AN annual turnover of more than #5m is in prospect next year for the

Certified Aberdeen-Angus beef cattle marketing scheme. Progress would be

even faster if sufficient supplies of Aberdeen-Angus cross cattle were

available, said John Jamieson, of Nether Baulk, Stonehaven, when he

addressed the annual general meeting of the producer marketing group,

Aberdeen-Angus Producers (Scotland) Ltd.

''We see potential for substantial growth in the years ahead, but it

does depend on commercial beef breeders going back to using

Aberdeen-Angus sired cattle,'' said Mr Jamieson.

''We have a number of enquiries from sizeable outlets for

Aberdeen-Angus which we are unable to fulfill because we are not in a

position to guarantee continuity of supply. This represents a tremendous

marketing opportunity for Scottish beef producers.''

The producer group has been granted sole procurement rights for

Scotland for cattle sold through licensed wholesalers under the

society's Certified Aberdeen-Angus beef scheme.

''This will enable us to maintain tight control, and ensure the

authenticity of beef sold as Certified Aberdeen-Angus,'' said Mr

Jamieson. The premium of 12p to 16p a kg paid for cattle qualifying for

the Certified Aberdeen-Angus scheme made the production of

Aberdeen-Angus cattle a most attractive financial proposition for

commerical beef producers, he added.

Mr Jim Ironside, managing director of the producer group, said that

they were set to market 7000 cattle worth more than #5m in 1994-95.

A total of 4735 cattle, worth more than #3m, had been marketed in the

year to August 31, compared with 2000 the previous year. The group's

levy income had increased from #13,000 to #51,479 -- and a profit of

#6198 had been achieved.

Almost 200 new members had joined the group during the year, and

membership now stood at 372. A development officer had been appointed --

Miss Angela McGregor, daughter of a Fife Aberdeen-Angus breeder William

McGregor.

The Waitrose supermarket chain continue to be the group's largest

customer, and four new wholesalers joined during the year. Certified

Aberdeen-Angus beef is now available in a considerable number of retail

shops, as well as high class restaurants and hotels throughout the UK

and also in Italy, France and Belgium.

The latest customer is the Hilton Hotel Group, which is serving

Aberdeen-Angus beef in its hotels in Malta and Sri Lanka.

Mr Ironside said that, in order to ensure the integrity of the scheme,

strict disciplines were being imposed on members. One had been expelled

for contravening the rules, and the board would deal firmly with any

member who abused the scheme.

A tagging system for cattle destined for the scheme was being

considered as a means of giving added strength to guarantees on the

authenticity of stock.

The group now has 25 members in Orkney, and 20 cattle a week are being

marketed through Orkney Meat Ltd in Kirkwall.