Farmer owned business, Mole Valley Farmers have invested in the formation of a new specialist Red Meat team to aid beef and sheep producers in enhancing efficiencies, improving productivity and increasing profitability.
With beef and sheep farmers facing increasing market volatility and CAP reform likely to reduce direct payments, the eight person team will focus on red meat production, supporting the long term sustainability of the sector.
Adam May, commercial manager, says the move by Mole Valley Farmers is an industry first for the supply sector.
“The formation of our dedicated Red Meat team demonstrates our commitment to working with our farmer members and customers to improve performance,” he says.
“As a farmer owned business, Mole Valley Farmers, not only provide competitively priced, quality inputs, we believe in supporting livestock farmers through the provision of information, product knowledge, sharing best practice examples from across the sector, helping understand cost of production and supply chain opportunities. The team continue to develop their knowledge in areas such as nutrition, forage production, handling and husbandry, health and production management.”
The team hold a number of unique tools to help identify and discuss ways to improve farm specific performance, including The Mole Valley Farmers Beef Cost of Production Calculator.
“Within our rationing program we can also calculate yearly margin per animal for individual farms. This is a key performance indicator and is a useful figure to base discussions and challenge farm practices,” says Mr May.
The team can then use the program to model the potential effect on profits of changing farm practice. For example, this may include finishing cattle six months earlier or improving carcass specifications. The business is also looking to develop a similar sheep rationing tool.
“We can also work with farmers to maximise use of on farm forage – whether that’s grazed or conserved – and compliment what’s on farm with specific blends,” explains Mr May.
Working with key processors, Mole Valley Farmers are able to offer advice to farmers to help them make the most of the latest market opportunities. The team are also able to take advantage of the unique additional support available through the wider Mole Valley Farmers business. This could include working with the MoleCare large animal vet team to formulate worming or vaccination policy or drawing on services available through the retail arm of the business.
