ASDA, and its long standing beef supply chain partner Anglo Beef Processors (ABP), today Friday 9th January announced the supermarket has become the first to accept cattle up to 36 months old for use in its standard beef range. The move, which increases the limit from 30 months, comes into effect immediately.
ASDA’s decision will enable farmers to get a better return on their capital investment, giving them another six months to grow their cattle on and achieve the optimum conformation grades.
Commenting, Pearce Hughes, agricultural development manager from ASDA said: "We are proud to be the first supermarket to raise the age limit for beef cattle to 36 months. The decision sees our cut off point for beef in our standard range back at pre-1996 levels. This industry leading move will provide ASDA BeefLink farmers with the option to revert back to the much missed 36 month production system and should make the rearing of dairy bull calves into large steers a viable and attractive option once again - reducing the number of dairy calves being disposed of at birth. We hope to confirm that we can raise the age limit even further in the not too distant future."
The decision follows the Food Standard Agency’s announcement to increase BSE testing of cattle to 48 months. Raising the limit to 36 months is a temporary move by ASDA and ABP, who hope to take the upper threshold to 48 months in the coming months, following trials assessing the quality of beef from cattle aged between 36 and 48 months to ensure it reaches the supermarket’s exacting standards for prime beef cuts.
