The Scotch Farming Difference
The Scotch Difference goes beyond the farm. From animal welfare and sustainability to a whole-life assurance programme, we support red meat that’s produced to an uncompromisingly high standard.
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The Scotch Difference
Wondering what this means? Keep reading to find out why Scotland is one of the most sustainable and reputable places in the world to produce beef and lamb.
- PGI Certification
Since 1996, Scotch Beef has held the coveted PGI status legally protecting the brand from imitation. - Respectfully Reared
Independent welfare checks are carried out on farms from the Scottish SPCA. - The Perfect Landscape
Over 80% of our land is grass or rough grazing, not suitable for crops but ideal for livestock. - Part of a Natural Cycle
Grass grazed by livestock absorbs carbon from the atmosphere and captures it in the soil.
- The Perfect Climate
An abundant supply of rain in Scotland creates lush grasslands without the need for irrigation. - Quality Assured
Livestock must have spent their entire life on QMS assured holdings to hold our iconic logos. - Independently Audited
To a strict set of standards covering animal welfare, food safety and best practice.
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Our Land
Scotland is one of the most sustainable places in the world to produce beef and lamb. Due to our weather and topography it requires very few inputs to produce nutrient dense, high quality food.
Over 80% of Scottish farmland is grassland or rough grazing not suitable for growing cereals and vegetables but ideal for beef and lamb production. As part of a natural cycle, grass grazed by livestock absorbs carbon from the atmosphere and captures it in the soil contributing to an important carbon sink.
Livestock farmers work in harmony with nature. For example, habitat corridors are created by planting hedges and trees on farmland. This, and different grassland sowing and cutting regimes will help promote and protect natural habitats for wildlife such as curlew, snipe and lapwings.
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Animal Welfare
The QMS Animal Welfare and Wellbeing Charter recognises the five freedoms of animal welfare and wellbeing and is a guiding principal for all of the QMS assurance schemes which are supported and approved by the Scottish SPCA - Scotland’s independent animal welfare charity.
The SSPCA are our leading partner for animal welfare to achieve transparency and ensure our all of our meat is respectfully reared.
The five freedoms protect all livestock under the Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork labels from hunger and malnutrition, discomfort, pain, injury or disease. Animals have freedom to express normal behaviour and freedom from fear and distress.
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Our People
Scotland’s livestock farmers are passionate about looking after our iconic countryside and play a vital role in sustaining an industry which supports around 50,000 jobs – many in Scotland’s fragile rural communities. Our farmers are caretakers of the land, who are proud to keep improving it for future generations and to be upholding one of Scotland’s oldest and most important traditional industries.
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Pork Cred
Specially Selected Pork is the flagship brand of the pork industry in Scotland. When you see the Specially Selected Pork logo, you can be confident that the pork was born, reared and processed in Scotland and held whole life quality assurance.
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Lamb Cred
Scotch Lamb takes its quality and characteristics from a stress-free life grazing on the Scottish hills. The farms and processors are independently audited to make sure they meet our requirements. This means that the Scotch Lamb PGI you buy is fully traceable to farms of origin, resulting in the tastiest lamb in the world.
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Beef Cred
