Richard Haddock, chairman of the National Farmers’ Union livestock board blamed the supermarkets for a “Massive miscalculation” regarding domestic supplies.
Farm gate prices have fallen by 8% at a time of year when prices are normally at their highest.
Farmer’s are blaming the supermarkets for importing extra beef from South America in expectation of strong summer sales and a decline in domestic production.
Imports of Brazilian beef have risen 29% in the first quarter of the year to over 11,000 tons.
Sainsbury’s main UK beef supplier, Anglo Beef Processors, has put some of its abattoirs on a four-day week. By reducing the amount of beef it slaughters it is aiming to give its customers time to offload surplus stocks.
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