The premium offered for Aberdeen Angus cattle has continued to fall as numbers of black cattle coming forward increases.

Processors are offering a premium of 5p to 15p/kg, which is down from 25p/kg in the summer. At the peak Angus cattle farmers could get £4.20/kg for prime cattle.

Figures from QMS show that last year in June 19.2% of the kill was Aberdeen Angus bred. By October this had risen 22.3%.

ABP said that its policy on premiums had not changed and it is still purchasing the same number of stock.

“In overall terms, the price of cattle in Scotland is 8p/kg ahead of last year,” a spokesperson for ABP said. “It should be noted that the current situation is being driven by seasonal factors, coupled with an increased supply of Angus in the market. ABP does not have a demand for these extra cattle.”