Russia-December meat imports down 70%.

RUSSIA.

MEAT IMPORTS DOWN FOR DECEMBER.

Meat imports were down by 70% in Russia for the month of December, according to figures released by the Department of Agriculture.

There was a seizure of 17 tons of Irish pork on Monday, that is being held by the veterinarian office of the Department of Agriculture for further tests for dioxins.

Meanwhile the cattle herd of Russia, has decreased by 1.4% since 2007, to a total cattle herd of 24.6 million head.

The pig herd has increased by 2.2% to a pig population of 17.3 million, which will surge in April and May as new litters are dropped by the large numbers of breeding sows, recently imported.

The sheep and goat population stands at 22.2 million, which is an increase of 4.3% on 2007. Russia wants to be self sufficient in pork and poultry by the year 2012.