Drop in meat production, producer value
Meat production dropped by 3.7 per cent and producer value by four per cent in the first quarter this year, when compared to the same period in 2009.
The National Statistics Office said that meat production decreased to 3,205 tonnes. An increase of 17.8 per cent in the production of beef was mitigated by declines of 4.8 and 8.9 per cent in pigmeat and broilermeat, respectively.
The increase in beef production resulted from a 30.2 per cent rise in the number of slaughtered cattle.
In contrast, the number of slaughtered pigs fell by 2,493 heads, resulting in less production of pigmeat, in spite of a 7.1 per cent increase in carcass weight.
Broilermeat production declined by 8.9 per cent as a result of an 8.6 per cent decrease in the number of slaughtered broilers. A marginal drop in the average broiler carcass weight was also recorded.
The producer value of animals slaughtered at licensed slaughterhouses in the quarter under review amounted to €5.91 million, €0.25 million less than in the same period last year.
The producer value of beef rose by 1.3 per cent, on account of the increase in slaughtered cattle. The average price per kilogramme fetched on the market went down by 14 per cent, from €2.68 per kilogramme in 2009 to €2.31 in 2010.
On the other hand, the producer value of pigmeat went down by 4.8 per cent due to the lower number of slaughtered pigs, while the average price per kilogramme remained at par with the comparative period in 2009.
The 5.5 per cent drop in the producer value of broilermeat resulted from the decline in slaughtered broilers although the average price per kilogramme went up, from €1.69 in the first quarter of 2009 to €1.75 in the period under review.
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Francis Farrugia
May 26th 2010, 20:52
Just a few more words. So the man in the street is eating Turkey breast for Chicken Breast. And believe me no one will notice the quality of the meat unless he is acquainted with it. So it is such importations which are destroying our local meat industry. It is the politicians who are to saveguard the local Poultry, Pig and Beef industries. We have to face the reality that due to the lack of information to the consumer, our local industries are going from bad to worst. The consumer must be thought how to recognise one piece of meat from another. And this can only be achieved by TV and Radio Programmes like they do in other EUROPEAN cOUNTRIES.
Francis Farrugia
May 26th 2010, 20:38
Mr. Cauchi. Don`t be misguided by the figures published by the National Statistic Office. These are only local figures. We have not yet seen how much Frozen Meet and other meat byproducts are being imported. Then one can evaluate the amount of meat being consumed by the Maltese. Out of the total figures one has to calculate how much is being consumed by the tourists and then we might have an approximate calculation of what we Maltese are realy eating. I have worked in the Poultry Industry for 42 Years and the decrease in poultry production is mainly due to the amount of Poultry meat being imported at very cheap prices.
Besides the man in the street has never been taught what best to eat and even worst to check on the labels before buying the product. Just one simple clear case is the ``So called poultry meat being imported by one supermarket labelled as `(PETTO DI POLLO) WHICH MEANS CHICKEN BREAST, but in fact it is Turkey Breast which should be labelled PETTO DI TACCHINO. In southern Italy they breed Turkeys in such big quantities that through the ECONOMY OF SCALES they can breed them cheaply.
Joseph Cauchi
May 26th 2010, 11:51
It’s good to hear that the statistics are on the decline as it is quite evident that the consumption of these meats contributes to the overall obesity of the Maltese population.
We should all consume LESS meats in order to have a healthy life-style and thus avoid all the risks and dangers that such consumption may lead, such as to heart diseases, cholesterol, diabetes, and similar diseases.
All dairy products are somehow detrimental to our well-being and in actual fact studies have shown that these products are not as beneficial as once we were thought to believe!
The truth must come out.
We should consume more VEGETABLES, in order to have a healthy life-style and free ourselves from these diseases.
JC.
John M. Grima
May 26th 2010, 16:39
Amen to that JC! Thank God we are finally learning.
JG.