The future of the Scottish beef sector will depend on how easy it will be for cheaper imports to undercut UK prices. Profitability on many of our beef farms will be decided within the annexes of future trade deals, which will stipulate the volumes, tariffs and imports.

Future deals won’t start with a blank page, as a number of beef producing countries already have import rules.

The key challenge for Canadian farmers to export is the costs of running a separate non-hormone production system, but if there is margin there is trade

Taking a closer look at the Canadian deal, which could be seen as a basis for post-Brexit British global trade.

Canadian beef is currently trading at an average of £3.10/kg deadweight for steers, which is similar to the United States, making it around 50p/kg less than Scottish prices.

Beef destined for the UK from Canada needs to:

  • Be certified hormone-free throughout its life.
  • The beef product must be traceable.
  • Be fed a grain diet for the last 100 days made up of at least 62% concentrates or exceed an energy content greater than 12.26 mega joules per 1kg DM.
  • Must be slaughtered to EU standard (the Canadian slaughter rules are classed as equivalent).

    • The key challenge for Canadian farmers to export is the costs of running a separate non-hormone production system, but if there is margin there is trade.

    Environmental rules, minimum wages ,or on-farm animal welfare rules are not currently part of the requirements.

    Getting equivalence to our Farm Animal Welfare Code would be a very tough ask for any negotiator looking to strengthen economic links, as opposed to putting up barriers.