News
04.11.2010
European Union - The US prime beef quota
Beef from the United States continues to increase its focus on the European market with exports for the first eight months of 2010 reaching 14,000 tonnes, a rise of more than 80 per cent on the same period in 2009, according to Cecilia Ruiz, Manager, Bord Bia Madrid.
A central part of this growth has been a number of marketing initiatives aimed at raising the profile of Angus beef from the US.
The United States Meat Export Federation in conjunction with Giraudi International Trading have embarked on an American Black Angus (supplied by Creekstone Farms & PM Beef) marketing campaign, a product that is already being sold in 18 European markets.
The increase of 20,000 tonnes in the preferential quota for American beef to supply the European market in 2009 has resulted in a consistent rise in shipments.
American beef (IBP) and American Angus beef have already been spotted at wholesale level, but in very small volumes.
The USP’s of the American Black Angus are listed as pure-bred animals, fed a corn- based diet for 120-140 days, and the use of carcase electrical stimulation to enhance tenderness.
Even though overall volume is not huge, this development offers a challenge to the Irish beef industry to continue to promote its unique product offering in this area, which it has being doing successfully in a number of European markets over recent years.
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