Mixed news from DairyScot show


2 December 1999



Mixed news from DairyScot show


GOOD and bad news came out of the DairyScot show at Ingliston, Edinburgh, yesterday (Wednsday).

The good news was that French farmers visiting the show were as keen as before to buy bull calves from the UK dairy herd once this is possible.

The resumption of the cross-channel trade in calves would be a handy fillip for farmers, who used to get in the region of £100 a head.

That was reduced to £47 under the Calf Disposal Scheme introduced as part of the BSE measures. Many calves have been shot on-farm soon after their birth since the winding-up of the disposal scheme.

The bad news came from Robert Wiseman Dairies. It gave an indication that the milk price to farmers was likely to fall again in the New Year.

Currently standing at 17p, it is estimated that only the top 25% of producers can squeeze profit when it is set at that level.

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