Farmers will always need financial support when the industry has to prop up the meat processors, vet and medicine, feed, fertiliser machinery and agri chemical trades.

That was the stark warning from beef and sheep farmer, John Hamilton, Aitkengall, Dunbar, who was speaking at the Scotland Beef Event's seminar debate.

Hitting out at all subsidiary industries, he said: "The whole supply industry has been living off the back of farm subsidies. We don't pour Ivomec over our cattles' backs, but we do have to get rid of the parasites that are living on our own backs," he said highlighting that vet and medicine costs along with most other farm inputs are a fraction of the cost in America, Canada and Australia, compared to this country.

"We need more transparency in the industry. The processors can't go changing the spec and the weight ranges at the drop of a hat, and we should be allowed to see how our cattle grade and kill out, if we are to be allowed to improve. We also need a good price all year round, not just when supplies are tight, if we are to provide cattle and sheep for the market in future."

Mr Hamilton, who has watched his farm payment drop 66% when you take into account inflation since 2005, said he has had to reduce input costs by banning concentrate feeding and relying more on grass. He has also introduced native cross continental females for easier calving. However, with the finished beef price based on the E,U,R,O,P grading system, and therefore based on shape, he said there was no scope for improvement when you can't see how individual cattle kill out.

"How can we get a better price for our cattle if we can't see how cattle are graded or classified at individual plants. The processors need to provide us with more information."

On a more optimistic note, Nuffield scholar, Robert Fleming, Castle Sininness, Glenluce, said he is looking forward to maximising production from grass from a moderate size cow.

"You have to know how much it costs to produce a kg of beef and then look to reduce it every year. You have to adapt your skills and be willing to change because the market is going to change from now on," he said adding that he has already upped his levels of efficiency through improved fertility.

He has also signed up to the government's Beef Efficiency Scheme.

"Why would you not sign up to the scheme when we are getting paid to genotype cattle. Genomics are the blueprint to life's potential which provides information on such things as eating quality, maternal traits and days to finishing," he said.

Anna Playfair-Hannay, agricultural manager for Marks and Spencer, was also confident for the future and for the Scotch Beef brand.

"I do think we can maintain the Scotch Beef price post Brexit provided we can maintain the high quality and animal welfare," she told a packed audience.

"There will always be a place for Scotch Beef south of the Border and in the EU as people see the benefits of it – the only thing that might affect it is exchange rates."

However, she did warn that innovation is required to make sure consumers still want to eat beef as opposed to other proteins.

"We have to make beef more convenient and we have to ensure the integrity and quality of our beef brands through DNA testing. The average annual spend on food is falling with the most people spending 11% of their income on food of which £12-£14 per week is spent on protein," he concluded.