January 8, 2009

USDA has forecast a global rise in beef production for 2009 despite the decline in Australia and Argentina caused by the switch from beef to arable farming.

USDA predicted that total beef consumption will rise by 554,000 tonnes to 60.5 million tonnes as more emerging economies switch to meat due to improving finances.

Forecasts showed the increased output levels of Brazil, Mexico and the US, will be more than sufficient to cover the shortfall of Australia and Argentina.

The US will increase production by 12 percent because of the increased weights in slaughtered carcasses while China will increase beef production by 7 percent and India by 3 percent.

Demand for beef in Russia will increase 3 percent while consumption in the EU is seen to drop by 1 percent.

The report suggests that overall beef production will increase globally by 1 percent in the full year.

The global economic crisis may have a short term affect on consumption of high priced cuts but the production numbers will remain the same.