Farm Stock (Scotland)
Studio 1, Lindean Mill, Galashiels TD1 3PE
Chairman: Andrew Grant Marketing Officer: Jim Manderson
Tel: 01750 23366 Fax: 01750 23377 E-mail: farmstock@ukonline.co.uk
Farm Stock (Scotland) is the UK’s only federal livestock co-operative, a unique venture that combines the strengths and individuality of three of Scotland’s leading lamb and beef producer groups with sufficient scale for effective marketing.
Farm Stock (Scotland) was established in 1996 following a feasibility study conducted under the Marketing Development Scheme administered by the Scottish Office. The two founding members were Scott Country Lamb Ltd and Buccleuch Farmers Ltd with Lothian Lamb Ltd joining in 1999.
Within Farm Stock (Scotland) each producer group is represented on the board but retains its own local identity. The federal concentrates on procurement, marketing and administration with the groups focussing on their individual producers, providing a vital communication link.
Total membership now stands in excess of 600 trading at present up to 170,000 sheep and 10,000 cattle per annum, with stock being drawn from an area extending North to Fife and Stirlingshire and South to Berwickshire in the East and Dumfriesshire in the West.
The livestock presented by individual members of the three groups is aggregated for sale by Farm Stock which markets the stock to its best potential to a range of meat processing outlets. The scale of the operation and the appointment of a full-time manager, has allowed Farm Stock to expand its marketing options. The volume of stock facilitates the matching of specifications to targeted outlets with resultant benefits to the groups and individual members.
The basic requirement is an assured supply of good quality stock and for the board of Farm Stock that equates to producer commitment.
Commitment is essential to ensure critical mass so that Farm Stock can market its members’ prime stock to best advantage at least cost.
As to the topical question of adding value, the process of feedback on carcase performance has been identified by Farm Stock as a key element in the ability to add real and direct value to members’ prime stock. An ambitious new information system is presently being designed with the aim to provide in a simplified form, accurate comparative performance figures. This will allow Farm Stock to set benchmarks for both producers and marketing and will provide an opportunity for members to maximise returns for their prime stock through adjusting their husbandry and management techniques to suit specific markets.
The federal structure and marketing strategy Farm Stock has in place provides the most economically effective method for livestock farmers to reach their future markets.
Farm Stock (Scotland) also trades with non-members (probationary members) on the understanding that they join a group, and has been structured to accommodate other lamb and beef producer groups as members.
Farm Stock (Scotland) is already achieving an annual turnover of up to £10 million and with its high conformance to customer deadweight specifications is set for further expansion.
It is an encouraging example of livestock co-operative development to provide a stronger route to the market place, combining the established supply relationships and local identity of the regional groups and their members with tested and proven marketing capacity and expertise.