More than 700 delegates from the world’s major beef-producing countries gathered in Dublin for a three-day conference on the global situation and world outlook for meat.
Scotland’s delegate at the conference was ex NFU Scotland president John Cameron of Balbuthie, Leven.
He said afterwards: “It has been a fascinating discussion, particularly as beef is now a truly global commodity with its profitability influenced by the differing price levels in the major beef-producing countries.”
On the future level of global production it does appear that production overall will fall in the immediate future, with a 2% drop in the US mostly as a consequence of drought.
The US total of 90.8 million head of cattle and calves recorded in January last year had fallen to 89.3 million head by this January, making it the lowest level of production since 1952.
“That in turn has created excess capacity in many of the US feed lots, with a consequent reduction in feeder margins,” said Mr Cameron.
“On the consumption side the reports from China indicated that meat consumption has more than doubled over the last 20 years from an annual per capita consumption of 26kg in 1990, increasing to 55kg in 2011.
“It is forecast that by 2030 the Chinese consumption of meat, milk and eggs will have increased by a massive 50%.”
The conference’s host country, Ireland, reported in 2012 it had exported some 545,000 tonnes of beef, making it now the world’s-fourth largest exporter.
Also last year the Irish exported some 160,000 live cattle, worth 217 million euro.
Commenting on the fallout from the equine DNA controversy better known as the “horsemeat’ scandal” Dr Patrick Wall, chairman of the European Food Safety Authority, said the situation highlighted the fact that traceability in the European food chain was not as robust as it was previously thought to be.
“Brands and reputations are only as secure as the weakest supplier in their food chain,” he said.
Mr Cameron concluded: “These were only a few of the fascinating and serious implications facing beef producers in Scotland.
“As beef becomes even more global it is very appropriate that we take stock of the world production and consumption level forecasts.
“Forewarned is forearmed.”