The number of cattle available for slaughter in Europe will be lower in 2015 than 2014. That’s according to Stuart Ashworth, Head of Economics Services with Quality Meat Scotland.

Between January and October of 2014 in Great Britain, calf registrations are up 1.5% on the same period last year.

However, Ashworth says it will be 18 months before this increase begins to be reflected in increased slaughter cattle numbers. “In the shorter term our cattle databases indicate fewer cattle in the supply base” he said.

He said “data from Ireland shows a similar pattern with calf registrations in 2013 down nearly 5% but, like the UK, registrations began to run ahead of year earlier levels from March 2014. Similarly, most European countries reported fewer one to two-year-old cattle on their holdings in June 2014.”

“Piecing together all this information, then, we can conclude that at local and European level the number of cattle available for slaughter will be lower in 2015 than 2014,” said Mr Ashworth.