BUENOS AIRES, Feb 26 (Reuters) – The Argentine government has authorised the export of live cattle for slaughter, reversing a prohibition that had been in place for over five decades.

This decision follows a year in which the country’s beef exports reached their highest level in a century.

Argentina, renowned for its beef cuts and traditional asado barbecue, is a major ranching and farming powerhouse. It is also a significant exporter of processed soybeans, corn, and wheat. Sales from the agricultural sector to foreign markets provide the largest source of hard currency for the central bank, which is essential for financing imports and paying down debts.

In a statement on Wednesday, the agriculture secretariat said the policy reversal on cattle exports was aimed at fostering “greater competition within the meat and livestock chain.” This move aligns with libertarian President Javier Milei’s efforts to deregulate South America’s second-biggest economy and stimulate growth.

Earlier this month, Milei’s government introduced a five-month tax cut for exports of grains and their derivatives to encourage sales abroad. Additionally, late last year, Milei supported a reduction in local duties on beef exports, lowering the rate to 6.75% from the previous 9%.

Original story: Reuters

COPENHAGEN, Feb 27 (Reuters) – Meat producer Danish Crown announced on Thursday that it has closed its factory in Pinghu, eastern China, following a strategic review. The company stated that the plant did not align with its overall strategy.

Danish Crown, one of the world’s largest pork exporters, has undergone significant restructuring in recent years. This includes the closure of one of its major slaughterhouses in Denmark and the announcement last October of plans to cut around 500 white-collar jobs.

The farmer-owned company opened the Pinghu factory near Shanghai in 2019 as part of its expansion efforts in China. However, the facility never achieved the expected earnings despite substantial efforts to address initial challenges.

In a statement, Danish Crown said, “It has however never succeeded in generating the expected earnings, even though significant efforts were made during the period to rectify a poor start.”

As a result, Danish Crown has closed the plant, laid off 112 employees, and signed a letter of intent to sell the facility.

Original story: Reuters

Modernising Meat Inspection with Artificial Intelligence

How AI Supports the Process

• Reviews high-resolution images in real time
• Flags signs of disease or non-compliance
• Offers consistent assessments based on data
• Helps reduce mistakes and improve traceability

Industry Response

• Speed up inspections
• Improve consistency in grading
• Ease bottlenecks in operations
• Strengthen audit readiness

Regulatory and Ethical Considerations

What Comes Next?

• Inspections for poultry and pork
• Cross-border traceability systems
• Predictive tools for spotting disease outbreaks

Original story: publictechnology.net

Bolivian meat producers are facing daily losses of approximately USD 500,000 following the government’s ban on beef exports.

The National Chamber of Exporters of Bolivia (Caneb) has raised concerns, highlighting the significant impact on cattle farmers, particularly in the eastern regions. The ban, announced by Productive Development Minister Néstor Huanca, aims to regulate supply and reduce domestic meat prices.

In 2024, meat exports generated USD 185 million, up from USD 136 million in 2023, despite various challenges. Caneb Manager Marcelo Olguín warned that the economy risks losing over USD 200 million, urging the government to engage in dialogue to avoid damaging Bolivia’s market reputation.

Economy Minister Marcelo Montenegro stated that exports could resume once local prices stabilise. Vice-Minister of Agricultural Development Álvaro Mollinedo emphasised the need to prioritise food safety, citing rising meat prices and reduced supply. The government has pointed to private producers as contributing to the price increases and shortages.

Original story: MercoPress

Dog Food Made from Cultivated Meat Goes on Sale in the UK

Meatly has launched “chick bites,” the first pet food products made from cultivated meat to be sold commercially worldwide. This innovation could potentially eliminate farm animals from the pet food industry and significantly reduce carbon emissions, land use, and water consumption.

Trial Launch

The trial of these dog treats began at a pet store in Brentford, London, on Friday. Owen Ensor, the founder of Meatly, explained that the manufacturing process resembles brewing beer. “You take cells from a single chicken egg. From that, we can create an infinite amount of meat forevermore. We put it in large, steel fermenters… and after a week, we’re able to harvest healthy, delicious chicken for our pets,” Ensor said.

Global Perspective

Lab-grown meat, genetically indistinguishable from traditionally produced meat, has sparked debate in various countries. In 2020, Singapore became the first country to authorize the sale of cell-cultivated meat for human consumption, followed by the United States three years later. However, Italy and the US states of Alabama and Florida have banned it.

Environmental and Ethical Considerations

Advocates emphasize the environmental benefits of lab-grown meat, while critics argue that it is expensive and could harm traditional farming. Prof. Guy Poppy from the University of Bristol noted that lab-grown meat addresses animal welfare concerns. He added, “This is an opportunity to offer the advantages of meat but without the carbon and environmental footprint.”

Pet Consumption

Prof. Andrew Knight from the University of Winchester highlighted that “about 20% of all the meat consumed by high pet-owning nations, including the United Kingdom, is actually consumed by pets, not people.”

Original story: BBC News

Original story: AHDB

Meatex

Australian Livestock Market Update: Prices and Throughput

Key Points

• Cattle Quality: The quality of cattle, especially across eastern states, has been impacted by hot and dry weather.
• Lamb Quality: Strong quality across heavy and extra heavy lambs has continued.
• Slaughter Rates: Slaughter for both cattle and sheep eased over the week.

Cattle Market

Cattle prices were unable to maintain last week’s levels, resulting in a mixed market. Yardings eased by 1,705 to 51,439 head as the quality of stock declined due to hot and dry conditions.

With fewer heavy cattle coming to market, the Heavy Steer Indicator lifted by 3¢ to 337¢/kg liveweight (lwt). Prices increased in most states, with Queensland seeing an impressive lift of 26¢. However, processor demand for heavyweight-grown cattle was weaker, with both well-finished steers and heifers selling cheaper.

The Dairy Cow Indicator eased by 19¢ to 217¢/kg lwt, with yardings doubling over the past week to 811 head. A substantial number of cows are being offloaded, putting downward pressure on the market. Cows are now being sold 10¢ cheaper, driven by limited processor competition.

Sheep Market

Sheep prices took a downturn this week, except for the Mutton Indicator. Yardings increased by 68,948 to 317,502 head for combined lamb and sheep.

Strong quality across heavy and extra heavy lambs has continued, with the Heavy Lamb Indicator easing 7¢ to 792¢/kg carcase weight (cwt). Meanwhile, the Light Lamb Indicator eased by 45¢ to 671¢/kg cwt, with a greater price spread for lambs weighing under 18kg.

Slaughter

For the week ending 31 January:

• Cattle Slaughter: Eased by 19,136 to 121,772 head, but continues to track 4% above the same time last year. Slaughter decreased in all states, with drops in NSW (4,504 head), Queensland (9,691 head), and Victoria (3,097 head).
• Sheep and Lamb Slaughter: Combined slaughter eased by 116,396 to 597,541 head. Lamb slaughter decreased to 75,538 head, and sheep slaughter decreased to 40,858 head. In NSW, sheep slaughter eased by 16,358 head, Victoria by 14,006 head, and WA by 10,751 head. Lamb slaughter followed a similar trend, with NSW easing by 16,005 to 108,813 head and Victoria easing by 42,311 to 212,761 head.

Attribute content to: Emily Tan, MLA Market Information Analyst

MLA

UK Livestock Market Update: Prices and Throughput

Key Points

• Cattle Prices: GB deadweight cattle prices increased again for the week ending 01 February, with the overall all-prime price up by 16p/kg.
• Sheep Prices: Sheep prices eased, with the GB OSL SQQ at 710p/kg, despite lower numbers forward.
• Demand and Supply: Robust demand for cattle continues to drive farmgate prices higher against a backdrop of tighter supply.

Cattle

GB deadweight cattle prices rose again in the week ending 01 February. R4L steers increased by 16p/kg to average 617p/kg across GB, while R4L heifers grew by 17p/kg to 616p/kg. The overall young bull measure also gained, sitting at 580p/kg, a lift of 10p/kg. All categories are now approximately 110p higher than the same point a year ago.

Cow prices also saw sharp increases, with the overall GB price up 15p/kg week on week to 439p/kg, which is 98p/kg above the same week in 2024.

AHDB estimated slaughter indicated that prime cattle numbers were largely steady on the week, with an additional 100 head forward, totalling 34,400 head. Cow numbers eased slightly, down 4% to an estimated 10,500 head.

Robust demand for available cattle continues to drive prices upwards, with fierce competition reported for available supplies. Reports suggest that beef wholesale prices have reflected the strength of the current cattle market, with Valentine’s Day demand driving price rises, particularly for steaking cuts.

Sheep

Deadweight sheep prices fell back in the week ending 01 February, with the GB old season SQQ down 21p/kg week on week to 710p/kg. This was 67p/kg ahead of the same week last year and 204p/kg above 2023.

Estimated slaughter fell back, both on the week and compared to the same week last year, totalling 186,000 head. Poor weather during the week may have restricted numbers forward, according to reports. However, strong trade continues, particularly for export lambs.

Looking ahead to the next couple of months, processors will be looking to secure supplies for key demand periods surrounding religious festivals, Easter, and Ramadan, for both domestic and export markets.

AHDB

UK Beef Market Outlook for 2025

Key Points

• Reduced Domestic Supply: UK beef production is forecast to fall by 5% year-on-year to 885,000 tonnes in 2025 due to a reduced domestic cattle supply.
• Consumption Trends: Domestic beef consumption is expected to grow marginally, driven by retail demand as foodservice remains stable. Everyday cuts like mince are anticipated to perform well as consumers remain price-conscious.
• Import and Export Dynamics: The UK’s requirement for imported beef is projected to increase by 12% in 2025 compared to 2024. Conversely, exports are forecast to decrease by 7% due to supply constraints.
• Price Outlook: Domestic farmgate cattle prices are expected to be supported throughout 2025. However, consumer price sensitivity and the mix of cuts purchased will be crucial to overall carcase values.

Overview

2024 was a strong year for the beef market overall. The UK produced 934,000 tonnes of beef and veal, up nearly 4% from 2023. This increase, combined with a 5% uplift in beef imports, contributed to greater supply on the market. Despite this, GB finished cattle prices continued to set records in 2024. Consumer demand was robust, with slight growth in retail and stable volumes through foodservice. Exports also increased, supported by demand from the continent.

Analyst Insight

Hannah Clarke, Lead Analyst (Red Meat), highlights that the forecast supply and demand changes point to a supportive environment for domestic farmgate cattle prices in 2025. However, the price sensitivity of consumers and the mix of cuts purchased will play a crucial role in determining overall carcase values.

AHDB