Big rise in broiler meat production

Meat production during the first quarter of the year amounted to 3,215 tonnes, a decline of 2.3 per cent compared to the same period last year, the National Statistics Office said yesterday.

No slaughter of animals was undertaken in Gozitan slaughter-houses.

Production of beef and pig meat declined by 3.1 per cent and 19 per cent respectively, while broiler meat increased by 38.5 per cent over the comparative period last year. While the number of cattle slaughtered declined by 5.4 per cent, the number of pigs slaughtered declined by 22.4 per cent. On the other hand, the number of broilers slaughtered increased by 29.6 per cent.

The producer value of animals slaughtered at licensed slaughter-houses decreased by 5.1 per cent to stand at Lm2.2 million. Underpinning this was an increase of 28.4 per cent in the producer value of broilers slaughtered which was offset by declines in the producer value of cattle and pigs, by 0.5 per cent and 19 per cent respectively.