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Buffalo meat production - A look at Indian scenario
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Saturday, 16 August, 2014, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Dr Tarun Pal Singh and Dr Parminder Singh
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fiogf49gjkf0d Livestock is an important source of income for the farmers and rural poor people. As per the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) estimates, the livestock sector contributed approximately 4.07% to GDP (gross domestic product) and over 27% to the agricultural GDP.
India, with its large livestock population which includes 199.1 million cattle, 105.3 million buffaloes, 71.5 million sheep, 140.5 million goats, 11.3 million pigs contributing substantially to social and economic well-being of the country. Present meat production in India is estimated at 6.27 million tonne which is 2.21% of the world’s meat production. The contribution of meat from buffalo, cattle, sheep, goat, pig, poultry and other species is about 23.33%, 17.34%, 4.61%, 9.36%, 5.31%, 36.68% and 3.37% respectively.
The buffalo in India, apart from providing milk, contributed immensely to the national economy. Buffalo meat (carabeef) is one of the major commodities, among livestock products, exported from the country. Contribution of buffalo in bringing about the “White Revolution” in India is well known. But India is now poised to achieve the “Pink Revolution” through buffalo.
Buffalo meat affords an easy means of preparing low priced fast meat foods by restricting the cost of raw material. According to data compiled by the animal husbandry departments of all states, buffalo meat produced in registered municipal slaughterhouses increased from 5,57,000 tonne in 2008 to 9,36,000 tonne in 2011.
Uttar Pradesh was the top buffalo meat-producing state in 2011, followed by Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh (erstwhile). Uttar Pradesh is emerging as a hub for export of buffalo meat for the country. From 2003 to 2007, 12.27% growth in buffalo population has been recorded. In UP, buffalo contributes to more than 68% of milk production and 73% of meat production. Likewise other states should also be encouraged to develop this sector. The buffalo meat is used for industrial purposes in the production of sausages, patties, nuggets, corn beef, ham and so on. Among the animal products exported from India, meat and meat products account for more than 90% of the total exports volume. UP has maximum export units which show acceptability of this industry in this state.
Domestic market of buffalo meat in India
The domestic value chain for buffalo meat production in India consists of a network of stakeholders, who work within specific stages from farm to plate. The chain integrates livestock producers, traders, butchers, wholesale meat dealers and retailers. Most meat consumed in India is produced in municipal slaughterhouses. The major consuming states of buffalo meat in India are Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh (erstwhile), Kerala, West Bengal and Maharashtra. The rising slaughter of buffalo in these states is indicative of increasing consumer demand for buffalo meat. This emerges from the fact that there are very few slaughterhouses in India authorised by APEDA to supply buffalo meat for export.
As a matter of policy, meat exported from India should be sourced from abattoirs and meat processing plants registered with APEDA. From slaughterhouses, buffalo meat is purchased by wholesale meat dealers or retailers. Wholesale meat dealers and retailers have to obtain licences from municipal corporations for buying and selling on the premises of a slaughterhouse. The Indian buffalo meat industry for domestic consumption is based on production of fresh meat which is processed and sold daily.
Retail outlets generally are not equipped with air conditioners, refrigerators or deep freezers. There is need for a sustainable buffalo production system in the country to meet the future demand of buffalo meat. Therefore priority should be given to implementation of a male buffalo calf rearing programme for the long-term benefit of the farmers, country and the trade.
Trends in buffalo meat consumption in domestic market
1. Slaughter of buffalo for domestic consumption is trending upward in some major meat producing states, which points to increasing domestic demand.
2. The pattern of buffalo meat consumption in India may differ from state to state due to differences in consumer preference and religious taboos.
3. There are no restrictions on buffalo slaughter when compared to cows (genus Bos spp.) in most states.
4. Buffalo meat is one of the cheaper options of animal protein for consumers. The average price of buffalo meat is Rs 130-150/kg whereas the average price for mutton is Rs 380/kg, fish is Rs 200-500/kg, and chicken is Rs 180 per kg.
Indian buffalo meat export: Present view
The livestock sector is an important component of India’s economy in terms of income, employment and foreign exchange earnings. India is the largest buffalo meat exporting country (carabeef) globally, with smaller amount of small ruminant’s meat. During the last 41 years, the quantity of meat exported from India has been increasing and so also the number of countries to which it is exported. Currently India has been exporting quality and safe meat to about 64 countries. Buffalo meat has been the major one in Indian meat export accounting for about 23% total production and for more than 85% of total meat export mostly in frozen form. The buffalo meat export industry has grown well. The potential for rapid growth is high, and since the domestic consumption is low (less than 2%), the export potential increases substantially. Buffalo meat export is restricted to countries primarily in the Middle-East, with large ethnic Indian population who prefer it. From export point of view, a major concern in the food industry is safety. There is a direct link between animal-feed quality, hygiene and safety of foods of animal origin. There is a huge potential for buffaloes in meat production for the growing population because of its capacity to convert poor quality roughages into meat.
India can double its meat production by means of buffalo veal production. Contribution of buffalo meat accounts for more than 75% of total exports of Indian meat sector. Indian buffalo meat exports have grown to a record level in the last two years, making India the fourth country in the world to export more than 1 million tonne of bovine meat annually.
Major meat production centres in the country for exports are Aurangabad; Nanded; Mumbai and Satara in Maharashtra; Goa; Zaheerabad and Medak in Telangana; Derabassi in Punjab; Barabanki, Unnao, Aligarh, Meerut, Saharanpur, Noida and Ghaziabad in UP; Mourigram in West Bengal; and Gurgaon in Haryana. Indian per capita buffalo meat consumption remains at 2 kilogram, reflecting a preference for pulses, dairy, and poultry. The EU is expected to import large volume of bovine meat, over the next few years, as abolition of subsidies might lead to rapid decrease in production of livestock products.
The Central America and the Caribbean, Russia, the Middle-East, East Asia and most of the African countries are bovine meat-deficit regions. The major demand for bovine meat is expected to come from these areas and also from the EU. South America, Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) and India are emerging as the major bovine and buffalo meat surplus countries. The continuous drought has been affecting Australia’s herd building during the last few years and BSE issue limits the potential of North America. There are also serious concerns that Brazilian bovine meat supply may not be able to keep pace with sharply increased export projections for bovine meat. This offers a great opportunity for India, to grow its international trade volume in meat.
Although India ranks at the top in bovine inventory, the inventory of buffalo has been found to be declining in a few states. This indicates a growing shortage of buffalo meat. However, such a decline cannot be related to the export of buffalo meat from the country as there are no registered export units in these states. Secondly, slowdown in increase of population is not only due to slaughter but can also be due to urbanisation and conversion of agricultural areas into housing/commercial/industrial land. For augmenting exports and assuring quality, developing a traceability model for Indian buffalo meat is very important.
Thereafter traceability is enforced at various stages, namely, ante-mortem, abattoir, post-mortem, chilling and processing hall by assigning the batch number. Despite the immense potential of Indian buffalo meat in international market, it is not been able to cater to major international markets due to some occurrence of FMD, though at much reduced levels over the years. Major costs involved in undertaking primary operations in export units after receiving of animals and shipment of final marketable products include (a) transportation, (b) packaging, (c) service costs, (d) electricity and diesel, and (e) labour.
Highlights of export
1. The world total buffalo meat production is about 3.32 million tonne. Out of that, India contributes about 1.50 million tonne.
2. The top five bovine meat exporting countries are Brazil (1.96 million tonne), Australia (1.28 million tonne), USA (0.60 million tonne), Ireland (0.53 million tonne) and India (0.48 million tonne).
3. India now accounts for nearly a quarter of world beef trade compared to a mere 8% in 2009, while Brazil, Australia and the US could make only marginal increase in volume. This rapid expansion is fuelled by demand for low-cost product in many smaller, emerging and price-sensitive markets (the Middle-East, Africa, south-east Asia).
4. For 2011-12, Indian buffalo meat exports surged 40 per cent year-on-year, reaching 1.068 million tonne CWT according to the Global Trade Atlas (GTA), reports Meat and Livestock Australia.
5. According to GTA statistics, Vietnam was India’s largest export destination in 2011-12, totalling 302,516 tonne CWT – up 137 per cent year-on-year.
6. Exports also surged 16 per cent to Malaysia (103,906 tonne CWT), supported by lower prices and growing demand for red meat.
7. Rounding off the top five Indian buffalo meat export destinations for the year ending June 2012 were Jordan (up 47 per cent to 74,686 tonne CWT), Saudi Arabia (up 30 per cent, to 72,597 tonne CWT) and Egypt (down 9 per cent to 72,155 tonne CWT).
8. Australia’s largest export markets, Japan, Korea, the US and Taiwan are not yet accessed by India.
9. Indian beef production is not from cattle (which are sacred), rather it is from buffalo bovines (carabeef). Indian beef production has expanded by almost 1.7 million MT in the past decade, much of that growth going into export markets. Indian beef exports for 2012 are forecast at 1.525 million MT, 25% higher than the previous year and an almost three-fold increase in the past 10 years.
Positive attributes of export: An opportunity
1. Indian livestock is free from some dreaded diseases such as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Mad cow disease), Rinderpest since 1995 and no Contagious Bovine Pleuro Pneumonia (CBPP) in India during the previous 17 years. Large states in India like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh are FMD-free since November 2003.
2. India is world’s 3rd largest exporter of bovine meat and largest exporter of Halal bovine meat to the Islamic world, but second-largest Muslim population in the world (146.4 million) after Indonesia (201.9 million).
3. Till date, not a single importing country has recorded the outbreak of any disease in livestock as a consequence of the import of the meat from India.
4. Indian livestock is reared naturally, manageable herds, exclusively fed on green pastures and agricultural crop residues.
5. There is no practice of using meat meal, bone meal, meat-cum-bone meal, hormones, antibiotics, growth promoters or any other chemicals to promote the growth and fattening of livestock.
6. Indian buffalo meat blends very well with other meats and is free from ionising and non-ionising radiations.
7. During transportation of animals from farms to slaughter houses, animal welfare practices are strictly being followed with stress on Prevention of Cruelty Act of 1960, Animal Welfare Board and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
8. Indian animals are liable for compulsory ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection by government veterinary doctors, microbiologists and international health certificates are being issued for each consignment after undertaking compulsory tests and measures in state and Central government laboratories.
9. Additional inspection by an internationally accredited agency like SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance), when mandated by importing countries.
10. Carabeef is 93% chemically lean (low in fat and cholesterol), since the fat is sold / utilised domestically within India.
11. India caters to the meat demand of major Islamic countries as the meat is genuinely Halal, lean and nutritious, healthier than beef.
12. Indian buffalo meat is ideal for processing since it retains more moisture and binds easily with ingredients.
13. Multiple agency inspection on arrival of the goods at destination (importing country).
14. There are internationally established and approved Halal meat preparation practices. The animals are slaughtered strictly according to Islamic requirements, hence the meat is genuinely Halal.
15. Indian frozen buffalo meat is competitively priced. Meat is processed strictly in accordance with Codex standards.
16. All plants compulsorily implement HACCP and ISO standards.
17. Compulsory licensing of abattoirs / meat processing plants and periodic / annual inspection by Federal Government Authority, APEDA.
18. World-class state-of-the-art abattoirs and meat is available at very competitive prices.
19. Our products are well accepted by the buyers and the consumers from over 64 countries.
20. Buffalo meat is exported in frozen boneless and de-glanded form in conformance with OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code, in volume II (8.5.25) and is free from FMD virus due to its ageing for minimum of 24 hrs at 20°C to bring down the meat pH below 6.0.
Future perspectives
In recent years, the buffalo meat industry for export has attracted heavy investment as major buffalo meat exporters are expanding their processing capacities to meet demand in new worldwide markets. The earning in international market through the export of buffalo meat is also expected to increase manifold due to pressing demand mainly from Gulf countries. However, with changing world food production and consumption patterns, there is a need to develop a strategy for the future by analysing different segments of the value chain of buffalo meat production.
(Dr Tarun Pal Singh is Ph.D scholar, division of livestock products technology, IVRI, Bareilly; and Dr Parminder Singh is veterinary officer at Amritsar. They can be contacted at pssandhulpt@gmail.com)
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