Cheap German beef pushes down prices

By James Garner

CHEAP German bull beef has found its way to the UK and is putting pressure on home prices.

NBAs Robert Forster says that German beef is already keeping a lid on UK prices, and is trading as low as 100p/kg dw.

Last week, a spokesman for Irish Food Board Bord Bia says, R4 grade German bulls were making IR150-155p/kg dw (120-124p/kg), compared with IR200p/kg dw (160p/kg) for Irish cattle.

Given the low value, Mr Forster fears that cheap German beef could find its way on to retail shelves.

“Retailers have made a commitment to procure front line retail beef from the UK and the Republic of Ireland, but beef from the Republic into the UK is currently fairly scarce.”

German bull beef may well be too tempting at current prices to neglect. But Mr Forster points out this is an inferior product.

“It is irresponsible to use it in anything else other than a burger,” he adds.

It would also be outside UK retailers specs, who imposed a 14-month age limit on all bulls finished in the UK.

Supermarkets Somerfield and Asda refute the claims. Somerfield spokesman Pete Williams says it stocks no German beef.

“We dont use any German beef and have no plans to do so and will stick with that policy.”

One meat manufacturer, The Slinger Group in Blackburn said it has imported German bull beef aged 24 months to fill a clients requirement for non-UK beef.

Robert Slinger, sales director of The Slinger Group, told FARMERS WEEKLY: “There is a lot of German bull beef about in the UK and it is very cheap, particularly hind quarter.”

The company points out that it is a meat manufacturer and requires manufacturing grade beef for its markets.