UK beef board goes soft on meat processors

The National Beef Association (NBA) has offered to overlook the way meat processors had forced down the farm gate price of beef cattle.

The NBA had been highly critical of the way the meat trade manipulates the price of beef cattle, but it has now gone soft to help mend the fences that had developed between the two sectors.

NBA director Kim Haywood said rather than highlighting the mistake that has been made, the NBA would prefer to persuade retailers and processors that further unnecessary fluctuations in farm income will damage their own medium-term earnings from beef sales.

Haywood said the best way forward for the entire supply chain is to ensure that sufficient beef will be available in five years' time by paying fair prices to farmers.