In defence of Red Meat Industry

Health

Beef, lamb and pork have an important part to play in a healthy diet. Red meat is naturally rich in protein and essential minerals and vitamins, such as Iron, Zinc and Vit B12.

Around 48% of teenage girls are deficient in iron. For many young girls they start diets without having all the facts, or on the back of a fad or trend – so ensuring they are aware of the importance of a varied healthy diet and how removing one specific food group could put them at risk.

Red meat is naturally low in salt and high in protein. Research has shown that shoppers place emphasis on products with health benefits (27%), such as high in protein, and being in lower in salt and sugar(11%).

Cooking red meat dishes from scratch means they can remain low in salt and even adding in alternative protein sources – a chilli con carne for example – lean beef mince with kidney beans means two great sources of different proteins – and it can go a little further too, keeping aware of budget.

Conversely ready-made meals can be high in salt. In fact many meat free processed products have been found to be too high in salt by Action on Salt.
e.g. Meat free burger had 0.89g salt per serving compared to a beef burger with 0.75g salt per serving. So we need to be aware of all the issues.

There is no huge trend to vegetarianism ¬ latest stats show just short of 5% of the population (and has swung four and five percent over the past decade). So 95% of the population are still meat eaters, and when shopping for meat, looking out for SB,SL and SSP ensures they are getting a product which has met stringent criteria relating to animal welfare, feeds and production methods.

Environment

Cattle and sheep are beneficial to the biodiversity of Scotland's countryside.

Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb producers are at the forefront of managing Scotland's landscape in ways that help wildlife and this is acknowledged by organisations like the RSPB.

Grass and rough grazing covers nearly 80% of Scotland's agricultural area. This land is unsuitable for combinable crop, fruit or vegetable production but ideal for extensive grazing of cattle and sheep.

Over 50% of Scottish agricultural output is livestock based. This is not necessarily just thorough choice. It is a geographic imperative because of landscape, climate and water availability.

We have approx 15% of our land that can grow crops and even less that can grow vegetables and fruit. Important though those sectors are. The other 85% of our land is only able to grow a forage crop. Grass and rough grazing. High quality protein produced through a rumen from this land.

Use the water line. Over 60% of global water use is water embedded in the production of our food. The transport of food round the world is the transport of water embedded in that food.

It is essential, indeed we have a moral obligation, to maximise our food production in Scotland because we have water. That food production is red meat.

Industry contribution

The red meat (beef, lamb and pork) industry contributes around £2.1 billion to Scotland's economy.

Around 50,000 Scottish jobs depend on the Scottish beef, lamb and pork industry. Family farms form the bedrock of our industry.

Generations of animal husbandry skills underpin the production of Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork.

Quality assurance

Quality assurance schemes which are among the best in the world. Our assurance schemes cover the entire lifespan of animals which must be born, reared and slaughtered in Scotland to be eligible.

The schemes cover animals from farm to processing and include feed, auctions and transport. Scottish farmers take pride in the quality of the beef, lamb and pork they produce. Scotch Beef was the first European red meat product to be granted European Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status, closely followed by Scotch Lamb. These brands have earned global acclaim for flavour and quality diet.

Welfare

Animal health and welfare is a priority for Scottish livestock production.
Our industry works closely with the Scottish SPCA and we were pioneers of the robust assurance schemes which underpin the Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork brands.