Return of UK beef will help fill EU gap

KEY beef markets like France, Germany, Italy and Sweden will have to import more beef this year, with the EU set to consume almost 300,000 tonnes more than it produces.

This gap is predicted to narrow from the 350,000 tonnes deficit of 2005, but the reduced presence of South American beef is a new factor this year.

Within the EU, higher UK and Irish cattle production is expected to offset a marginal decline on the Continent, with the return of UK cow beef to the market on its own more than offsetting lower production in most other member states.