October 20, 2004

50% of Domestic Beef in Korea Not of Native Breed

Around half the domestic beef supplied in the country during the first three quarters of this year were not "hanwoo," Korea's native cattle species.

Of 426,580 butchered in the cited period, 55.4 percent, or 236,381 heads, were hanwoo, the Animal Products Grading Service (APGS) said Wednesday.

Although all the animals butchered were domestically raised, 186,317 were milking cows. Male milking cattle accounted for 2,339 heads.

Around 1,543 heads were imported cows or hybridized offspring with foreign cattle, of which 1,400 heads were imported and raised here.

The percent of hanwoo among total butchered cows has decreased from 81.9 percent in 2000 to 75.3 percent in 2001, 70.8 percent in 2002 and 61.9 percent in 2003.

Consumers have been advised that some suppliers of beef products conceal the country origin or species of beef products in order to make better profits. Hanwoo is relatively pricier than other beef products.