China's growing demand for protein products has led Chinese farmers to slaughter their dairy cows.
As a result of the devastating effects of African swine fever (ASF) on pig production in China, the world's largest meat consumer is turning to other types of local and imported protein.
Chicago-based HighGround Dairy Global Director Alyssa Badger said the situation could lead to Ireland increasing its beef exports to the country. Badger also noted that Chinese farmers may be starting to kill their own dairy cows for beef production, as imports of liquid milk and cream into the country reached a record level.
Large supplies of beef from Australia signal that people in China are already switching from pork to cattle meat. Chinese beef imports grew; in April, China, the world's largest pork market, purchased 128,920 tons of beef, up 75% from a year earlier.
Meanwhile, the price of beef has also risen: one kilogram of meat costs 60.23 yuan, which is 6% higher than in August, when China announced its first outbreak of pig disease, Bloomberg reports.
As a result of the rising cost of beef, people are switching to other protein-rich foods, such as chicken and eggs.
Bloomberg noted how this trend materializes: China's largest pig company Wens Foodstuffs Group recently agreed to buy a controlling stake in a local chicken producer, expecting demand to increase due to the relatively low cost of poultry.
