Quality Meat Scotland Podcast

Send us Fan Mail As the Royal Highland Show gets underway, we sit down with QMS Chair Kate Rowell to discuss her final months in the role, reflect on eight years of leadership and explore what's next for Scotland's red meat sector. Plus, Abby Tong joins us with the latest consumer insights, unpacking the trends influencing purchasing decisions and what shoppers are looking for from Scott...

Send us Fan Mail Join us this week as we explore the intricacies of finishing cattle, farm management, and market dynamics with Noel and Jo Gall. Discover insights into breed choices, feed strategies, biosecurity, and the impact of market trends on Scottish beef production. Want to have your questions answered on the QMS podcast by the QMS team, industry specialists or our guests? Submit your ques...

Send us Fan Mail In our latest QMS podcast episode, we’re tackling the pressing issues, opportunities, and trends that shape our industry. From market trends to policy developments, we’ve got insights straight from the experts. Want your questions answered? You can submit them via our social media or anonymously through the link in our bio. Don’t miss out on this informative discussion. Subscribe...

Send us Fan Mail Join us as Murray McConchie shares his journey of modernising a traditional family farm in south-west Scotland. In conversation with Kirsten and Robert, Murray discusses his farming system, the role diversification has played in building resilience, and how he is adapting to environmental and market challenges. From practical insights on livestock and land management to opportunit...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to a brand new series of the QMS podcast and a fresh way of telling the story of Scotland’s red meat sector 🥩 In this pilot episode, we introduce your new hosts, Kirsten Williams and Robert Ramsay. With a wealth of experience across farming, consultancy and the wider industry, they bring real insight, practical knowledge and a shared passion for the sector. Together, they...

Send us Fan Mail Discover expert strategies for enhancing beef and lamb systems. Learn about nutrition, health planning, and effective transitions for livestock management. In the world of farming, especially in beef and lamb production, achieving efficiency and sustainability is more crucial than ever. With rising demand and ever-evolving challenges, farmers must adapt their practices to ensure s...

Send us Fan Mail This latest podcast episode builds on the discussions from our Building Better Beef Supply Chain event, offering those who couldn’t attend, or who want to revisit the key themes, the chance to hear more through practical, experience-led conversation. Bringing together an independent consultant, and working farmer, the first episode in this two part episode explores how the beef an...

Send us Fan Mail This episode dives in to the wide variety of routes into a career in Scotland's red meat supply chain, giving a behind-the-scenes look at the stories, motivations, and opportunities that shape careers across the sector. With insights from three special guests reflecting different journeys into the industry, the episode also includes an update from Kate Rowell, Chair of Qualit...

Send us Fan Mail This episode dives into the latest updates to the QMS Cattle & Sheep Assurance Scheme, what’s changing, why it matters, and how it strengthens both farmer practicality and consumer trust. With insights from farmer and QMS board member Niall Jeffrey and Kathryn Kerr, Head of Brands Integrity, we explore how collaboration and clarity are shaping the next 35 years of assurance. H...

Send us Fan Mail This Lamb for St Andrew’s Day episode brings together three voices at the heart of Scotland’s Scotch Lamb story. Tracy Martin talks us through QMS’s campaign approach and how raising the profile of Scotch Lamb during November supports farmers and inspires consumers. From the auction ring, Robbie Hamilton shares what the trade looks like at this time of year — and why industry back...

Send us Fan Mail Scotland’s red meat goes global! Tune in as our host Claire Taylor deep dives in the highlights, insights and opportunities from Anuga 2025 – one of the world’s biggest food and drink trade shows. Hear from Kate Rowell, Iain Macdonald, Tom Gibson and Mairi Gougeon MSP on exports, opportunity and the power of provenance. Here is a link to all episodes of QMS's podcast https://...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the QMS Podcast, Kate reflects on a busy month of activity, sharing key meetings, industry takeaways, and a look ahead to what’s next for QMS, including our presence at Anuga in October. Abby brings market insight, exploring current conditions and the consumer trends shaping demand both at home and abroad. We then turn to the latest Scotch campaign, where Emma e...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Claire interviews Jenny McKerr, who discusses her role as Private Kill Coordinator at Quality Meat Scotland. They explore the challenges facing abattoirs in Scotland, the importance of private kill for local markets, and the need for collaboration between farmers and processors. Jenny shares her experiences in processing and agritourism, highlighting the growing i...

Send us Fan Mail This bonus podcast episode delves into the latest findings from Quality Meat Scotland's Red Meat Industry Profile 2025, highlighting record economic contributions, challenges in livestock numbers, and evolving consumer behaviours. Ian Macdonald and Abby Tong from QMS discuss key insights, including profitability pressures, retail trends, and the importance of local produce. T...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode, Claire is joined by Neil Wilson, Executive Director of the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IAAS), to explore the Meating Our Potential campaign and what it means for the future of Scotland’s red meat sector. They discuss the critical role of auction marts, the opportunities for producers to grow confidence and invest in their herds, an...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, Crawford Niven shares insights into his farming journey in central Scotland, discussing the balance between arable and cattle farming, the growth of his farm shop and butchery, and the importance of community engagement through YouTube and agritourism. He reflects on market trends, the significance of restocking in Scottish agriculture, and the challenges...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we're joined by RNAS President as we look ahead to the very first Beef Tech event, hosted on 28th May at Home Farm, Kininmonth, Peterhead – a new event showcasing innovation and technology in the beef sector. We also catch up with QMS Chair Kate Rowell, who shares reflections on lambing and calving season, the challenges and rewards of this busy time of year,...

Send us Fan Mail In this month’s episode of the QMS Red Meat Podcast, we’re joined by Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, for an exclusive deep dive into the latest Scottish Government policies impacting the industry. We’ll discuss: ✅ The future of Scotland’s red meat sector amidst evolving agricultural policies ✅ Government strategies to support farm...

Send us Fan Mail In this month’s episode of the QMS Red Meat Podcast, we catch up with Martin Kennedy to reflect on his time as President of NFU Scotland. He shares the highlights and defining moments of his presidency, offering valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by Scottish agriculture. We also hear from Kate Rowell, who updates us on her work with the development of in...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the QMS Red Meat Podcast, we welcome James Withers, a seasoned expert in economic development, strategy, skills, public affairs, and communications. With a distinguished career in agri-food, drink, and tourism, James offers an invaluable perspective on the UK Farm Assurance Review. James breaks down the key findings of the report, highlighting how farm assurance...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the QMS Podcast, our host Claire Taylor is joined by a fantastic line-up of guests. First, QMS Chair, Kate Rowell provides a New Year’s update and greetings to the audience, while Iain Macdonald, QMS Market Intelligence Manager, offers valuable insights into market trends and what to expect in the year ahead. The highlight of this episode is our special guest, D...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we explore two exciting topics; Rugby and A World Without Cows. First, to kick off the episode, we have Sarah Millar Chief Executive of QMS reflecting on the year and the exciting work QMS has taken on. We are then joined by Aileen Marchant discussing the unique QMS rugby partnership, the upcoming development days, and why rugby is helping to highlight the role of...

Send us Fan Mail 🎉 The wait is over—Series 12 of the QMS Podcast is LIVE! 🎙️🔥  Join our new host, global agriculture commentator, Claire Taylor, as she sits down with QMS Chair, Kate Rowell to chat about her exciting time at SIAL Paris and the HRH butchery visit! 🌍🥩 Tom Gibson, Director of Business Development, shares the buzz around exporting Scotch red meat at SIAL, while Iain Macdonald, Mar...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, host Jane Craigie hears what the QMS team has been up to lately, which includes attending the World Steak Challenge in Amsterdam, visiting London to explain the Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb, and Specially Selected Pork credentials to more than 100 of the best butchers, and working with MP's to raise awareness of the Scottish red meat industry.  Abby Tong gives an...

Send us Fan Mail At the beginning of August Turriff Show brought many people from the farming world together in North East Scotland, including Quality Meat Scotland’s Kate Rowell and Iain Macdonald, who in this podcast talk to Jane Craigie about the latest statistics and wide opportunities for the red meat sector.  Deeside Monitor Farmer Duncan Morrison explains what he’s learning through, and enj...