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The
Aberdeen-Angus breed is first off the block following the lifting of
the EU’s cattle export ban in March this year with the completion
of a £40,000 shipment from Scotland to Estonia. This is the first
export of Aberdeen-Angus cattle from Britain for 17 years, although semen
and embryo exports to many parts of the world have been vibrant in this
period..
The three bulls and 37 heifers from four herds in North-east Scotland
left by road at the week-end.
“
This is a tremendous breakthrough for the Aberdeen-Angus breed and
is likely to be followed by further export business as demand for quality
beef in Estonia expands,” said one of the consignors. “We
have had potential buyers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as
well as Estonia, visiting Scotland in recent weeks and I am really
excited about the export prospects for the Aberdeen-Angus breed to
the rest of Europe.” A further consignment of 50 cattle is being
assembled for a second shipment to Estonia in the autumn..
Arable farmers in Estonia are required to keep at least 15% of their
farm in grass and the Aberdeen-Angus is seen as the ideal breed for foraging.
The main buyer of cattle from the first shipment owns a 4000 acre arable
farm.
Aberdeen-Angus beef is already beginning to appear in top restaurants
in Estonia and there is considerable scope for the development of beef
suckler herds to meet this growing demand.
The Aberdeen-Angus breed enjoyed strong export demand
to North and South America, where the breed dominates the quality beef
industry, in the
1950’s and 1960’s and it was beginning to develop the European
market when the export ban was imposed.
Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society chief executive, Ron
McHattie, is confident that exports will become an increasingly important
facet of the Society’s
business in the coming years.
“We warmly congratulate the efforts of those who have put together
this first consignment and look forward to seeing several more export
orders being completed in the near future,” said Mr McHattie.
And Germany too
A consignment of five Aberdeen-Angus heifers has also been shipped this
week to Germany. Three of the heifers came from a herd in the home county
of Angus and two were purchased at the Perth bull sales in February (note
the next key sales are in October). The heifers will be on show at the
Weidefestival / European Angus Forum in Bavaria from August 18-20. Angus
Society and BLG representatives will be there. Other Angus cattle from
N-E Scotland are due to be shipped to Germany later in the summer.
[29 June 06]
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