8th November 2010
Lamb exports rising fast
Texel members will appreciate that the Texel breed heavily influences
the UK export trade. The following is an extract from a recent
export bulletin produced by Eblex and reports “lamb exports rising
fast”.
BEEF AND LAMB EXPORTS RISING FAST
Figures to the end of August show that beef exports keep rising across most destinations
and are sharply up against last year. Exports to Central and Western Africa are
a notable success. Lamb exports have strengthened considerably and we are recovering
fast lost sales in the first half of the year due to low availability. Exports
of lamb cuts are up 49% so far this year. |
ROMANIA
According to an article published in the French Pâtre magazine,
Romanian sheep meat production could rise by 30% by 2015, of which
90% would be exported, mostly live (Greece, Italy, Spain, Middle
East). It reckons there are 3 m. people owning sheep in Romania.
There are 4.5 m. ha of natural pasture. The largest farm owns 10,000
ewes. The large Barcea farm at Calarasi (Stephan Poienaru) owns
5,000 milk sheep from local breeds (Carabasa and Turcana) as well
as merinos de Palas. The farm produces 3,600 lambs and sold 2,500
live sheep to Spain at 18 kg live in 2009. It also produced 15
t. of wool. Climatic conditions are much harder than in the British
Isles with droughts in the summer and hard snowy winters.
FALKLAND ISLANDS
A discussion during SIAL allowed an update of the sheep meat
situation there. Lambing rate remains very poor at 0.6 lambs per
ewe per year. There are moves to lamb nearer farms and additional
feeding but as a rule lambing still takes place in open ground
and scores still die in the harsh winters. Output remains at 40,000
lambs, a pitiful number (the Falklands are the size of Wales).
The Falkland Meat Company has expanded its cold store this year.
It exports 100% of its seasonal output to the EU as frozen cuts.
They are looking to open the Brazilian market.
NEW ZEALAND
The impact of the snow storms to Otago and Southland is now estimated
at 500,000 lambs and 400,000 ewes lost. It looks unlikely that
New Zealand will be able to fulfil its sheep meat quota in 2011.
Source – Eblex.
|
