Farmer slaughters uneconomic herd

Stephen Carr with the remaining cattle before they go for slaughter

A farmer in East Sussex is sending his entire beef herd for slaughter because he says he cannot afford to keep them.

Stephen Carr, of Jevington Place Farm, near Polegate, had 1,100 cattle but all will be culled or sold by next month.

He blames lower subsidies since the EU reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), cheap imports from Brazil and Canada and falling beef prices.

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) said Mr Carr's difficulties were repeated across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

Mr Carr, who has been breeding cattle for 12 years, said the decision to slaughter his herd had been a difficult one.

"These animals are not pets - we rely on them to earn our living - so one always has to retain a certain professional detachment," he said.

Drive down prices

"But I wouldn't be truthful if I said there wasn't an emotional element to it."

Reform of the CAP means subsidies will fall from December and with plentiful supplies of beef coming from abroad, supermarkets are able to drive down prices.

A spokeswoman for the NFU in the South East said there was an imbalance in the food supply chain, with supermarkets and processors driving hard bargains.

The NFU said there had been a 10% fall in the amount farmers receive since June.

Latest figures from the Meat and Livestock Commission show farmers are being paid £1.78 per kg, with the average supermarket price at £4.24.

"The government has got to look into this situation," said James Mulleneux, NFU advisor for the South East, from Wallcrouch, Kent.

Mr Carr said it was an emotional decision to end beef production

"The retailers, the processors and the farmers have got to have greater dialogue and there has to be greater transparency throughout the supply chain."

Farming minister Lord Bach called a meeting of farmers, processors, caterers and retailers in London on Friday to discuss the threat to the beef industry.

He said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) was focusing on getting restrictions on British beef exports lifted.

The nine-year ban on human consumption of beef over 30 months old, introduced after the BSE outbreak, ends on 7 November.

"I accept very much the pain the farmers are feeling," Lord Bach said after the meeting.

"The government has come up with three schemes costing over £8m to help the beef industry through this difficult period and others have suggested improvements they can make.

"For example, the retailers are going to make absolutely clear the distinction between British beef and imported beef."