Japan - A drop in the beef herd
01 Aug 2012
High feed costs and subdued carcase prices, combined with food safety concerns, continue to impact the Japanese cattle industry, with herd numbers falling 1.6% year-on-year, to 4.13 million head as at 30 June 2012 (Japan’s National Livestock Breeding Centre).
Holstein (for both dairy and beef) and Japanese Black Wagyu numbers eased by 2.5% and 2% year-on-year, to 1.81 million head and 1.73 million head, respectively.
Slaughter numbers for these categories in 2012 have been up compared with last year.
Looking forward, forecasts by the Agriculture and Livestock Industries Corporation suggest that total beef production during July and August this year will increase, compared with the low volumes in 2011 (due to the radioactive contamination issues and subsequent decline in slaughter numbers).
The sustained tough trading conditions in the Japanese cattle industry has already reduced farm numbers to 65,200 as at 1 February 2012, down 6% year-on-year.
Source: MLA.com
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