Data Tables
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Articles
| Id | Title | Subtitle | Content | Active | Archived | Category | User | Created | Modified | Actiuni |
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| Id | Title | Subtitle | Content | Active | Archived | Category | User | Created | Modified | Actiuni |
| 4070 | China's beef imports have increased by 41.5% | Beef imports in March have reached a peak of 216,000 tonnes due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on pork imports. | <p>Up to July, China imported a total volume of 1.2 million tonnes of beef, worth $6.16 billion. Most of the beef imported came from Brazil and Argentina, both South American countries increasing constantly their presence in the Chinese beef market. Beef imports of China in the first 7 months of the year are up 41.5% from the same period last year and March was a record month for beef imports (216,000 tonnes) supported by insufficient port transportation due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, which contributed to the delay of customs clearance for a large volume of cargo, says B2B platform "Beef to China".</p> <p>Mainland China's beef imports in July totalled 210,000 tonnes, increased about 30,000 tonnes compared to June's 176,000, up 35% year-on-year, and the corresponding imports valued $957 million, up 29.5% year-on-year.<br />Meanwhile, beef offal imports of Mainland China summed up to 20,000 tonnes, with a value of 59.57 million USD in the first 7 months of 2020.</p> | 1 | Market | 2020-09-02 10:35:26 | 2025-08-11 07:09:47 | Details Edit Delete | ||
| 600 | Ireland fears a 4.4 billion euro damage over the Brexit | Beef industry will take a hit in case of a hard border established between Ireland and the UK | <p> </p> <p>Negotiations over a trade deal between EU and UK is a big worry to Ireland meat producers as a hard Brexit will put in danger exports of food and drinks to Great Britain, valued at 4.4 billion euros, reports <a href="https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/899958/brexit-latest-ireland-meat-food-agriculture-deal-border-brazil">Express</a> magazine.</p> <p>“It the final outcome does not deliver regulatory alignment, then we are likely to face additional unnecessary costs and potential barriers to trade.”, declared John Horgan, managing director of Kepak, an Irish beef producer.</p> <p>Other concerns include delays when exporting produce, disruption of shipments to EU or facing a strong competition against South America’s exporters and other regions. Brazil, USA and Australia have different food safety standards to the EU.</p> <p>Still, since the mid-‘90s BSE crisis, UK has pushed for food standards that were sometimes even higher than EU legislation demanded which may represent a barrier for some exporters outside the region.</p> <p>(<em>Photo source: Pixabay</em>)</p> | 1 | Industry | 2018-01-14 12:31:30 | 2025-08-09 03:06:26 | Details Edit Delete | ||
| 5104 | Meat prices are spiking in the US market | Beef is 20% higher than November last year, the highest jump seen in decades. | <p>"Meatflation" is a phenomenon that many US consumers may not have witnessed in the last 30 years but is clearly reshaping the market. Animal protein prices have jumped rapidly in the last 12 months and consumption is expected to drop, at least for the following months. "All meat prices are up, but beef prices are up disproportionately higher than the rest of the protein prices," Arun Sundaram, an analyst at Wall Street research firm CFRA, told CNBC.<br />The price of beef and veal increased 20.1% between October 2020 and October 2021, recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows. Also, pork prices are up 14%, while chicken meat is 8.8% higher than last year. A similar trend is seen in fresh fish and seafood (+11%) and eggs (+11.6%).<br />Many of the factors that led to beef’s dramatic price increase can be traced back to 2020 when Covid shut down production plants and hobbled the nation’s meat production capabilities. The slowdown left farmers with nowhere to send their beef, which resulted in them having to cull cattle and other livestock. That, coupled with uncertainty about the future, caused farmers to scale back their production at the time.<br />At the same time, the current administration blames the four major conglomerates that control 82% of the nation’s beef production — compared to 25% in 1977 — saying that the lack of competition has resulted in not only sky-high prices but also record profits for them.<br />"These record profits and dividend payments come at a time when consumers are paying more to put food on the table, workers are risking their health and safety to keep America fed, and farmers and ranchers are also facing unprecedented droughts, wildfires and other extreme weather events that put their herds and farms at risk," a recent White House brief says.<br />Since early 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic, beef, pork and chicken prices are up roughly 26%, 19% and 15%, respectively, according to EconoFact magazine. However, many producers are facing increased costs with labor, grain, transportation, warehousing, packaging and ingredients. "It might be easier for me to tell you what component hasn't seen inflation this past year," said Donnie King, Tyson Foods CEO.</p> | 1 | Market | 2021-11-23 11:40:13 | 2025-08-11 11:17:29 | Details Edit Delete | ||
| 8540 | The UK prime cattle slaughter forecast for 2025 has been revised upwards to 2.03 million head | Beef markets have certainly experienced a dynamic start to 2025, according to AHDB. A combination of constrained supply and sustained consumer demand have driven cattle prices to historic highs, with values well above previous years. More widely, global beef markets have generally held firm, supported by a combination of tight supply in the northern hemisphere (namely the US) and subsequent strong exports from large suppliers below the equator. | <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Northern Ireland cattle data revisions</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Please note that DAERA (Northern Irish Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) revised the Northern Irish cattle population figures for 1 December 2023 upwards following an error. This meant the addition of an extra 83K cattle (including cows) at that point in time. This adjusts the forecasts and changes year-on-year comparisons. Annual comparisons must therefore be made with caution. The below forecasts have been updated with the revised figures.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Breeding herd</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">According to Defra figures (factoring in Northern Irish revisions), the UK cow population stood at just under 3.14 million head at 1 December 2024, 48K head (-1.5%) smaller than the year before. While the overall herd was smaller, differing trends were noted between the suckler and dairy herd.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The national suckler herd contracted by 66K head (-5%) on the year. Meanwhile, the dairy herd showed slight expansion, up 17K head (1%) and ahead of forecast. More granular data has shown expansion in the Northern Irish dairy herd, which has added to a stable herd in Great Britain.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Forward cattle supply</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The same census figures showed an annual reduction in the number of cattle aged 0–1 and 1– 2 years old, while there was an increase in the number of non-breeding cattle aged 2 years and over. However, there were more cattle alive aged 1 year+ on 1 December than we had previously forecast.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Cattle slaughter and beef production forecasts</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">UK production data for the first quarter of the year showed a higher rate of prime cattle slaughter than forecast, with throughput for the quarter totalling 508,000 head. However, numbers were 3% lower compared to the same period a year ago. Cow slaughter for the quarter was in line with forecasts at 150,000 head, 4% lower year-on-year.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Looking forward, factoring together cattle inventory data with year-to-date slaughter had led to a revised 2025 prime cattle forecast of 2.03 million head, down 4% versus 2024. Cow slaughter has been revised marginally downwards to 607,000 head (-2.5% year-on-year).</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Average prime cattle carcase weights have been largely in line with expectations. Combining this with slaughter rates has led to a revised 2025 beef production forecast of 897,000 tonnes (-4% versus 2024). </p> | 1 | Market | adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro | 2025-06-03 00:15:50 | 2025-08-11 09:10:33 | Details Edit Delete | |
| 4264 | Argentinian beef producers invest USD187 million to boost exports | Beef meat export sector announced investments for USD187 million, to boost foreign trade and reach 1.25 million tons in the next three years. | <p>This was announced by Mario Ravettino, president of the ABC Meat Exporters Consortium, during a ceremony held at the Frigorífico Rioplatense, in the municipality of Tigre.</p> <p>Ravettino said the investment represents for the export meat industry the development of a virtuous circle with an investment process that started in 2020 and ends in 2021.</p> <p>For the entrepreneurs, the investment includes the different stages that the exporting cold stores need to maximize and increase their production and to continue to become one of the main meat supplying countries in the world. </p> <p>He also pointed out that 11 of the 32 companies that make up the Consortium of Meat Exporters will make the contribution, "which will surely be reflected in the other companies of the consortium".</p> <p>On the other hand, he detailed data and numbers of the meat export sector. "We are going to end a year with a greater volume of exports but with a lower income of foreign currency. We are going to go from 840,000 tons of exports of the previous year to 900,000 tons this year. And we are going to enter 2.9 billion dollars of foreign currency of the 3400 million that we entered last year", he said. "We are going to take exports from 900,000 to 1,250,000 tons. And from a foreign exchange income of US $ 2,900 million to US $ 5,250 million. It is our challenge", he said about the investment.</p> <p>As it transcended, the Rioplatense Frigorifico will allocate 30 million dollars, in different stages until July 2022, for expansion works with the aim of fivefold the production capacity of frozen beef per day and almost double the amount of exports. The company allocates about 75% of its production to international markets such as China, which is the main importer with a 30% share of world trade.</p> <p>Other companies that are members of the Consortium will contribute the rest of the amount of announced investments, among which the Arree Beef refrigerators stand out, for 41 million dollars; Swift, $ 27 million; Frigorífico Gorina, $ 25 million; Marfrig, $ 25 million; Azul Natural Beef, $ 20 million; Friar, $ 10 million; Importadora Exportadora de La Pampa, 8 million dollars; and Logros, $ 1 million.</p> | 1 | Market | adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro | 2020-11-19 06:38:41 | 2025-08-11 07:29:06 | Details Edit Delete | |
| 455 | IFA: Strong demand fuels rise in beef prices | Beef prices continue to rise "with factories actively looking for finished cattle this week", the Irish Farmers'Association's (IFA) president Joe Healy said. | <p> </p> <p>According to Mr. Healy, last week slaughterhouses reported 39,800 slaughtered cattle and to date this year an additional 81,000 head of cattle have been processed.</p> <p>The demand this week is growing, factories being willing to pay above the quoted prices to obtain the number they need. Mr. Healy said that the minimum base price offered by the factories is €3.90/kg on steers and €4.00/kg on heifers, with top prices of €4.05/kg paid.</p> <p>In the context of a strong demand for fit cattle, Mr. Healy says finishers should maximise the opportunity to drive on prices.</p> <p>The IFA President said beef market prices are rising with UK prices up 2p/kg in the last week to the equivalent of €4.45/kg.</p> <p>Regarding cattle prices in the main EU markets, Mr. Healy added that in Italy, France and Germany the prices rose by 40c/kg compared to the similar period from 2016. The increase in prices at the EU level, according to Mr. Healy, is a major opportunity for Irish prices to rise further.</p> <p>Joe Healy added that factories are very anxious for stock and are finding it extremely difficult to get numbers at the current low quoted prices. He said the kill to date this year is up 81,000 head, carcase weights are down an average of 6kg, accounting for another 35,000 cattle and an additional 40,000 weanlings have been shipped to Turkey in the last year. He said all of this points to finished cattle numbers being a lot tighter than previously anticipated.</p> | 1 | Market | 2017-11-28 10:45:06 | 2025-08-11 08:42:51 | Details Edit Delete | ||
| 4911 | Irish beef sector benefits from tight supply in export markets | Beef prices in the main export markets -UK and EU- have been strengthening in the last month. | <p>Irish beef is well-positioned to have a perfect second half of the year. Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) Livestock Chairman Brendan Golden said tight supplies and strong farmer resistance have maintained beef prices this week, with some factories forced into increasing quotes to secure numbers. He said factories are paying €4.20/kg base price to get steers this week, with up to €4.25/kg available for heifers despite some lower quotes.<br />The IFA Livestock Chairman said the supply-demand balance is very much in farmers' favour. With grass supplies good, cattle should only be moved as they become fit.<br />He said prices in our key export markets – the UK and the EU – are strengthening. UK supplies are predicted to be back by 5% for the remainder of the year, which creates a positive market environment.<br />Supplies of finished cattle are estimated to be back 40,000 head for the remainder of the year compared to 2020. Factories know this and in a positive export market where reduced volumes of South American beef are available, this places Irish beef in a strong position.</p> | 1 | Industry | 2021-08-27 10:46:30 | 2025-08-10 02:53:35 | Details Edit Delete | ||
| 690 | EU-Mercosur trade agreement may not have any real opposition | Beef producers from Ireland can't stand alone against the deal as the French industry is taking a step back. | <p>The EU- Mercosur trade deal could enter in the final stage in the next 2 days, as the discussions between the European Commission representatives and those of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay are scheduled to take place on January 31.</p> <p>Despite the fact that some associations and officials from Member State governments have expressed their concerns about the disadvantages brought by an increased quota of agri-food products from the Mercosur region, the political games will have the final word, as mentioned <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/ireland-has-a-beef-with-eu-mercosur-trade-agreement-1.3371362">Irish Times</a>.</p> <p>Sources from the European Commission suggested that Phil Hogan, the commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, is hesitating about signing an agreement under this form while Cecilia Malmstrom is willing to go further with it. Beef is one of the critical issues in this deal as the annual quota for imported beef is expected to go from 70.000 tonnes to 100.000. In fact, Mercosur representatives are asking for a 200.000 tonnes quota and there are voices that suggest that commissioner Malmstrom is willing to go beyond the ceiling of 100.000 tonnes.</p> <p>Malmstrom has described the potential deal as having three times the value of the EU’s recent agreement with Japan. Mercosur looks like a closed market, with high tariffs and non-tariff barriers. Tariffs of 35% apply to cars, 20-35% to key machinery products and 18% to soaps and beauty products. In 2016, the EU exported goods there worth 42 billion euros and, in 2015, services worth 22 billion euros.</p> <p>Ireland seems to be "the last man standing" against this deal, as France looks more interested in opening a new market for the automotive industry even at the risk of endangering some of its beef producers. Officials of Copa and Cocega association are also requested caution in signing a trade deal that will disrupt some businesses in the agro-food industry in Europe. "A Joint Research Centre (JRC) report shows a potential trade deal could cost the EU agricultural sector over 7 billion euros", claims Pekka Pesonen, secretary-general of Copa and Cocega.</p> | 1 | Market | 2018-01-29 12:01:59 | 2025-08-09 08:50:28 | Details Edit Delete | ||
| 7862 | Australia: Record farmgate returns revealed | Beef producers who consigned Meat Standards Australia (MSA) eligible cattle have experienced record estimated additional farmgate returns, while the MSA sheep cuts-based model continues to move closer to commercialisation. | <p style="font-weight: 400;">The MSA program, established by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) in 1998, has topped the previous record for estimated additional farm gate returns, up to $326 million from the previous record of $259 million.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">David Packer, MSA Program Manager, said the results are a direct result of:</p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>increased producer involvement and improvement</li> <li>processors and brand owners extracting more value from the program to share along the supply chain</li> <li>continued investment in research and development.</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"In the past year, more than 3.88 million cattle were presented for MSA grading through 42 Australian MSA-licensed beef processors - the most cattle ever consigned. </p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"This equates to over 50% of all cattle slaughtered in Australia, with 3.64 million cattle meeting the minimum MSA requirements", Dr Packer said.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MSA beef highlights</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Below are some of the highlights for 2023–24:</p> <ul style="font-weight: 400;"> <li>An increase of 2,603 producers to total 13,923 beef producers who consigned cattle for MSA grading.</li> <li>Queensland processed the greatest number of MSA-graded cattle at 1.8 million head (45% of total MSA-graded cattle).</li> <li>NSW and Victoria both saw processing increases of over 100,000 head.</li> <li>Three new beef processor sites were licenced, bringing the total of MSA-licensed processing facilities to 42.</li> <li>Grainfed cattle represented 53% of MSA-graded cattle in 2023–24, with non-grainfed cattle increasing by six percentage points from 2022–23 to represent the other 47%.</li> </ul> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MSA sheepmeat cuts-based model moves closer to commercialisation</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Over 2.37 million lambs followed MSA pathways through 14 MSA-licensed processing facilities across NSW, SA, Victoria and WA.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The MSA sheepmeat cuts-based model has continued to move closer to commercialisation. Through various supply chain activities, there has been a better understanding of eating quality variation in commercial supply chains and brand examination opportunities.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"A number of processors have now been able to trial higher eating quality lamb, in both domestic and international markets", Dr Packer said.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Their aim is to understand consumer sentiment and willingness to pay for eating quality consistency, providing opportunity for branding of Australian sheepmeat underpinned by eating quality and grading".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>The role of myFeedback</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">MLA launched myFeedback, an online platform designed to assist producers in making data-driven decisions on-farm, in 2023. The platform is centred around improving carcase value attributes of eating quality, lean meat yield and health of livestock, in line with market requirements.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Through collating all the data, producers can more accurately benchmark their performance.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"myFeedback is being seen as a valuable source for producers and those in the industry to access MSA grading and carcase data in one place.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"This is an expansion to now include animal disease and defect information from participating processors, allowing producers to assess all outcomes that drive performance and carcase value, and identify opportunities for the future", Dr Packer said.</p> | 1 | Market | adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro | 2024-10-24 00:05:06 | 2025-08-10 23:09:35 | Details Edit Delete | |
| 7854 | Meat Standards Australia (MSA) delivers record $326 million in farmgate returns in 2023-2024 | Beef producers who consigned MSA eligible cattle have experienced a record in estimated additional farmgate returns according to the latest MSA Outcomes Report for 2023-24. | <p style="font-weight: 400;">While the MSA sheepmeat cuts-based model continues to move closer to commercialisation with further supply chain activities undertaken in 2023–24.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Established by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) in 1998, the MSA program delivered a record $326 million in estimated additional farm gate returns to MSA producers, up from the previous record of $259 million in 2022–23.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">According to MSA Program Manager, David Packer, this is a direct result of increased producer involvement and improvement, processors and brand owners extracting more value from the program to share along the supply chain and dedicated investment into research and development which centres around the goal to make all cattle and sheep eligible for MSA.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"In the past year, more than 3.88 million cattle were presented for MSA grading through 42 Australian MSA-licensed beef processors, the most cattle ever consigned. . This equates to over 50% of all cattle slaughtered in Australia, with 3.64 million cattle meeting the minimum MSA requirements", Dr Packer said.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The dedicated beef producers consigning to MSA have shown their ability to keep improving the quality of their beef. In 2023–24, the average MSA Index that represents the eating quality of a compliant carcase was 58.36, another record set this year, demonstrating the tremendous gains the industry continues to make to produce more beef that meets consumer needs.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"The MSA program continues to play an important role in contributing toward the red meat industry’s 2030 goal of doubling the value of Australian red meat sales and ensuring continued trust in Australian red meat".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Key to the success and expansion of the MSA program are MLA’s adoption activities that support producers, processors, brand owners and other supply chain stakeholders to adopt eating quality principles to generate value.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">MLA launched the new myFeedback online platform in 2023–24 to assist producers in making data-driven decisions on farm, centred around improving carcase value attributes of eating quality, lean meat yield and health of livestock, in line with market requirements.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">By collating animal disease and defect data, alongside carcase and eating quality information, producers can more accurately benchmark their performance.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"myFeedback is being seen as a valuable source for industry to access MSA grading and carcase data in one place. This is an expansion to now include animal disease and defect information from participating processors, allows producers to assess all outcomes that drive performance and carcase value, and identify opportunities for the future". Dr Packer said.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MSA beef</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">A total of 13,923 beef producers consigned cattle for MSA grading, an increase of 2603 on the total number of beef producers who consigned cattle in 2022–23.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">By volume, Queensland processed the greatest number of MSA-graded cattle with 1.8 million head, making up 45% of the total MSA-graded cattle. While New South Wales and Victoria both had increases over 100,000 head. Supporting continual growth of the MSA program was the licensing of three new beef processor sites to bring the total to 42 MSA licenced processing facilities.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Grainfed cattle represented 53% of MSA-graded cattle in 2023–24. The proportion of non-grainfed cattle grew again in 2023–24, representing 47% of MSA-graded cattle – an increase of six percentage points from 2022–23. The increased non-grainfed trend has continued from last year as the herd rebuild continued and seasonal conditions supported by on-farm finishing.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>MSA sheepmeat</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">In 2023–24, more than 2.37 million lambs followed MSA pathways through 14 MSA-licensed processing facilities across New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"The MSA sheepmeat cuts-based model continues to move closer to commercialisation with further supply chain activities undertaken in 2023–24 to understand eating quality variation in commercial supply chains and examine brand opportunities", Dr Packer said.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"A number of processors have now been able to trial higher eating quality lamb in both domestic and international markets.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Their aim is to understand consumer sentiment and willingness to pay for eating quality consistency, providing opportunity for branding of Australian sheepmeat underpinned by eating quality grading.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Several sheep carcase competitions have now included eating quality through the MSA sheepmeat cuts-based model, including the 2024 LambEx carcase competition. This allows for participants and observers to understand current eating quality performance in balance with other value drivers such as feedlot performance or carcase weight, providing insights into opportunities for improvements", Dr Packer said.</p> | 1 | Market | adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro | 2024-10-22 00:05:40 | 2025-08-11 07:16:51 | Details Edit Delete | |
| 3231 | Sustainability in beef supply chains to increase | Beef production globally is coming under increasing scrutiny over its impact on animals and the environment. | <p>Scrutiny over beef supply chains in terms of sustainability has increased in the past 12 months, according to the latest Rabobank report. Senior animal protein analyst Angus Gidley-Baird believes that the pace of changes in this sector will increase in the near future.<br />The market will continue to be the main driver of change in most parts of the world, supported by the actions of governments, NGOs, pressure groups, as well as investors and the rise of alternative proteins.<br />"At the same time, beef production globally is coming under increasing scrutiny over its impact on animals and the environment. The past 12 months have seen a marked increase in beef supply chain responses to such scrutiny, and we expect even more in the coming 12 months," explained the analyst.<br />Major changes have been made by the beef industries of New Zealand and Australia and, most probably, they will continue to improve in that way as the supply is getting tighter due to increased demand from the Asian markets. Meantime, a decline in beef prices in the US market, combined with a solid supply will be responsible for a slow pace of changes expected in this market.<br />Brazil is also increasing its beef production thanks to higher volumes exported to China and the Middle East but the Amazonian wildfires incident can put on hold or even call off the EU-Mercosur deal. So far, France, Ireland and Finland have expressed their will for a call off on this deal.</p> | 1 | Industry | 2019-09-04 10:02:53 | 2025-08-11 03:51:18 | Details Edit Delete | ||
| 7045 | AHDB: Lower production for beef and lamb in 2023 | Beef production in 2023 totalled 901,000t, a fall of nearly 23,000 t (-2.5%) from 2022, informs AHDB. December 2023 totalled 67,200t, a fall of nearly 11,800t from the same month in 2022. This was the lowest volume of production in December in over five years, with a 15% decline year on year, and 21% month on month. Carcase weights fell for 2023, down to an average of 342kg, the lowest weight since 2018. | <p><span lang="DE">Prime slaughter fell 1.3% for 2023 to total 2.04m head, as throughputs for December fell by 14% year on year to 150,800 head. This is the lowest December prime kill for over 5 years, as reports of wet weather have impacted ability to finish cattle and caused wider disruption. Cow kill also dropped for 2023, down by 16,000 head to total 612,000 head. Cow kill remained tight in the second half of the year, with December kill standing at 49,500 head, a fall of 17% from 2022.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Sheep meat production in the UK totalled 286,000 tonnes for 2023, a fall of 5,300t (-1.8%) from 2022. Average clean sheep carcase weights for 2023 fell by 0.4kg from 2022, to 19.8kg. Carcase weights in the final quarter of the year were down on 2022, as weather and higher feed costs impacted on finishing.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Clean sheep slaughter grew by 20,000 head (+0.2%) to reach 12.28m head for 2023, despite a lower kill in December at 1.14m head. This is the lowest December kill since 2019, with reports of wet weather making it harder to finish. Adult sheep kill fell by 2.5% to 1.65m head for 2023, as census data shows contraction in the total sheep flock for June 2023. Throughputs for December 2023 stayed pretty level from November at 129,500 head, marking the first period without growth between these months since before 2018.</span></p> | 1 | Market | adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro | 2024-01-25 00:15:39 | 2025-08-11 03:08:49 | Details Edit Delete | |
| 6756 | AHDB: Lower demand of EU beef weighs on prices | Beef production in the EU has remained below 2022 levels during the first half of the year, informs the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). Despite tighter supplies, cattle prices have generally eased, reflecting subdued summer beef demand. | <p><span lang="DE">Production of beef in the EU during the first half of 2023 was 4.5% lower than the same period a year ago, with cattle kill constrained amongst key producing nations.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Looking at member states, the largest production fall was seen in Italy (-23%), followed by key producers France, Spain, Ireland and Poland. The only main producers to see growth were Germany and the Netherlands. However, for Germany, this growth sits against the general longer-term trend of declining output.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Overall, total adult cattle slaughter in the bloc (steers, bulls, heifers and cows) stood at 8.1 million head, down 3.6% versus the same period a year ago. Within this, total cow kill stood at just under 3 million head, down 3.7% year-on-year.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Several countries have seen notable declines in cow slaughter, namely France, Poland and Spain. French cow production is currently running at its lowest level in at least the last five years and likely contributing to the continued strength of French prices on the EU market. Polish kill is also historically low. Conversely, Spanish cow slaughter has grown in recent years and while lower than last year’s record levels, remains historically high so far in 2023. German cow slaughter has stayed relatively stable year-on-year, following several years of declines.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Meanwhile, Dutch cow kill has grown quite strongly from last year (+13%) and is running at similar levels to 2021.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">From a market balance perspective, taking into account decreases in production and trade shows that supplies available for consumption are lower across the bloc. Price inflation is impacting beef consumption across the EU as it is in the UK, with consumption and retail data from key EU nations pointing to falling demand.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">FranceAgriMer report that French home consumption of beef through the first half of 2023 fell by 2.5% year-on-year, as average prices increased by 9.1%. Analysts AMI report that German household beef purchases were 6.2% lower year-on-year from January to July (inclusive), as the average price rose by 6.9%. German meat consumption has been falling for some time, but significant price increases are likely exacerbating this trend currently. Italian beef purchases fell by 4% year-on-year during the first half of 2023, to levels also below the previous two years (ISMEA Mercati). Meanwhile, MAPA report that Spanish beef consumption is also in decline.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">EU cattle prices</span><span lang="DE"> have generally been on a downward trajectory since March. However, in recent weeks, prices for cattle in certain countries has shown upward movement. Young bull and cow prices in Ireland, France, Germany and Poland have ticked up, while young bull values have also risen in Spain. Elsewhere, cattle prices have continued to be more subdued, such as in the Netherlands and Italy.</span></p> | 1 | Market | adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro | 2023-09-20 00:15:33 | 2025-08-11 11:28:09 | Details Edit Delete | |
| 2213 | EU's imports of beef to reach 353,000 tonnes by 2030 | Beef production inside the EU will continue its gradual decline, predicts MLA analysts. | <p>The EU beef market will continue to absorb more imports in the next decade, according to the latest market snapshot released by Meat and Livestock Australia. The EU was one of the largest beef consumer markets in the world in 2017, at just under 8 million tonnes – behind the US but comparable to that of China and Brazil. The EU is not self-sufficient in beef, with demand exceeding EU production capabilities. By 2030, the European Commission estimates that the EU will require 353,000 tonnes of beef imports to cover the domestic shortfall. </p> <p>Within the EU, the UK accounts for about 16% of total consumption across the region and, at 17.9kg in 2017, is one of the largest per capita consumers in the market. France, Germany, and Italy are the other major consumer markets in the region. Australia and the EU have begun the process of securing a closer bilateral trade partnership and formal Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations commenced in July 2018. The outcome of these negotiations will be the main determinant of Australia’s future prospects in the region.<br />The United Kingdom (UK) is Australia’s largest market for beef within the 28-member union and its exit from the EU, which is due to occur in March 2019, creates an attractive opportunity for Australia to improve its current market access, noted the analysts. <br />MLA’s Market Intelligence Manager, Scott Tolmie, said since the last update in February 2018, several key developments have emerged with implications for the Australian red meat and livestock industry. "Australia supplies red meat to over 100 countries and demand for our products is heavily influenced by changing consumer preferences, as well as trade access and supplies from competing nations. Among the insights contained in the updated snapshots are the key outcomes of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA), and the implications of Brexit to the Australian red meat industry" Mr. Tolmie said.<br />The volume of Australian beef exported in the EU in the last 12 months reached 17,729 tonnes, of which 98% consists in chilled beef and 2% in frozen meat. Although limited in volume, the majority of Australian beef exported to the EU is destined for foodservice. </p> | 1 | Market | 2018-11-19 06:02:52 | 2025-08-10 19:46:27 | Details Edit Delete | ||
| 6821 | AHDB analysis: September beef and lamb production in UK | Beef production levels for September 2023 sat at 70,700 tonnes, according to the most recent Defra production statistics. This is a decrease of 3,000 tonnes (-4%), compared to August. Furthermore, production levels when compared to those seen in September 2022, have declined by 2%. | <p><span lang="DE">Prime cattle slaughter levels for September 2023 totalled 161,200 head, compared to 167,500 in August 2023, a fall of 4%. Additionally, September’s prime cattle slaughterings sat below the 5-year average by 3,800 head, as well as September 2022 by 1,500 head (-1%). As Christmas procurement gathers pace, we would expect to see an increase in seasonal slaughter levels in the final quarter.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Cow slaughter for September 2023 (48,100) was also down by 5% compared to September 2022 (50,800). It has also declined by 1,500 head (-3%) against the previous month.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Prime cattle carcase weights have been lighter throughout 2023 and this trend has continued into September. Average prime cattle carcase weights for September sat at 340kg/head, a small drop of 0.4% (-1.5kg) compared to September 2022, contributing to the decline in production. Additionally, when compared with the 5-year average for September (342.4kg/head) weights have declined by 2.1kg. Supporting this data, market reports suggest that while forage production has improved this year, variable quality has contributed to increased instances of cattle coming forwards for slaughter slightly under-finished.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Cow carcase weights have remained relatively stable, at an average of 298.3kg/head in September, a decrease of 0.3kg compared to the 5-year average and a 0.1kg decrease compared to August 2023.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">UK sheep meat production in September 2023 totalled 22,700 tonnes according to Defra. This is a decline of 4% from August, where production totalled 24,400 tonnes. Production levels for lamb and mutton were also down by 7% compared to September 2022 (23,700t). September 2023 also sat below the 5-year average by 12%.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Carcase weights have had little impact on production figures for September 2023, at an average of 19.6kg/head, the same weight as August and a mere 0.1kg/head below the September 2022 average.</span></p> <p>Declining production rates have been driven by the decrease in slaughterings. UK clean sheep slaughterings fell from the previous month, down by 4% from 1,037,000 to 994,000 head. September 2023 rates also sat below the slaughter figure for September 2022 by 4%. Adult sheep slaughter rates have also declined by 4% since August 2022, from 151,900 to 145,500 head.</p> | 1 | Market | adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro | 2023-10-24 00:05:55 | 2025-08-10 23:24:29 | Details Edit Delete | |
| 5162 | European retailers are boycotting Brazilian beef | Beef products coming from Brazil are considered to be linked to the destruction of Amazon forests. JBS is taking "one for the team". | <p>Six European supermarket chains announced they are going to stop selling Brazilian beef in several countries due to the scandal that links farming practices to the destruction of Amazon forests. JBS is one of the Brazilian companies that will suffer most from this move. Supermarket chain Lidl Netherlands has committed to stop selling all Brazilian beef from 2022. Most of the boycotted products are linked to the world's largest meat producer, JBS SA.<br />Also, a halt in importing Brazilian beef or some of the products was announced by Albert Heijn, a subsidiary of Ahold Delhaize and the largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands, Auchan France, Carrefour Belgium and J Sainsbury Plc and Sainsbury's UK.<br />The boycotts are in response to an investigation by Reporter Brasil which concluded that JBS was indirectly sourcing cattle from illegally deforested areas under a program known as "cattle washing," writes Reuter.<br />This happens when cattle raised on an illegally deforested plot of land are sold on a legal farm before being sold to a slaughterhouse to hide their origin.<br />JBS told Reuters it does not tolerate illegal deforestation and has blocked more than 14,000 suppliers for not following the rules. The company said monitoring intermediate suppliers - those ahead of the final slaughterhouse vendor - is a sector-wide challenge, but JBS will introduce a system that will be able to do so by 2025.</p> | 1 | Retail | 2021-12-22 05:08:22 | 2025-08-10 12:08:27 | Details Edit Delete | ||
| 4643 | <p>(<em>Article by Steve Kay</em>)</p> <p> </p> <p>The Canadian and U.S. beef industries have much in common. In fact, their markets for both cattle and beef are more highly integrated than anywhere else in the world. They have another thing in common that no other beef-producing country has. They produce the highest-quality beef in the world and more than any other nation.</p> <p>Canada at any one time has between 1.3 million and 1.5 million cattle in feedlots on a largely grain-based diet. The cattle that were graded for quality graded 69 per cent AAA or Prime in 2020, with the Prime number being 3.5 per cent. These two grades are similar to those in the U.S., but AAA is regarded as more stringent than USDA Choice.</p> <p>In comparison, the U.S. industry currently has 14.7 million cattle in its feedlots. It harvests approximately half a million fed steers and heifers per week. Despite these huge numbers, there is a carcass uniformity and quality today that could only have been dreamed about 20 years ago.</p> <p>For example, cattle in the week ended February 20 graded a combined 86.07 per cent USDA Prime and USDA Choice. Cattle graded 11.73 per cent Prime and 74.34 per cent Choice. This broke the previous record of 84.76 per cent set the week ended February 10. These exceptional percentages reflect extra intra-muscular fat or marbling in carcasses (in the 12th rib-eye). The increase over 20 years has also coincided with a huge decline in exterior fat on carcasses.</p> <p>The U.S. has long been the producer of the most grain-fed beef in the world. But the beef suffered from a lack of uniformity in the 1980s and 1990s. The remarkable improvement in its quality and consistency over the past 20 years changed all that. It also cemented the U.S.’s position as the global leader in the highest-quality beef. Many factors have gone into the transformation, including improved genetics, scientifically advanced cattle-feeding practices and financial incentives by processors to encourage producers to raise the carcass quality of their cattle. </p> <p>USDA Prime beef used to be impossible to find in grocery stores, as a meager supply all went to white-tablecloth restaurants. But with three times as much Prime percentage-wise being produced as 10 years ago, it can be found in many stores around the country. Warehouse giant Costco remains by far the largest seller of USDA Prime and was a big reason why more Prime is being produced.</p> <p>Now consider how retail beef prices compare to the price of other proteins. So far this year, retail beef demand and sales have been stellar, even though retail prices in January were slightly higher than in December. USDA’s retail Choice beef price averaged US$6.41 per pound, up 1.9 per cent from December’s US$6.29 per pound and up 5.8 per cent from January last year. USDA’s All Fresh beef price averaged US$6.29 per pound, up 1.0 per cent from December’s US$6.23 per pound and up 5.9 per cent from January last year. Pork average prices were the same as in December at US$4.12 per pound but were up 7.3 per cent from January last year. Chicken average prices edged up two cents to US$2.03 per pound and were 8.6 per cent higher than last year.</p> <p>This meant the All Fresh beef price was more than three times higher than the average chicken price and 1.5 times higher than the average pork price. These price differentials have rarely changed in recent years, apart from at the height of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on prices last spring. But it again reveals that beef remains Americans’ favourite meat by far and they are prepared to pay up for it because of its high quality.</p> <p>(Photo Source: <em>Canada Beef Inc.</em>)</p> | 1 | Industry | 2021-04-26 11:25:52 | 2025-08-11 06:04:03 | Details Edit Delete | ||||
| 8626 | New Zealand: Beef systems boost productivity and profitability | Beef systemisation has the potential to be a gamechanger on sheep and beef farms with the potential to double, or even treble, productivity and profitability. | <p>Speaking on a Beef + Lamb New Zealand Central Otago Farming for Profit Systemising Beef webinar, farm consultant and beef specialist Bob Thomson described all-pasture beef systems as "the biggest opportunity we have in sheep and beef farming".</p> <p>Beef systems are run over a dedicated area of land, typically between five and 20 hectares. Electric fences are used to create cells, and Thomson used the example of 20 permanent cells which are divided into 80 cells for winter. On two-day shifts, this creates a 160-day winter rotation. The length of the rotation is directly related to winter pasture growth.</p> <p> The challenge for running these systems in cold climates was the lack of pasture growth in winter, and the potential for adverse weather events (e.g. snow), therefore farmers needed to have a war-chest of feed as a backup to see them through.</p> <p>This means that pasture covers at the start of winter should average 2,700-3,000kg DM/ha. This means pre-graze covers could be as high as 4,000kgDM/ha. High pasture covers will mean that pasture quality is low and consequently winter liveweight gains will also be low.</p> <p>In Central Otago, winter starts on 1 May so planning to build pasture covers to meet this target should start in February. Thomson suggests deferring 20% of the area of the beef system to help build covers to hit the 1 May targets – or use supplementary feed in autumn to make up the difference.</p> <p>Nitrogen can also be a useful tool to help build pasture covers in autumn.</p> <p>"Pasture cover is king. Think about it as a pasture wedge, like hay in the barn, starting with up to 4,000kg DM/ha and grazing down to 1100kg DM/ha".</p> <p>Pasture covers are mined over winter and then rotations are sped up in early spring.</p> <p>Thomson says to make these systems as profitable as possible, it important to carry as many animals as possible through winter to take advantage of spring growth.</p> <p>He says because pasture covers are high going into winter, feed quality is relatively low, so only relatively small weight gains of 0-0.2kg/day could be expected with big bulls and 0.2-0.3kg/day for smaller bulls.</p> <p> Rather than stocking rates, Thomson recommends farmers think about liveweight per hectare and this should be benchmarked to 1 May with associated pasture covers. In cold climates, with an annual pasture production of 8tDM/ha/year, 1 May stocking rate will likely be 800kgLW/ha. With higher annual pasture production, stocking rates will increase. For example, properties producing 10tDM/ha/year, the 1 May stocking rate will be likely be 1,000kgLW</p> <p>"Stocking rate is based on annual pasture production and determined by the ability to build pasture covers going into winter".</p> | 1 | Industry | adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro | 2025-07-14 00:05:14 | 2025-08-11 11:17:24 | Details Edit Delete | |
| 4788 | Uruguayan meat exports up 37% in the first half of the year | Beef was the most exported product, with China accounting for 51% of the volume shipped abroad. | <p>According to data provided by the Uruguayan National meat Institute (INAC), meat exports have increased by 37.2% in value for the first half of the year, compared with the similar period of 2020. The value of meat exports has reached $1.36 billion, of which $900 million (+26.1%) came from beef exports.<br />As usual, China was the main market for Uruguayan beef, accounting for 51% of the volume shipped abroad, followed by the US, Canada, and the EU. Most notable has been the increase in the sale of sheep meat that has been 140.6%, reaching $55 million with China also as the main buyer. The figures may increase constantly over the following months, as some plants in Uruguay are gaining or re-gaining access to the Chinese market, such as Breeders &amp; Packers Uruguay S.A. (BPU), a unit that used to ship 70% of its capacity to China until it was suspended for export in April due to labeling issue. Fortunately, the General Administration of Customs of China has cleared the path for this Uruguayan processor starting this month.</p> <p> </p> | 1 | Industry | 2021-07-05 07:58:31 | 2025-08-10 23:00:09 | Details Edit Delete | ||
| 3857 | Meat consumption on the rise in Spain | Beef was the most preferred meat in Spain in the first month of lockdown. | <p>Spain has increased meat consumption by more than 16% over the first month of lockdown. Household expenditures have increased by 15.4% when comes to food and by 16.3% for meat, according to official data from the Ministry of Agriculture. In March, more than 214, 000 tonnes of meat were consumed by Spaniards in their homes compared with 184,000 tonnes reported in the same month last year.</p> <p>Meats, in fact, increased their consumption above the general average for food products (15.4%), showing consumers' commitment to meat products during the state of alarm. On a negative note, the increase has not been generalized in all groups. Thus, the rise in beef (20.9%) stands out, as in fresh chicken and pork, with variations of 16.9% and 18.6% respectively. On the other hand, the sale of sheep/goat and rabbit meat declined with falls of 4.9% and 2.4% respectively.</p> | 1 | Industry | 2020-05-18 13:07:08 | 2025-08-11 07:42:22 | Details Edit Delete |
