The number of cattle killed through bonus schemes that are managed by Aberdeen Angus Quality Beef (AAQB) Ltd continues to grow.

Speaking at the co-op’s AGM in Cookstown last week, Eamon Kelly from AAQB said there was an 8% rise in cattle numbers during the 2024 calendar year.

Members were told throughput for 2025 to date is running 12% ahead of last year and the increased supply is being matched with strong demand for Angus beef.

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AAQB, which has 560 farmer members in NI, runs two bonus schemes for Angus sired cattle in partnership with the Foyle Food Group.

The Tesco UK scheme is made up of different incentives which can add up to maximum bonus of 30p/kg above the R4 base price paid at Foyle’s abattoirs in England.

Key criteria include cattle being under 24 months, having a carcase weight between 270-400kg, grading at least O- for conformation and grading two, three or four for fat.

The separate AAQB bonus scheme supplies beef to various retailers and pays a maximum bonus of 30p/kg above a local base price.

The same specification for conformation and fat applies, although cattle can be up to 28 months of age, and the carcase weight range is 240-420kg.

“We are fortunate that we have a scheme that pays a competitive price across a broader weight and age range,” Kelly told members last week.

He said 96% of cattle that were slaughtered last year qualified for either the Tesco or AAQB scheme. Overall, 30% of the cattle are suckler bred and 70% come from dairy herds.

Other schemes

In October 2024, AAQB started a new initiative where the co-op runs a calf rearing enterprise to supply members with Angus calves.

Kelly said two batches of calves have gone through the shed to date and the third crop is being procured at present.

AAQB also run two incentives for using high-performance genetics. The high genetic merit bull scheme allows members a £900 grant to purchase a performance recorded Angus stock bull.

The superior genetics scheme gives members free semen from top-performing Angus bulls owned by the Foyle Food Group in exchange for performance data of the progeny. Charlotte Moore from AAQB presented data from one the bulls, Rawburn Enron, which showed on average his progeny finished 48 days earlier and had a 5.2kg heavier carcase when compared to all AAQB cattle.