Japan-Cattle feed lots expanding.

JAPAN.

FEEDLOTS EXPANDED.

Major Japanese beef processors, such as SFoods Inc, Nippon Meat Packers, Marudai Food and Co,Itoham Foods Inc, are increasing the size of their feedlots by up to 20 % immediately.

The long term plan, is to produce far more grain fed beef than is currently produced.This is going to be challenge to US and Australian meat processors, who currently have the Japanese grain fed beef market to themselves.

Japanese beef production was up 3.7% in 2008, however consumption per capita rose 9% in the same period.

The market is in place and only needs to be supplied.

Pork production was down in 2008, to levels not seen since 2003.