EU 25 beef shortfall of 160,000 tonnes until 2010

IRISH cattle farmers needn’t worry too much about competition from 10 new EU countries after next week.

The beef market stability now bringing improved cattle prices is expected to last right up to 2010 in the EU 25, with Europe eating about 160,000 more tonnes of beef per year than it produces.

The central and eastern European countries joining the Union specialise in cereals, pork and poultry.