Britain to import 22% less beef

Marts: The latest estimate on British beef imports for 2006 is that requirements will be down 22%, or 64,000 tonnes.

Following the resumption of beef exports from Britain last week, the Beef and Livestock Commission predict 30,000 tonnes of beef will be exported between now and the end of the year. The most significant change to production is the return of cow beef to the food chain which is expected to contributed 14% to output this year.

The original estimate of 10,000 cows per week being added to the food chain has been revised to an average of 8,000, although to date weekly supply has just exceeded 5,000 head.