ORGANIC cattle are enjoying a boom in demand with the recent spring sales in Scotland well up on the year.
Figures from the Scottish Organic Producers Association (SOPA) show a record demand and trade for store cattle with finishers keen to source animals when the current prime organic beef price stands at 480p per deadweight kg.
This was highlighted at C and D Marts’ Dumfries centre last month, where organic store bullocks averaged 282.4p per kg whilst organic heifers averaged 242.3p. Gross prices increased by £221.42 on the year.
Further north at Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ sale at the end of April, organic bullocks averaged sold at between 314.3p and 348.5p per kg, an increase of 72.3p on the year, whilst organic heifers sold at 288.8p and 324p per kg, an increase of +66p on the year.
Joanna Sinclair, membership support officer at SOPA, added: “SOPA has been predicting a boom for organic cattle for several months. We know by speaking to our members and our trade contacts that there are not enough organically certified cattle in the supply chain and the growing consumer demand looks like this boom will continue indefinitely.
“This is good news for converting beef farmers who will be producing organic cattle to meet future demand. Certified organic farmers who are in the midst of spring calving are also feeling confident there is a likely future demand in the organic supply chain for their organic cattle.”