June 25, 2007

Russia's meat output rises

Russia has increased slaughter of cattle and poultry by more than four percent in the first five months of the year, according to Russian Ministry of Agriculture.

Russian agriculture minister Alexei Gordeyev also said dairy product production was up by one percent.

Gordeyev said around 1,700 cattle breeding units are being built at a cost of 128 billion Russian roubles (US$4.94 billion) to accommodate growing cattle herd.

The country will be spending an additional 49 billion roubles (US$1.89 billion) this year on the cattle units.

The rise in both meat and dairy production is the result of the national agriculture development project in Russia, he said, adding the programme is seen to increase this year's meat production by seven percent and 4.5 percent in dairy. However, the shortage of spring grain and drought conditions in the south of the country and too much rain in Siberia and Urals can limit the projection, he said.

He said the grain harvest this year is expected to be 76 million tonnes.