The Uncommon Breeds Survival Consider (RBST) has launched the result of its newest survey, which displays that farmers can offer protection to themselves towards will increase in feeds and complement prices via opting for local breed cattle.
The RBST Business Traits Survey 2023 displays that, of farmers who stay each local and continental breeds or who’ve switched from continental breeds to local breeds, 69% stated that total prices with local breeds have been not up to with continental breeds. This compares with 7% who stated local breed prices have been upper and 21% who stated prices have been the similar.
On feed and complement prices in particular, 59% of farmers who stay each local and continental breeds, or who’ve switched from continental breeds to local breeds, concept their feed and complement prices have been decrease with local breeds than their revel in or expectation with continental breeds.
The survey additionally displays that the chance for price financial savings with local breeds extends to land and veterinary prices too, with 62% pronouncing their prices associated with the kind of land required are decrease with local breeds than with continental breeds, and 53% of respondents pronouncing their veterinary prices are decrease with local breeds.
RBST Leader Government Christopher Worth stated: “The truth that our hardy local breeds most often require decrease inputs has turn into much more interesting as prices similar to feed and dietary supplements have skyrocketed, and glance set to stick increased. The risk to insulate towards upper enter prices, coupled with the chance to promote local breed produce for a top rate because of its prime quality and provenance, creates a powerful alternative for industrial luck now not handiest within the present inflationary setting however having a look at longer-term resilience too.”
Sally Lugg, who farms with local breeds in Cornwall and runs top rate Cornish beef trade The Primrose Herd, stated: “While local breed pigs take longer to complete we use a decrease share protein feed which is inexpensive than industrial diets. There may be much less labour wanted as we don’t mechanically use antibiotics, enamel clip, castrate or tail dock.”
When requested about obstacles to expansion, there’s consistency within the new survey effects with the ones of the primary RBST Business Traits survey (2021) in figuring out the loss of appropriate abattoirs as a key barrier to long term trade expansion. 35% of respondents imagine the loss of appropriate abattoir as one of the crucial biggest obstacles to rising their local breed trade.
Mr Worth stated: “The survey effects display a thriving and dynamic local breeds sector with robust ranges of funding and positivity about long term expansion, specifically associated with expanding shopper pastime within the environmental affect, welfare requirements, native provenance and high quality of the beef they devour. Then again fear stays prime that the loss of native abattoirs appropriate for local breed farming is a irritating barrier to expansion.
“We’ve been drawing Executive’s consideration to this drawback and suggesting answers, and we welcome the Farming Minister’s announcement of the Small Abattoir Fund. Translating the announcement of the fund into sure motion at the floor, and shortly, is significant.”