Several options for finishing contracts

The North Ireland meat processor now also operates an abattoir at Whitley Bay on the north east coast and it is Linden that finalises the finished cattle contracts.

The company processes meat for several outlets including some well known high street retailers including M&S and most of the Northern England Blade Farming cattle will go through that plant.

Supply chain manager Frank Foster said black and white bulls were taken on a “pain and gain” contract based on a target £2.75/kg (R4L).

“If the market is above it, we share the difference and if the market is below it, we share the difference,” he said.

A minus O3, however, was the typical specification (£2.60/kg) and a typical margin £80 to £100 although there were plenty of finishers making more. There was also growth in the Aberdeen Angus-sired steer and heifer beef market.

It too offered contract prices on a longer finishing period (18 to 24 months old) including a term at grass and a ‘beef quality contract’ was geared to a target slaughter weight at 19 months.

But the real flyer had been Rosé veal calves, mainly for carcase export, and this was another opportunity being offered through Blade Farming.

While it had taken off massively in Ireland, summer calves were in short supply there and consequently, the sights were on mainland Britain to fill the gap.

It was a comparable operation to Holstein bull beef albeit with a shorter finishing period and therefore the potential for more batches or seasonal utilisation of buildings. Target was 205kg deadweight (180-220kg) from a 1.5kg daily gain and around 1.5 tonnes of concentrate.

Mr Foster said branding (Banquet Royale) had been critical in the marketing success of this niche product.

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