Livestock group builds 2m meat plant

17 January 2000



Livestock group builds 2m meat plant

By FWi staff

WEST Country livestock farmers fed up with poor farmgate prices have banded together in a new venture to add value to the beef they produce.

Work begins today (17 January) on a 2 million meat processing plant in Bovey Tracey in Devon, owned by the 160-stong group who formed Triple S Ranch.

The farmers intend that the plant will increase returns on forecuts, which will be used in pie fillings. Hindquarter cuts will be sold on the premium-cut market.

Triple S Ranch has signed a deal with a local bakery, which was attracted by the traceability and production guarantees the company could offer.

South-west NFU director Anthony Gibson told the BBC that benefits were more likely to come from returns on their investments in a profitable company, rather premiums paid on produce.

NFU president Ben Gill said the Triple S Ranch example was one which other producers should look at closely and copy.