No More Hold-ups For Quality Price Reporting

By Simon Wragg

DELAYS in introducing quality price reporting across all livestock markets could soon be over.

The system relates an animals selling price to its quality and not merely its weight which will allow a clear comparison between liveweight and deadweight sales, say enthusiasts.

Meat and Livestock Commission officials have agreed to contribute 80,000 from the beef and sheep management committee funds to enable auctioneers to be trained to use the system ensuring all reports are uniform.

The MLC blames a lack of training for the delay in QPRs launch despite repeated attempts by some auctioneers to have the current weight-related reports replaced.

Training could begin on a regional basis within a matter of weeks, says MLCs Jenny Spencer.

“Its been a long time coming,” says Livestock Auctioneers Association chairman Ian Lawton. “We need to get a critical mass before it can be used nationally, but that will not happen unless auctioneers see it being used. Its a chicken and egg situation.”

Even those markets using QPR on a local basis have reservations. Ludlow-based John Uffold says the LAA still has to sort out some criteria.

“The current weight ranges dont relate to what a supermarket buyer is looking for which defeats the aim of being able to compare auction prices with selling direct to an abattoir.

“To do that wed have to take out those cattle which dont meet supermarket spec because of their weight, those which are not farm assured, and those which are bought out of the fat ring for further feeding before getting a true comparison.”

Over 50 markets currently submit quality price reports to MLC, but that is expected to increase dramatically by the end of the year if training gets under way. N