December 8, 2005

EU 2005 beef production forecast to be lower

EU beef production in 2005 is forecast at 7.29 million tonnes, down 2 percent compared with that of 2004, according to MLC European Market Survey.

Lower beef production levels are expected across all major beef producing member states for 2005, except for the UK, where production is forecast to rise by 7 percent on-year.

Total EU beef production in 2006 is also expected to rise by less than 1 percent from 2005, mainly as a result of older beef re-entering the UK market. Britain had recently lifted the ban on cattle over thirty months of age entering the food chain, and replaced the rule with a strict testing regime.