Livestock chairman to address international conference on sheep sector future

The chairman of the NFU’s national livestock board will address an international conference next week on the challenges facing producers in the sheep sector.

Alistair Mackintosh will be speaking at the International Sheepmeat Forum in Brussels, alongside industry representatives from France, Australia and Chile, about securing the long-term future and viability of the sheep sector.

Mr Mackintosh said:"UK farmers are ideally placed to produce high quality sheep meat and to develop and supply markets both at home and abroad. The recent Eblex business pointers report for sheep showed production cost performance was improving and helped boost confidence in the sector.

"However, it is vital that we look to further develop our European markets and look to develop new outlets for UK produced sheep meat. We also need to see stability in the industry which will improve confidence and encourage producers to keep supplying our quality product."

Mr Mackintosh said discussions would also be held about ways countries could work together to help secure the long-term future of the sector.