Czech Republic's meat output declines in 2009
Domestic meat production in Prague decreased by 7.2% year-on-year to 556,066 tonnes in slaughter weight last year, with pork production falling most, the Czech Statistical Office (CSU) announced.
Milk purchases dropped 3.2% to 2.292 billion litres, while pork production reached 284,572 tonnes last year, 10.2% lower than in 2008. Beef production was down 3.7% to 76,478 tonnes. Poultry meat production was also 3.7% lower - at 194,252 tonnes.
According to Tomas Doucha from the Institute of Agricultural Economics and Information, the drop in meat production corresponds to the development of prices.
"The 2010 development will again depend on the development of prices. Cattle production, mainly milk, will also depend on additional incentives from the EU and from the Agriculture Ministry," Doucha said.
Meat processing companies blames on the fall in domestic pork production to its imports.
Czech Meat Processors Association president Jaromir Kloud noted that pork from Western Europe now targets the markets of new EU members instead of Russia, Japan or Korea, adding that domestic producers are unable to compete with this.
Average monthly prices were deep below the level of the same period of the preceding year during the whole year. Milk of the highest quality was collected for an average price of CZK6.20 per litre.
An analysis of the Institute of Agricultural Economics and Information states that production cost of a litre of milk is around CZK8. As a result of production being in the red, a number of breeders reduced or cancelled their livestock altogether throughout the year.
Average prices of chickens for slaughter were almost a tenth lower year-on-year. Producer prices for pigs for slaughter fell by just 0.8%, while average prices of bulls for slaughter grew by 2.1%. Prices of calves, heifers and cows decreased.
There was a deficit in Czech trade in beef, pork and poultry meat last year, the same as in trade in live pigs. Trade in live cattle and live poultry showed a surplus. Beef and poultry meat was imported mainly from Poland and pork from Denmark.
