British veal set to challenge imports

摘要

UK farmers are already producing veal that is claimed to be better than that imported from the Continent. Judie Allen reports on a rearing and marketing success story. Irrespective of whether or not the welfare protesters triumph against the export oflivestock on the hoof, the Dutch veal industry is likely to take a dive within the next few years - and it will have nothing to do with the banning of veal crates. That's what Roger Lock of Quantock Foods, the UK's largest processor and distributor of British veal, believes. "Veal producers in Holland have been very successful because the milk replacer companies, which have found a useful market for their milk powder, have supported them. They have financed the producers whether or not their crateshave been full, they've subsidised the cost of milk powder, and helped them procure and sell their calves, Now these companies are pulling out, leaving the rearers to the vagaries of the market.