May 25, 2006

Russia's meat production up for the fourth month
 

Russia's meat production increased 2.6 percent on-year to around 2.2 million tonnes in the first quarter, the Federal State Statistics Service said Tuesday (May 24).

This is the fourth consecutive month Russia has posted an increase in production, following declines in the previous two years.

In 2005, Russia's meat production declined 2.7 percent to around 7.6 million tonnes due to a declining number of cattle and pigs.

Pig numbers went on the upswing in February and production had registered an increase of 3 percent on-year by May 1.

Some of Russia's poultry farms have been hit by outbreaks of bird flu, but no large farm has been affected as yet.