January 9, 2012

China to step up beef, mutton production

China seeks to raise more cattle and sheep as part of efforts to increase the supply of beef, mutton and milk without further straining the tightening supply of corn and soymeal, the Ministry of Agriculture said Thursday (Jan 5).

This is because hogs and poultry require much more corn and soymeal than cattle and sheep.

The Chinese government plans to produce seven million tonnes of beef by 2015 with an annual growth rate of 1.4%, and 50 million tonnes of milk with an annual growth rate of 5.9%. Mutton output is expected to reach 4.4 million tonnes on a 2% yearly rise.

The 2020 target for beef and dairy output is 7.4 million tonnes and 64 million tonnes respectively, while mutton production is set to hit 4.4 million tonnes, it said.

China is the world's largest producer of pork, which currently accounts for about 65% of its total meat consumption, but hog production is constrained by an increasingly tight supply of corn.