September 18, 2008

Ukraine's production of certain meat types fell 50 percent from January to August 2008, according to the State Statistics Committee.

Frozen pork production plunged 45.7 percent while meat enterprises stored 20.1-percent less chilled beef.

The drop in meat production was attributed to the decline of cattle livestock. The number of cows raised by the private sector decreases the most, and some villagers have stopped breeding cattle as rising meat prime cost makes the business unprofitable.

However, sausage and chicken production increased, with chicken climbing by more than 32.6 percent from last year. Meat processing companies use imported raw materials to produce a consistent high volume of sausages.