Industry experts have recommended that Beef farmers should re-evaluate their approach to production.

It has been suggested that the UK beef market has the potential to grow and boost production, meeting market demands, but farmers will need to make changes to support this level of efficiency.

“We produce half a million head fewer beef cattle than what we eat, and global demand is rising,” said Robert Drysdale, founder of Straightline Beef.

“We need to work backwards from the product,” he added, explaining that farmers need to pay more attention to welfare, antibiotic resistance, sustainability, carbon footprint, meat quality, levels of fat and health benefits.

Robert also suggested that there may be some troubles in the next few months. “Beef isn’t sold on taste anywhere in the world, but I think it will after Brexit,” he said. UK farmers are already poorly paid for high quality beef.

Robert uses a ‘cloud’ system that follows all his produce from birth to slaughter, also paying for a weekly independent audit to ensure his farm managers are working at the highest level. As a result, he kills 200-300 cattle a month with a target of 5000 in 2019.

Other changes that can be made include buying in feed, straw and woodchip, which Robert uses to make his organic fertiliser. Consistent rotation is also important, moving cattle to a different area once every three days.

Robert also teaches other farmers about how they can make changes in an on-site classroom, and others have highlighted the approach that farmers can take.

Joe Banks, red meat ruminant specialist at CMC, said utilising this new approach to farming “means knowing exactly what is needed from stock, minimising waste and maximising efficiencies.”