Tiger economy in sheep's clothing

Chinese sheep and goat meat production has soared by eight per cent in the past year - the largest expansion in the world.

But at the same time Canada, Russia and Japan have all seen falls in their beef production, according to a new report from the Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC).

World trade in meat and livestock has been distorted over the last year by various disease outbreaks, in particular avian influenza, BSE, foot and mouth disease and, most recently, classical swine fever.