is the time for forward-thinking herd mana-

gers to look hard at sensible expansion, based on improved market returns and legitimate anticipation of further useful developments ahead," Burrell said.