ANIMAL HUSBANDRY INFORMATION

Production

Meat and Meat Products

In India, meat production is largely a byproduct system of livestock production utilizing spent animals at the end of their productive life. Cattle and buffaloes, which contribute about 60% of total meat production, are primarily reared for milk and draught purpose and in the end utilized for meat purpose.

Production of meat in India and Kerala during 2000-01 to 2006-07

Although two-third of the meat production in Kerala is reported to be from the unorganized sector, there are no reliable estimates Total quantity of meat and poultry meat produced by the authorized sector during the period 2003-04 to 2005-06 are furnished in the following table.

Meat production under authorized sector in Kerala

Meat production in Kerala comprises of beef, mutton, pork and broiler chicken. In Kerala beef is the cheapest meat costing only 50 percent of the prices elsewhere.  This is because of the large-scale import of cattle and buffalo from the neighboring states for slaughter, mostly through unauthorized channels. Of the total meat production, beef contributes 60 percent, buffalo meat (20%), mutton (15%) and pork (5%). 

Contrary to the trend in milk and egg production, the meat production in Kerala as shown in the graph exhibits an increasing trend since 1993-94. The production increased steadily from 1.29 lakh tonnes in 1993-94 to 1.96 lakh tonnes in 2006-07. However, the present rate of increase is insufficient to satisfy the demand of meat in the state, which has grown from 2.53 lakh tonnes in 2002-03 to 2.62 lakh tonnes in 2006-07.

Year-wise estimate of meat production in Kerala

The total meat production in the state reached 1.96 lakh MT in 2006-07. Bovine meat continues to dominate in consumption. Meat other than poultry meat increased from 0.14 lakh MT in 1981 to 1.79 lakh MT in 2006-07. The poultry meat consumption stands second to bovine meat, however the production trend of poultry meat in the state has been declining since 2002-03.

The change in consumer preference and consumption of meat in India during 1981 to 2001 is shown in figures below. The changing pattern in the consumption of meat in India is depicted with three pie diagrams above. It shows that the poultry meat consumption increased from 6% in 1981 to 24% in 2001, while the bovine meat consumption decreased from 65% to 52% during the same period.

Quality standards and legislation

Production of meat is governed by local by-laws as slaughtering is a state subject and slaughterhouses are controlled by local health authorities. Processing of meat products is licensed under Meat Food Products Order, (MFPO), 1973.

The main objectives for the MFPO, 1973 are to regulate production and sale of meat food products through licensing of manufacturers, enforce sanitary and hygienic conditions prescribed for production of wholesome meat food product and exercise strict quality control at all stages of production of meat food products.

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Last updated: 28-3-2008