Can Argentina persuade its consumers to pick pork over beef?

 

 

In view of an impending 30% beef shortage in Argentina, the government will promote pork consumption in 2010 to divert pressure away from the beef industry.

 

Pork must be a part of Argentina's diet like it is in other countries, said Agriculture and Livestock Secretary Lorenzo Basso. The government is also working on a project to promote the consumption of pork and other foods, while attempting to improve the efficiency of cattle breeding.

 

Argentina's cattle breeders are reducing production because of government export restrictions and price regulations. There will be four million fewer head of cattle in 2010, or 30% fewer cattle slaughtered, said Arturo Llavallol, secretary of the Argentina Rural Society.

 

The project the government is working on also aims to help farmers breed their cattle before selling them until each cow weighs about 240 or 250 kg, rather than the 160 or so at which they are currently sold. The government plans to provide more project details before the end of the year, Basso said.

 

Argentines eat, on average, about 74 kg of beef annually per person.

 

The government also aims to help farmers increase productivity rates next year.

 

Basso said they would not be able to stop next year's shortage as results of the project will only have an impact by 2011, when Argentina would be able to increase herd size by four million head of cattle.

 

US agricultural officials in Buenos Aires saw this coming some time back, noting that Argentina will balance its meat demand by turning to other meats with pork most likely to be the favoured alternative meat.

 

Argentina imports most of its pork, and per capita consumption is about seven kg mainly in the form of cold cuts. Still, the officials believe there is potentially significant room for pork consumption.