August 23, 2004

Russia Livestock Sector Posts More Declines In July

Further declines were registered in Russia's livestock sector last month on the back of increased prices for grain and feed, which greatly reduced the sector's profitability, the news agency Prime-Tass reported Friday, citing the Federal Service of State Statistics.
 
Meat output in July amounted to around 500,000 metric tons in live weight, down 0.3% on the year.
 
Meat output in January-July totaled 3.6 million tons, or just 0.5% up on the year. During the same period of 2003, Russia's meat output was up 6.5% on the year, while the 2003 meat production rose 4.7% on the year to 7.7 million tons.
 
As a result, earlier forecasts of a 6% annual rise in the sector this year have been put into serious doubt.
 
The number of pigs was down 11.3% on the year to 16.4 million as of Aug. 1, while a year earlier the number of pigs was steadily increasing.
 
Beef output also continues to decline, as the number of cattle continues falling. The number of cattle was down 6% on the year to 25.9 million head as of June 1.
 
Russia's milk output amounted in January-July to 20 million tons, a drop of 3.8% on the year, including 3.8 million tons in July, when a 3.5% annual decline was registered. In 2003, milk production was at 33.3 million tons, down 0.6% on the year.
 
Russian livestock numbers as of Aug. 1:
 
                (mln head)  Change on year (%)
   Cattle            25.9       -6.0
   Incl. Cows     11.0       -5.8
   Pigs              16.4      -11.3
   Sheep, goats 19.8       +5.2