April 4, 2006

Korean Hanwoo slaughter rises 21 percent in 2005
 

It seems South Koreans are increasing their consumption of local beef at a time when the once-banned American beef imports are set to enter the market again.

Korean cattle slaughter reached 612,329 head for 2005 - a rise of 6 percent on 2004 and 13 percent on 2003.

There was a large increase in the slaughter of Hanwoo cattle, the native breed. Slaughter was up by 21 percent over 2004, to 391,289 head.

Despite the increased yearly slaughter, the number of Hanwoo cattle in Korea in 2005 was 11 percent higher than in 2004.

Korean beef commands a premium over imported beef in Korean markets. Authorities are also eager to protect the local beef industry, cracking down on imported beef with fake labels and drafting laws that would require major restaurants and suppliers declare the source of the beef to consumers.

In 2000, beef cattle farmers in Korea began reducing herd size, in anticipation of increased foreign competition after the opening of the beef market in Korea in 2001. To maintain the size of the national herd and increase stability in the market, the Korean government implemented the Hanwoo Integrated Measures Programme to improve the quality of Hanwoo cattle and stabilise the production of calves and cattle. These measures have been successful so far in reducing the slaughter rate and increasing the cow-calf ratio.