The Russian Meat section contains analysis of situation in the beef market. Statistics on the cattle livestock, again, reflect the negative trend that has taken shape recently in cattle-breeding – the livestock continues to drop.
Argentine ranks No. 6 by cattle livestock worldwide, No. 5 by beef production per capita, and No. 1 by beef consumption. More information on the Argentine beef market is available in the World Meat section.
Historically, milk production was developed in the former USSR republics because milk is the cheapest animal protein. Reduction in milk cattle livestock is obvious in all countries as milk production per cow increases. Milk cattle are replaced with meat cattle almost everywhere - this is a common trend, except for Russia, where there are almost no meat cattle. Information on prospects of Russian meat cattle breeding is available in the Comment section.
The Person of the Issue section features Anton Surikov, executive director of the Association of the Russian Poultry Meat Market Operators.
The meat market in Russia is far from being quiet: many meat importers were unhappy with quota allocation and implementation in 2004. Late date for holding the meat tender, forced re-issue of licenses, and problems with quoted commodity at the customs at the end of December – all this triggered significant losses for companies that did not have time to realize the quotas received from the state. Other market players were luckier: they imported meat, realized quotas, and are now counting profits, not losses. More information on meat quotas in 2004 is available in the Subject of the Issue section.
Late last year, the State Duma passed important amendments to the Customs Code of the Russian Federation introducing a new chapter Customer Charges. Mr. Gennady Kulik, Chairman of the State Duma Committee for Agriculture, and five of his deputies have developed the bill On Agriculture and Agricultural Market Development in the Russian Federation. The bill envisages a series of specific efforts that promote livestock breeding, poultry breeding and meat-processing. On February 16, Agriculture Minister Alexey Gordeev delivered an information report on the state of things in the Russian agricultural sector and market during the “parliamentary hour” of the State Duma. More information on these events is available in the Parliamentary News section.
The Fourth International Forum Meat Industry 2005 was held at Gostiny Dvor Cultural and Business Center on February 2-5, 2005. The Report section covers results of this forum.
In the modern environment, the primary objective for the meat industry is to find ways and means of improving meat and meat products. Use of meat-substitutes in production is an option of successful solution to this problem. The Business Technologies section is devoted to creation and advantages of comprehensive meat mass.
The Leaders section deals with a rapidly-developing company, Miratorg, that opened its branches in Kaliningrad and St. Petersburg. Established in 1991, MIRATORG has passed a very long way, from a small trading entity to a major agricultural holding, the core line of business for which is still retail and wholesale trade in meat products.
Australia exports approx. 5 million ton of kangaroo meat a year, which generates nearly 200 million Australian dollars to its economy. The Entertainment section is devoted to this animal and the prospects of its breeding in Russia.