April 10, 2012

Egypt's Agriculture Minister, Mohamed Reda Ismail, has begun negotiations with the Sudanese government about importing live Sudanese cattle to increase the country's meat supplies and help decrease prices.

The government is planning to import more than 5,000 calves monthly to be sold on local markets at a maximum price of EGP25 (US$4.14) per kilogramme, after ensuring the meat satisfies international health standards set by the World Organisation of Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the Agriculture Ministry said.

An agricultural delegation led by the minister will begin a visit to Sudan on Wednesday to meet a number of Sudanese breeders to negotiate an appropriate purchasing price so that the meat can be sold on the market at a favourable price, a ministry source revealed.

The ministry said imported calves must be no more than 3 years old and weigh no less than 350 kilogrammes to have the same quality as the meat imported from Europe.