Ach, ma thig na h-atharrachaidhean a tha iad a’ bruidhinn mu dheidhinn a thoirt gu buil, dh’fhaodadh buannachdan nach beag a bhith na lùib - agus chan ann mar a shaoileadh daoine.

Gun a bhith s' dol ro dhomhainn ann an cùisean teicnigeach, tha an siostam a tha aig na taighean-spadaidh an-dràsta air a bhith ann airson ùine fhada agus tha e stèidhichte air an rud a tha cumanta san Roinn Eorpa. ’S e an griod EUROP a th’ air.

Gu sìmplidh, tha e a’ ciallachadh mar as motha agus as truime a tha am beathach, ‘s ann as motha a thèid do phàigheadh.

Tha atharrachadh a’ tighinn, agus ‘s e rud math a bhios ann.

Rud nach eil a’ tighinn a-steach air an gnothaich idir, ‘s e am blas agus na tha de gheir anns na fèithean, rud a tha cho cudromach nuair a thig e chun an rud a nochdas air an truinnsear agus mar a tha thu ga chocaireachd.

Ach tha iomairt a-nis a’ dol airson cùisean atharrachadh ach am bi na gnothaichean sin nam pàirt de chùisean nuair a thig e gu dè a’ phrìs a tha croitearan is tuathanaich a’ faighinn airson an cuid sprèidhe. Agus gabhar a dhèanamh gun duilgheadas, tha e cumanta ann am mòran dhùthchannan eile air feadh an t-saoghail.

Ach, carson a bu chòir do chàil dhen seo a bhith na dhragh dha duine ach tuathanaich, taighean-spadaidh is taighean-bidhe. Bu chòir ri linn ‘s gum faodar seo a bhith air leth cudromach ann an a bhith a' cruthachadh gnìomhachas-àiteachais a tha freagarrach san àm ri teachd.

Tha mòran a’ ceisneachadh dè am milleadh a tha beathaichean mairt a’ dèanamh air an àrainneachd, agus ged nach eil e idir cothromach a bhith a’ smaoineachadh g’ eil cùisean ann an Alba cho dona ri pàirtean eile dhen t-saoghal, chan eil e na iongnadh gu bheil draghan ann.

Tha tuathanaich mar-thà ag atharrachadh an t-seòrsa bheathaichean a tha iad a’ cumail, gu feadhainn nach eil feumach air uimhir a' bhidhe, nach eil a’ cur a-mach na h-uimhir methane agus a tha dìreach nas fheàrr dhan àrainneachd san fharsaingeachd.

‘S e an duilgheadas nuair a thig e chun a’ mhargaidh gur iad na beathaichean as motha agus as truime a gheibh a’ phrìs as motha ri linn siostam EUROP. Atharraich sin agus thig atharrachadh bunaiteach air an t-seòrsa chrodh a chì thu air feadh Alba.

A dh’aindeoin cuid ag iarraidh oirnn gun a bhith ag ithe feòil dhearg idir, tha iarrtas fhathast ann. Ged a dh'fhaodar a bhith dùil ri beagan de chrìonadh anns na thathas ag ithe, chan e droch rud a tha ann ma thig coimhead ri inbhe àrd seach tòrr de stuth àbhaisteach a-mhàin.

Ach, a thuilleadh air a bhith a’ biadhadh na dùthcha agus a’ cumail thuathanach air an fhearann, tha adhbhar eile carson a bu chòir dhuinn a bhith a’ coimhead ri roinn na feòla mairte a chuideachadh, gu h-àraid ma tha iad fhèin deònach na h-atharrachaidhean a tha a dhìth a dhèanamh.

Tha an fheadhainn aig a bheil fìor eòlais air pròiseactan na h-àrainneachd - chan e iadsan a bhios a’ cur a-mach anns na meadhanan - a’ tuigsinn cho cudromach ‘s a tha crodh do bheathaichean eile. Tha an salachar aca a’ tarraing an t-uabhas de bhiastagan agus tha sin an uairs in a’ tarraing eòin. Sin as coireach gu bheil an RSPB ag iarraidh crodh air na làraich ghlèidhteachais aca. Ma tha an RSPB ga thuigsinn…

Fhad ‘s a tha an gnìomhachas a’ dol an sàs ann an còmhraidhean mu bhith ag atharrachadh, tha mòran ann a dh’fhaodadh sinn fhèin a dhèanamh aig an aon àm - ’s e sin, a' dèanamh cinnteach g’ eil sinn faighinn ar feòil bho stoc a th’ air àrach san dòigh cheart. Sin ma tha sinn dha-rìribh airson an àrainneachd a chuideachadh.

English translation:

The machinations of the beef carcass grading system might not strike the great public as a headline grabber, but actually if the changes afoot for the classification come to light it could have all sorts of implications, and not in the way you would imagine, either.

Without getting too technical about matters, the current regime, which has been used for a long time, is standard across the European Union and known as the EUROP grid. In essence, it rewards bigger-framed heavier beasts.

What it takes no account of, however, is taste and the level of intramuscular fat that’s so important for succulence and cooking.

But now calls are mounting for that all-important element to be part of the assessment process at primary source. And it’s perfectly feasible, as it’s already common-place in many other parts of the world.

But why should any of this matter to anyone but cattle farmers, processors and restaurateurs? It’s because it may actually hold the key to a sustainable farming model across Scotland, thereby saving rural communities and our famed countryside.

Beef production is very much in the firing line when it comes to matters of environmental sustainability and, while it is completely unfair to compare practices in Scotland to other parts of the world, it is not without reason.

In recognition of that, farmers are already changing to breeds requiring less input, ones which do not emit as much methane and which are generally better for the environment. The problem right now is that they are only rewarded on shape and size, not succulence or ethics.

It is well known that smaller, native breeds of cattle produce the best tasting experience, but they do not fetch the price at market because of the EUROP system. Change that and you will see a fundamental shift in the kind of cattle being kept right across Scotland.

Despite some vocal commentators wanting the populace as a whole to stop eating red meat, there is still clearly a demand. While reduction in overall consumption can be expected, swapping quantity with quality will be no bad thing.

But other than helping to feed the nation and keeping farmers on the ground, there is another reason why we should support a domestic beef industry, particularly one that is open to a more ethical direction of travel.

Those who have direct experience of environmental projects on the ground - as opposed to media commentators - understand the value that cattle and their dung bring to the table in terms of wider environmental benefits. Their dung attracts a myriad of insects which in turn attracts birds and that's why RSPB reserves insist on the ground that they look after being grazed by cattle to help the birdlife. If the RSPB understands this….

While discussions continue internally within the industry, there is much we can do ourselves, too, and that is to insist on the meat that we eat comes from native bred cattle that have been grass fed. It’s the environmentally responsible thing to do, after all .

-Tha gnìomhachais na feðla-mairt ag atharrachadh - Murray MacLeòid