January 31, 2007

 

Russia's meat output to rise 7.5 percent in 2007

 

 

Russia is increasing red and poultry meat output by 7.5 percent on-year in 2007 to 8.5 million tonnes Deputy Agriculture Minister Sergei Mitin said on Tuesday (Jan 30).

 

The increase is to be achieved mainly through an increase in poultry and pork production, while beef production is likely to fall, despite efforts to stop the decline, he said.

 

Overall meat production rose to 7.9 million tonnes last year from 7.6 million tonnes in 2005, thanks to steps taken by the government to increase domestic meat production.

 

Russia's government has allocated 14.6 billion roubles (US$550.3 million) from the 2006-2007 state budget to reverse falling cattle numbers and reduce imports of milk products.

 

Russia also plans to acquire 100,000 head of pedigree cattle for lease to farmers.

 

Last year, the government managed to purchase more than half the planned numbers of pedigree cattle, most of them from domestic breeders, Mitin said. However, total cattle numbers and beef production continued to decline, Mitin said.

 

The decline would likely continue this year. Beef output is expected to fall to 2.9 million tonnes this year from 3.0 million in 2006 and 3.48 million in 2005.

 

Pork output is expected to rise further to 2.6 million tonnes this year from 2.2 million last year and 2.0 million in 2005.

 

Poultry output will rise to 2.6 million tonnes, from 2.3 million in 2006 and 2.0 million in 2005.

 

Domestic poultry meat consumption was rising while red meat consumption was falling, in line with international trends.