Auction marts across Scotland are serving a range of lamb lunches in their canteens and cafés throughout November to mark St. Andrews day, Scotland's patron saint.

Livestock marts are hosting lamb lunches for farmers, families and school children as a way to associate it with the holiday and encourage better sales.

This forms part of a 16-year industry campaign involving the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland (IAAS) and Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).

The aim is to make Scotch Lamb the dish for the patron saint's day which lands on November 30.

Executive director of the IAAS, Neil Wilson, said that having lamb on St. Andrews day will promote the Scottish sheep product.

He said: "The aim of the campaign is for sheep farmers, marts, retailers and restauranteurs all to benefit from greater sales of lamb by making S.t Andrew’s Day as closely tied to Scotch Lamb as Burns Night is to haggis.

Wilson highlighted that marts are at the heart of these communities: "This year’s lamb lunches are the perfect excuse to bring the local community together.

"The aim is to celebrate all that our producers and marts do to contribute to food production in Scotland and to put lamb on plates across the world,” he added.

Local communities

Since 2010, communities have chosen to celebrate St Andrew’s Day with lamb, restaurants across Scotland highlight it on their menus every November 30.

Lamb is also promoted in schools through home economics classes where tens of thousands of students have been taught the benefits of it.

Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) visits and QMS’ activity with schools have educated young people on the story of lamb production and the nutritional benefits.

At Stirling Agricultural Centre, United Auctions is welcoming local school children for a day with RHET to give pupils a first-hand experience of how sheep are marketed through the live ring.

There will also be a cookery demonstration so they can try different lamb dishes

Lamb lunches

Oban Mart will be hosting a sit-down lamb lunch for 40 with NFU Scotland and RHET.

This has become a regular and popular event in the autumn calendar in Argyll, bringing farmers and the wider community together.

Lanark Mart, run by Lawrie & Symington, is hosting a community lunch for its customers.

Craig Wilson Ltd., will be serving its popular roast lamb rolls at its Ayr mart during its prime sheep sale on November 30. 

MSPs will also be able to benefit from lamb lunches on November 25, The Institute and QMS will be at Scottish Parliament to highlight the importance and value of the lamb sector to Scotland’s economy.