Beef prices in the Czech Republic are rising, farmers are concerned about the spread of diseases
České Budějovice – The purchase prices of beef have increased by almost half in a year and a half to 90 CZK per kilogram of live weight. Cattle breeders are concerned about the spread of diseases that could force them to cull entire herds. They also point to the increasing burden of bureaucratic regulations and directives from the European Union (EU) and fear the consequences of the EU’s agreement with the South American bloc Mercosur, which would increase beef imports to the European market. This was stated by the director of the Czech Association of Beef Cattle Breeders Kamil Malát at the agricultural fair Země živitelka.
“In the last year and a half, purchase prices have increased quite dramatically. For many years prior, input costs rose dramatically, but the purchase prices of cattle at slaughterhouses did not increase significantly, oscillating between 40 and 50 CZK per kilogram of live weight; today it is about 90 CZK,” said Malát. In the Czech Republic, the number of beef cows has not changed much. Last year there were 226,000, and this June there were 225,000. “Overall, it can be said that the numbers are stagnating. However, the trend is different across Europe. In the last five years, approximately five million head of cattle have been lost. This is one of the reasons why purchase prices are now rising. There are fewer cattle, while global demand remains high,” said Malát.
Breeders criticize the European regulation on deforestation, which will require proof that animals were not raised on deforested land. “There is also a tightening of rules for the transport of live animals being prepared. A major risk is the trade agreement of the European Union with the South American bloc Mercosur. If beef from South America is imported without tariffs, Czech and European meat will not be able to compete. Production costs in Europe are several times higher. In the Czech Republic, a kilogram of beef costs about 100 crowns, while in South America it is 20 to 25 crowns. The difference is due to land prices, strict regulations, and bans on growth hormones or certain vaccination programs. Additionally, some cattle in South America graze on illegally deforested areas,” said Malát.
Breeders are also concerned about the spread of diseases. “Whether it was the spring wave of foot-and-mouth disease, which thankfully did not reach us thanks to the exertion of all efforts. But there are more diseases. Recently, nodular dermatitis in cattle has been spreading across Europe, which has already affected France, Italy, and areas near the Swiss border. In the event of an outbreak, entire herds must be culled,” said Malát. According to him, the problem remains the bluetongue disease, which restricts exports. (August 25)
