THE EVOLUTION OF SHEEP MEAT PRODUCTION IN THE WORLD AND EUROPEAN UNION

I. RDUCU USAMV-Bucharest Key words: evolution, meat production, sheep. SUMMARY

The aim of this paper was to analyze the evolution of sheep meat production worldwide and in the European Union. World production of meat in 2009 was 283,887 thousand tonnes of which 8,240 thousand tonnes is sheep meat, i.e. 2.9% of the total. Sheep meat production worldwide has increased continuously, reaching to be with 7.5% higher in 2009 than in 2000. The average carcass of sheep worldwide in 2009 was 15.6 kg, being relatively stable in the period 2000-2009. The hardest carcasses are obtained in the North American continent (28.7 kg) and Oceania (19.2 kg) and on other continents is almost similar to the world average (15.6 kg). In the European Union, in 2009, the official production of sheep meat and goat meat was accounted to 808 thousand tonnes and the import was accounted to 271 thousand tonnes, which it means a self-sufficiency of only 75.7% and the difference must be imported from other parts of the world.

1. MATERIAL AND METHOD

The aim of this paper was to analyze the evolution of sheep meat production worldwide and in the European Union, especially regarding production of sheep meat, the number of slaughtered sheep, the sheep carcass weight, the consumption and the prices for sheep meat. For achieving these goals we have studied the official statistical data, we calculated the percentage differences between the reference years and we interpreted the obtained data.
2. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Worldwide there are many sheep meat producing countries, but among them are some countries such as Britain and New Zealand, where the predominant orientation is for meat production. In Britain, the orientation was to improve breeds strictly unilateral for meat production, on the basis of application of appropriate technologies, which also contributes the climate and constant humidity, which translates through high quality succulent pastures, which eventually led to getting a better quality of sheep meat. Also, in countries with advanced animal husbandry continued action to improve the specialized meat breeds and create new ones, while improving the precocity and the carcass quality of sheep breeds from around the globe. World production of meat in 2009 was 283,887 thousand tonnes of which 8,240 thousand tonnes is sheep meat, i.e. 2.9% of the total. As a result, and the ever-increasing requirements for this product in Asian and Western countries, sheep meat became increasingly in demand in the international market, so that sheep meat production worldwide has increased continuously, reaching to be with 7.5% higher in 2009 than in 2000 (see table 1). According to FAO, world meat production of sheep arrived in 2009 to 8.24 million tonnes, achieving an annual growth rate of 0.83% in the 2000-2009 period. It

also can find that sheep meat production recorded the biggest progress in Asia (19.1%), followed by the African continent (13.9%), while production fell on other continents, the obvious decreases were seen in Europe (20.5%) and especially in EU countries (28.4%), and with smaller-scale reductions in North and Central America (3.2%), South America (5.1%) and Oceania (6.3%). Table 1 The evolution of sheep meat production worldwide (Source: FAO, 2011) - thousand tonnes Differences (%) Specification 2000 2009 2009/2000 Africa North and Central America South America Asia Europe Oceania European Union Total world 1,106 154 253 3,517 1,413 1,213 1,200 7664 1,260 149 240 4,189 1,123 1,137 878 8240 +13.9 -3.2 -5.1 +19.1 -20.5 -6.3 -28.4 +7.5

At country level, the main producer of sheep meat is China, with 2,015 thousand tonnes produced in 2009, followed by Australia with 730 thousand tonnes and New Zealand with 478 thousand tonnes of (see table 2). Significant increases in meat production in the period 2000-2009, there is especially in the countries of the Asian and African continents and in Russia, while in other countries, production has remained relatively stable or declined more or less significant. Table 2 Top 10 producing countries of sheep meat in 2009 (Source: FAO, 2011) - tonnes Rank Countries Production 1 China 2,014,580 2 Australia 730,143 3 New Zealand 478,167 4 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 350,663 5 United Kingdom 303,532 6 Turkey 262,998 7 India 239,766 8 Syrian Arab Republic 192,562 9 Algeria 187,000 10 Russian Federation 164,492 In the case of the number of sheep slaughtered in the world for meat production can be observed (table 3) that had as meat production, a slight increase in the period under review, rising only 6.3% higher in 2009 compared with 2000. And in this respect,

Asia recorded a higher growth compared to other continents (17.2%), with the African continent (16.0%), while on the North American continent is found a relative stagnation, while in Europe there is a significant decrease (18%), and especially in EU countries (24.6%). Table 3 Evolution of the number of slaughtered sheep in the world (Source: FAO, 2011) - thousand head Specification Africa North and Central America South America Asia Europe Oceania European Union Total world 2000 78160 6035 19056 228313 91523 63780 78931 486919 2009 90660 6060 18427 267614 75071 58917 59525 517692 Differences (%) 2009/2000 +16.0 +0.4 -3.3 +17.2 -18.0 -7.6 -24.6 +6.3

In the world, growth rate of the number of slaughtered sheep, as it was expected, is generally correlated with that of sheep meat production in all geographic regions (table 4). Table 4 Comparing growth rates between the number of slaughtered sheep and sheep meat production ( %) Sheep meat Number of sheep Specification production slaughtered Africa +13.9 +16.0 North and Central America -3.2 +0.4 South America -5.1 -3.3 Asia +19.1 +17.2 Europe -20.5 -18.0 Oceania -6.3 -7.6 European Union -28.4 -24.6 Total world +7.5 +6.3 Depending on consumer food preferences (some prefer lamb and other meat from animals fattened adult) and operating system, carcass weight varies from one continent to another (table 5). The average carcass of sheep worldwide in 2009 was 15.6 kg, being relatively stable in the period 2000-2009. The hardest carcasses are obtained in the North American continent (28.7 kg) and Oceania (19.2 kg) and on other continents is similar to the world average.

Table 5 The carcass weight of sheep (lambs + adults) worldwide (Source: FAO, 2011) - kg Specification 2000 2009 Africa 14.1 13.8 North and Central America 28.6 28.7 South America 13.6 12.9 Asia 15.4 15.6 Europe 15.4 14.9 19.0 19.2 Oceania European Union 15.2 14.4 15.7 15.6 Total world Meat of sheep provides a rate of 50-80% of meat consumption in some geographical areas as the Middle East, Central Asia and Oceania. The biggest consumers of sheep meat are the Muslim population, followed by the people of Western European countries, New Zealand and Australia. In the European Union, in 2009, the official production of sheep meat and goat meat was accounted to 808 thousand tonnes and the import was accounted to 271 thousand tonnes, which it means a self-sufficiency of only 75.7% (table 6). Table 6 Supply balance sheep meat and goat meat in EU (Source: European Commission, 2010)

(1) Carcass weight; (2) Carcass weight - All trade with the exception of live animals; (3) All trade in carcass weight, with the exception of live animals (figures based on imports); (4) EU-25; (5) Official production only

As regards EU imports, New Zealand is by far the main (84%) origin of sheep meat followed by Australia (8%) and (to a lower extent) Argentina, Chile and Uruguay (around 2% each). Concerning the meat production trend in EU, there is a slight continuous decrease since 2007 which is likely to be continued to 2010. However, the

sheep and goat meat supply picture remains relatively stable. Gross consumption (kg/head/year) of sheep meat and goat meat in EU it was by 2.1 kg in 2009, which it is in decreasing comparing with previous years and close to the average consumption in the world (1.9 kg). Regarding the prices of sheep meat (table 7 and figure 1) are set according to carcass weight and quality, thus different from one country to another (Ex. 412 euro/100 kg heavy lamb carcass in Germany, 575 euro/100 kg heavy lamb carcass and 656 euro/100 kg light lamb carcass in Spain, 563 euro/100 kg heavy lamb carcass in France, 514 euro/100 kg light lamb carcass in Greece, 371 euro/100 kg heavy lamb carcass in United Kingdom, 629 euro/100 kg light lamb carcass in Italy, 181 euro/100 kg heavy lamb carcass in Romania, etc.). The average price in EU is 417 euro/100 kg heavy lamb carcass and 643 euro/100 kg light lamb carcass. Table 7 Market prices for sheep meat in EU (Source: European Commission, 2010)

(1) Slaughter weight - (2) Heavy lamb - (3) Light lamb.

(1) Slaughter weight - (2) Heavy lamb - (3) Light lamb.

Figure 1. Market prices for sheep meat in EU (EUR/100kg) (1)

3. CONCLUSIONS

1. World production of meat in 2009 was 283,887 thousand tonnes of which 8,240 thousand tonnes is sheep meat, i.e. 2.9% of the total. Sheep meat production worldwide has increased continuously, reaching to be with 7.5% higher in 2009 than in 2000. 2. The average carcass of sheep worldwide in 2009 was 15.6 kg, being relatively stable in the period 2000-2009. The hardest carcasses are obtained in the North American continent (28.7 kg) and Oceania (19.2 kg) and on other continents is almost similar to the world average (15.6 kg). 3. In the European Union, in 2009, the official production of sheep meat and goat meat was accounted to 808 thousand tonnes and the import was accounted to 271 thousand tonnes, which it means a self-sufficiency of only 75.7%. The EU number of sheep slaughtered decreased (-24.6%) from 2000 to 2009 and is expected to decrease slightly in the near future. The average price for sheep meat in EU is 417 euro/100 kg heavy lamb carcass and 643 euro/100 kg light lamb carcass.
REFERENCES
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