August 4, 2006

Hanwoo cattle slaughter up in South Korea

South Korean cattle slaughter rose 3 percent during the first half of 2006 to 306,507 head.

Slaughter of Hanwoo cattle during the first half of the year increased by 8 percent, to 202,470 head.

Female (500kg) Hanwoo cattle prices were 9 percent higher during the six-month period, while male cattle prices were up 14 percent.

Hanwoo cattle numbers grew 8 percent between March 2005 and 2006, to 2.33 million head.

Uncertainties over the resumption of US beef imports also led South Korean producers to sell off more Hanwoo cattle.

In June 2006, total South Korean cattle slaughter reached 46,116 head ¨C 4 percent below May 2006 levels but 11 percent above the same period last year.

Korean sheep slaughter doubled during the first half of 2006 over the same period in 2005, indicating some growth in the demand for sheepmeat in Korea.

Pig slaughter levels in June were down 8 percent on May 2006 and 6 percent on June last year, the lowest monthly pig slaughter since February 2000.

However, chicken slaughter was up 5 percent on May and 6 percent on June last year, due to rising demand.