By PTI

New Delhi: People in India are likely to eat more beef and veal (meat of calves) in 2009 as compared to Pakistan, according to findings released in the latest US Department of Agriculture (USDA) report on ‘Livestock and poultry: World markets and trade’.

India’s demand for beef and veal is expected to be about 65% more than Pakistan at 1.9 million tonnes in the coming year. Veal is the meat of calves (young cattle). People in Pakistan are projected to consume 1.1 million tonnes of beef and veal.

The USDA report added that buffalo meat consumption is likely to rise by 7% in India and by just 2.28% in Pakistan. Buffalo meat consumption in India is rising as there is no religious taboo on it compared with cow beef and pork consumption.

Meanwhile, production of India’s beef and veal is expected to increase by over two-fold of Pakistan at 3.1 MT in 2009.

USDA data indicates that production in India is increasing on an average by 1-2 lakh tonnes year-on-year and is expected to ascend a healthy 5% to nearly 2.8 million tonnes in 2009.

On exports front, it said, “India’s exports are foreseen to remain firm at 8.1 lakh tonnes, the bulk of the expansion is driven by increasing domestic consumption”.

Moreover, demand for buffalo meat is gradually growing in export markets due to its price competitiveness, perceived organic nature, and proportionally less fat.

European Union, Brazil and China have the maximum number of beef eaters.