ONLY a quarter of Scotland's beef producers have joined the much-trumpeted Beef Efficiency Scheme, according to figures released this week.

Letters of invitation were originally sent out to 8000 producers that could have taken up the scheme, but the latest Scottish Government figures suggest that the number of farmers currently on its books is just over 2000. This equates to approximately 176,000 reference animals, which, although this does not include the 2017 Young Farmers and new entrants who are starting the scheme in 2017, accounts again for only a quarter of the 545,000 calves registered in 2016.

ScotGov has also revealed that the scheme, which has been plagued by delays and deadline issues – as well as persistent criticism of both its implementation and aims – has so far spent an estimated £32 million of the £45 million that ScotGov had originally earmarked to it.

However, that total budget includes the creation of the national livestock database for the benefit of the whole beef industry, and ScotGov pointed out that businesses which have joined the BES will also receive direct payments supporting the recording of calving data and tissue tagging, as well as additional benefits in the form of free advisory services, and the genotyping tests.

No decision has yet been taken on whether to open the BES for applications again this year.

Commenting on the scheme's halting progress, NFU Scotland livestock policy manager John Armour said: “NFUS has been clear that we want to see the majority of the budget for the Beef Efficiency Scheme end up on farm, with those farmers who have carried out the work of tissue tagging, weighing, and recording the progress of animals which are included in the scheme.

“There is clear merit in the aims of the scheme – to improve on-farm efficiency and sustainability, and for some farmers the additional income from participating will go some way to boost the bottom-line profitability of their business.

“Ultimately when considering the structural benefits to the beef sector from the Beef Efficiency Scheme, the success of this scheme will be measured in how it has assisted in driving on-farm efficiencies and ensuring that Scottish beef remains competitive," said Mr Armour.

“Other key beef producers in the world are boosting their exporting prowess by focusing on on-farm efficiency, it is important that Scotland’s beef sector follows a path which focuses on productivity and profitability,” he added.

Since its inception, as a recommendation arising from the Beef 2020 industry report, the BES has had both high profile supporters and detractors. Current Quality Meat Scotland chairman Jim McLaren said that the increased technical efficiency which it delivered would allow Scottish beef producers to reduce waste and improve the industry’s environmental credentials.

But another former QMS leader, Jim Walker, has described it as a "bureaucratic disaster".

"Our support for the principle of a scheme to add value and develop the Scottish suckler herd is beyond question," he said last week. "It has no leadership, no direction and apart from some fine words about the objectives of the scheme, no defined actions or targets."