Nonghyup (Korea’s National Agricultural Cooperatives Federation) reported this week that Korea’s cattle herd reached a record high 3.52 million in June (12 per cent dairy cattle) - despite government inducements to reduce the number of cows.

For the first six months of 2012, Korean cattle slaughter totalled 452,207 head, a jump of 22 per cent year-on-year, with females making up more than 77 per cent (62,393 head) of the increase (Nonghyup).

Despite the efforts of the Korean Government to induce higher female throughput to halt the herd growth, historical evidence suggests that slaughter numbers will need to rise further before the cattle herd will decline. However, Korea’s economic slowdown and subsequent fall in consumer demand for beef has hampered government stimulus and the ability for additional product to move through the supply chain.

According to the Korea Institute for Animal Products Quality Evaluation (KAPE), the portion of top graded (1 or higher) Hanwoo beef in the first six months of 2012 was 58.2 per cent, compared to 64 per cent last year, with the decline largely due to the rise in cow slaughter.(MLA)