High quality beef shipments under the European Union's Hilton High Quality Beef quota during 2010-11 were up 16 percent  to 41,905 tonnes, but still fell well short of the available qualta level of 65,250t.

The Hilton quota is allocated to seven supoplier countries, Out of Australia it is basically grassfed, and is separate from the High Quality Grainfed quota introduced by the EU last year.

The rise in overall Hilton quota shipment to the EU was mainly driven by higher shipments from Argentina when compared to 2009-10, despite the current low supplies and high prices.

Argentina filled 91pc of its 28,000t quota last financial year, up from just 65pc a year earlier. During the 2009-10 period the Argentinean government delayed the quota distribution among exporters for more than four months, with the consequent low performance in that year.

Brazil’s performance continues to be low, partly due to restrictions on the number of farms eligible to supply cattle to the EU, but also due to difficulties in sourcing cattle meeting the quota specifications for heifers and steers traced since weaning or 11 months age.

Brazil shipped just 5pc of its 10,000t Hilton quota in 2010-11, continuing a gradual decline in trade seen since 2007.

Australia utilised 91pc of its 7150t 2010-11 quota, while the US utilised just 5pc of its 11,500t entitlement. NZ filled its quota, totalling 1300t.