Quality Meat Scotland

to be in a difficult position when it comes to anthelmintic resistance. And in our position, with the collective power and influence of our members and the support of other key organisations in the industry, we are driving this forward,” he continues.

“By involving our members, who are in direct contact with livestock and equine owners, our aim is the for the key issues surrounding the prescribing process to be addressed head on.”

AHDA has set out a number of action points to improve animal health and welfare through managing resistance. The campaign will focus on five key areas of action: • Move from verbal prescription to a mandatory written or recorded prescription • Compulsory anthelmintic resistance CPD taken within each two-year cycle for

RAMAs/SQPs • Make faecal egg counting a normal and essential process in the prescribing of anthelmintics • Focus on pack sizes to ensure they meet prescribing requirements • Aim to create a specific and active animal medicine plan for each flock/herd

“We have carried out some initial research, obtaining information on the number of doses of different anthelmintics sold onto farm in 2020. By looking at the current status of the industry and then its desired destination, we have set out a number of action points - some of which need to be introduced sooner - with other actions and changes to be introduced over the longer term,” adds Mr Lovegrove.

“AHDA’s main purpose is to support RAMAs/SQPs in their role, working with other industry organisations and bodies to protect their right to sell and supply the range of prescription animal medicines across all sectors.

“In raising awareness of the challenges faced by those prescribing the medicines, we hope to change the attitudes and outlooks of the end users towards all elements of prescription process, which will ultimately benefit everyone in the sector.”

Quality Assurance and why it matters

By Kathryn Kerr, Head of Brands Integrity at QMS

This month, revised Quality Assurance standards for cattle and sheep production will have landed on many of your doorsteps. We know that these rarely instigate feelings of excitement, but they are there to support our producers not to undermine them. With QA standards comes customers and healthy market demand.

Quality Assurance is largely driven by the consumer and, for those not selling from the farm gate, that QA logo is the way to connect with consumers, to tell them that you are producing high quality meat to high welfare standards. Consumers are increasingly expressing an interest in the way in which we run our farms and tend to our livestock, influencing their purchasing choices. QA therefore, shouldn’t be viewed as scrutiny or an exercise to catch out farmers, but instead the opportunity to showcase our stock, build upon our relationship with our customers and maintain the farm to fork link which has been lost for too long – and with it, sales and profit.

At QMS, we are constantly keeping an eye on the markets and, from time to time, our QA needs to be revised to align with wider influences. Currently, this is new and emerging trade deals and a transition towards a new agricultural policy outside of the EU with strong emphasis on rewarding environmental outcomes, as well as complementing consumer trends towards conscious buying.

Quality Assurance will support businesses to become more resilient to future changes within the industry and demonstrates that our animal welfare is head and shoulders above our international competitors, our on-farm emissions are kept to a minimum and, for example, that we are listening to the science and reducing the use of antibiotics on-farm. QA is voluntary but a sound guarantee of market access.

One of the key changes is around health planning with an annual vet visit. The further workload is on the vet, rather than the producer, and the relatively small cost incurred may be quickly recuperated with greater productivity the following season. For those already regularly engaging with their vet, the vet will know the stock and it shouldn’t be a great cost. For those who have until now reviewed their own health plan, it may highlight previously unseen opportunity to improve herd health. It’s also valuable time to have wider proactive conversations with your vet, which rarely occur when they are on your farm for an emergency.

Legal requirements are included in our standards not to create hurdles but to ensure QMS is covering legal due diligence. Ensuring compliance will give producers peace of mind in knowing that their business is prepared for any statutory visits going forward.

There are also additional recommendations (not standards) on preparing for greater environmental transparency, as well as simplification of some of the wording and layout for greater readability.

We know the uncertainty over farming’s future over the past few years has been unsettling to many businesses, which has not been helped by mounting labour challenges, rising feed and fertiliser costs, and now a very concerning world situation. Farmers are rightfully concerned about embracing any changes which, in their view, could further threaten their bottom line. Maintaining and improving these standards should, however, be viewed as an opportunity to future proof and make our red meat businesses more resilient.

All these steps towards greater QA will not only generate brand loyalty but give our produce credibility in a future where we will have to fight above our weight in emerging trade deals as cheaper produce threatens our shores, and to prove our sustainability credentials. If we can put in the groundwork and build trust in our consumers now, it will build long-term profitability and Scotland’s farming future will be a brighter one for all.