Processors Apply Beef Movement Penalties

The beef industry has called for clarity over penalties being imposed by some abattoirs for cattle being ‘moved’ too many times.  Over recent weeks some of the large abattoirs have been penalising producers for cattle which have been moved more than three times during their lifetime.  But there does not seem to be any consistency between the abattoirs, each seems to be operating to different rules regarding the number of movements and the size of deductions.  Furthermore there is no clarity on whatactually consitutes a ‘move’.  It seems that movements through a market or to an abattoir are not classed as a movement.  However, it is unclear whether movements to a different CPH number, even if within the the same ownership, count.  Likewise the rules around transfers to and from summer grazing, or to shows etc., are unclear.

There have been calls for auction marts to display the number of movements for cattle when they are selling them at market, but until there is more clarity it will be very difficult for them to give this data.  Even then there will be the potential for mistakes and the increase in man-power to undertake this job.  But the wider question must be why are the abattoirs introducing these rules?  Who is going to benefit  other than processors?  Is the quality of meat any less because the animal has moved more times? Is the consumer going to get cheaper meat from these animals?