World meat industry news

The company plans to increase its presence in Central Asia markets with grain-fed beef.

KazBeef, Kazakhstan's only producer of marbled beef using US technologies, opened a modernized plant in Akmola region with an increased capacity from 2,000 tonnes to 6,000 tonnes. "I think Kazakhstan should become the leader in the region for the production of all types of meat. We have the potential so that the Kazakh agro-industry should occupy half of the country’s economy. The agro-industry should become more important than the oil and gas industry because it is renewable. New technologies are also of great importance. It is important that the agro-industry is environmentally friendly," declared Yerkin Tatishev, Kusto Group Board of Directors Chairperson.
De-boning and packaging equipment was installed and Skin Pack, a process to vacuum seal steak in portions, was launched in June. Meat grading equipment and a second deboning line have subsequently been installed and a Metro Cash and Carry distribution centre with the capacity to store up to 1,000 tonnes of product was built, informs Astana Times newspaper.
Dozens of small farms in the area supply the plant with cattle to be raised according to the US technique of fattening.
"Now, 70 percent of meat on the domestic market is supplied from bazaars and subsidiary farms. We want to change the situation by giving better quality for a good price. Food safety is a priority for us. The consumer should purchase meat without the use of hormones and antibiotics. Our products are certified by the GFSI international food safety system. This certificate is recognized worldwide and we will be able to export our products. We are proud to open the plant and at the same time, we are ready to share our experience with other entrepreneurs of the country," mentioned General Director Beibit Yerubayev.
The company has 120,000 hectares of area with more than 5,000 head of Angus and Hereford kept on a beef cattle pedigree reproducer farm in the Akmola region. The company is also engaged in wheat feeding 5,000 head of cattle in the Zerenda District.
The feedlot, which will be launched at the end of July, will accommodate up to 15,000 head and provide more than 6,000 tonnes of high-quality marbled beef annually.