Butchers

Carlisle: Right start, right carcase, right market

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 10:54:04 GMT

You’ve done the hard work, now make every carcase count

From breeding decisions to butchery, this hands-on event will help you unlock the value hidden in every animal.

Join farmers, butchers and market experts to explore:

How to spot the right genetics for market-ready carcases
Where value is gained… or lost….. on the hook
Why parasites hit more than performance … they hit price
How to match your stock to the right outlet … retail, high street or farm shop

You'll walk away with a better eye, better tools and a better understanding of how your choices shape the final product.

What to expect:

Hear it straight from the shop floor with live butchery demos
Get hands-on with live animal assessment and carcase walk-throughs
Use Farmbench to see the cost of carcase waste, parasite damage and more

Book your place today and join us along with Farmer Network and Waver Wampool Rivers Trust, for interactive discussions and the chance to ask the presenters all your questions.

Reshaping the beef and lamb supply chain: Opportunities for processors large and small

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 09:39:20 GMT

Reshaping the beef and lamb supply chain: Opportunities for processors large and small

Pork market summary 2024

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 15:09:50 GMT

Pork market summary 2024

More about meat exports: Technical requirements and compliance

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 15:04:00 GMT

More about meat exports: Technical requirements and compliance

Cutting plant pre-designation FAQs

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 13:45:00 GMT

Cutting plant pre-designation FAQs

Slaughterhouse pre-designation FAQs

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 13:45:00 GMT

Slaughterhouse pre-designation FAQs

Great British beef re-imagined

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 14:52:06 GMT

Join us for an inspirational day as we showcase how British beef is produced, from field to fork. This event is for chefs and anyone working in the foodservice industry.

Speakers

Anna Blumfield, host farmer
Karl Pendlebury, KE Manager, AHDB
Grace Randall, Retail Insight Manager, AHDB
Martin Eccles, Trade Butchery Manager, AHDB
Ben Bartllett, chef
Terry O’Rhiordon, chef

Agenda

How farmers are working sustainably, with the environment, to produce beef
Consumer insight and market intelligence
Potential trends for beef this year
Insights into how to cut beef to give consumers the best eating experience
A chef demonstration on beef cuts

During a farm walk, you will learn about the environmental and sustainability credentials of British agriculture and see cattle grazing in the fields.

You will then learn about the role and importance of animal classification to butchers and how it enables them to create amazing produce for chefs to work with. We will also discuss how classification is important to chefs as they try to create consistency on the plate.

A seam butchery demonstration by our butcher, Martin Eccles, will showcase how cutting muscles slightly differently can give a better and more consistent consumer experience on the plate. We will then demonstrate some of the end products that can be achieved with the cuts.

We will also discuss consumer data and trends throughout the day – what have been the key market drivers over the past 12 months and what upcoming trends to look out for.

Where practical, we would like to encourage you to share lifts with other attendees.

Marketing best practice – tips of the trade

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 14:28:06 GMT

Join us at Darlington Farmers Auction Mart for an evening of practical demonstrations and discussions focused on maximising the returns on your lambs.

As the lamb supply chain begins on farm and ends on the plate of the consumer, the way for sheep producers to maximise returns from their lamb crop is to produce and sell what their buyers want and are willing to pay the most money for.

While weight is obviously important, sending animals of the right conformation and fat score is just as vital. Frequent, careful handling of the lambs is essential to ensure each animal has reached its full potential and target specifications.

What you'll learn

How to hit specification by selecting lambs of the right conformation, fat score and weight
What are the preferences of processors, retailers and consumers when it comes to lamb
Finished with a butchery demonstration from AHDB’s Trade Butchery Manager, Martin Eccles

Itinerary

5.30pm Registration and refreshments
6.00pm Meeting starts
8.30pm Meeting ends

We’ll be joined by Steve Powdrill (AHDB Selection and Carcase Classification Specialist), Emily Symonds (AHDB North East Beef & Lamb Regional Manager), Becky Smith (AHDB Red Meat Trainee Analyst), Martin Eccles (AHDB Trade Butchery Manager) and Scott Ferrie (Senior Auctioneer and Market Director).

Don’t miss this interactive event with a supply chain focus.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Refreshments will be provided, but please register in advance by contacting Stephen Dodsworth on 01325 464529 or 07946 514154.

German butchers visit the UK to find out about British red meat production

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 10:34:06 GMT

German butchers visit the UK to find out about British red meat production

Isotope testing protects British pork

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 10:22:48 GMT

Isotope testing protects British pork

Inflation and a decline in shopper numbers poses a risk to butchers

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 13:56:41 GMT

Inflation and a decline in shopper numbers poses a risk to butchers

Abattoir apprenticeships at risk

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 08:12:48 GMT

Abattoir apprenticeships at risk

AHDB encourages Britain to 'Royal up' their Jubilee BBQ

Fri, 20 May 2022 15:16:38 GMT

AHDB encourages Britain to 'Royal up' their Jubilee BBQ

Somerset: Beef & Lamb - Targeting your marketplace

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 16:50:57 GMT

Join Sedgemoor Auction Centre and AHDB Beef & Lamb for this event focussing on current and future export markets, current consumer marketing activity and your chance to shape the future of beef & lamb and what you get for your levy.

On arrival, Martin Eccles, Trade Marketing Executive, AHDB, will provide a live butchery demonstration, focusing on maximising carcase utilisation and creating appealing cuts that suit a changing consumer market.

This event will then include three sessions:

Beef and Lamb Export Markets with Dr Phil Hadley, International Market Development Director, AHDB Learn which export markets are currently open to English beef and lamb, the value they bring to the industry and potential opportunities for the future.
Consumer Marketing with Liam Byrne, Head of Marketing, AHDB Aimed at consumers that are considering reducing their meat and dairy intake, the ‘We Eat Balanced’ marketing campaign works to remind and reassure the consumer of the positive role red meat and dairy can play in a balanced diet. Find out what the campaign involves and what impact it has had so far.
‘Shape the Future’ with Will Jackson, Divisional Director, AHDB Listen to how AHDB currently spends beef and lamb levy and how you can register to have your say on the products, tools and services AHDB delivers for the sector.

You can register for your free place by booking online, emailing KE.events@ahdb.org.uk or calling 01904 771218. Attendees must be over 16 years of age.

We're taking precautions to make sure the event is as safe as possible. Please read our health and safety guidelines. To help us, as this is an indoor event, please wear a facemask, unless exempt. No food will be served at the event.

Pork yield guide

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 13:49:00 GMT

Pork yield guide

Lamb yield guide

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 13:48:00 GMT

Lamb yield guide

Beef yield guide

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 10:15:00 GMT

Beef yield guide

Small-scale producers meeting: AHDB Pork Box Scheme

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 13:58:58 GMT

Small-scale producers meeting: AHDB Pork Box Scheme

Free course makes over 10,000 meat industry experts

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 14:20:23 GMT

Free course makes over 10,000 meat industry experts

A changing market landscape: What does it mean for red meat?

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 12:21:55 GMT

A changing market landscape: What does it mean for red meat?