The role of AFUS in GB Calf Strategy
The new GB Calf Strategy highlights the need for fair and reliable routes to market. These routes must support a consistent supply of calves across the UK.
Meadow Quality has a long history of offering a sustainable, year-round market for our loyal dairy producers — regardless of TB status. We host one of the UK’s most established Orange Collections twice a month, providing an outlet for milk calves.
Why are AFUS important for The GB Calf Strategy?
An Approved Finishing Unit (AFU) is a DEFRA-approved holding. It allows cattle from TB-restricted herds to be grown or finished under strict conditions.
AFUs create essential outlets for calves born on TB-restricted farms in England and Wales. Many take forward stores, while others finish calves or small stores. Meadow Quality supports the growth of these intensive units to maintain steady, year-round demand across the supply chain.
How Meadow Quality Works alongside AFUs
We work closely with both AFU and Isolation Unit holdings to match milk, reared, and store cattle from farm to farm.
TB-restricted milk calves are available twice a month through our Orange Collection. We group calves to match buyers’ needs — by age, price, source farm, breed, and sex.
Not all AFUs can rear milk calves. For this reason, we partner with AFU rearing units that deliver calves to order at around 140kg. These calves are vaccinated, BVD screened, and castrated. They are available year-round, with placements arranged up to three months in advance.
Advice to Dairy Producers?
Genetics are becoming a key tool for dairy producers to stay resilient against milk and calf price changes.
Producers in TB-affected areas should plan ahead for how their calves can be marketed during a breakdown. Using sexed Angus or enhanced British Blue semen (such as MQ Superior Sires–Elite) helps widen buyer demand and market access.
Meadow Quality is happy to support discussion groups and genetics advisors to ensure calf crops meet buyer expectations — regardless of TB status.
Advice to Beef Producers?
Meadow Quality has helped many farms convert to AFU status.
Beef enterprises may benefit from applying if they:
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Focus solely on growing or finishing cattle on an intensive basis.
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Do not keep other livestock, especially sheep.
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Operate in TB1 areas and wish to avoid post-movement testing.
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Have defined boundaries, such as concrete panels and controlled entry points.
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Want consistent cattle supply, with prices and types agreed in advance through rearing units.
There is still a shortage of AFUs rearing milk or reared calves to 420kg+ stores. This presents an opportunity for intensive units already farming this way under unrestricted status.
Get in touch to learn more about AFUs, Orange Collections, or how we can support your calf marketing needs.
info@meadowq.co.uk