Kazakhstan to implement three-year roadmap to advance beef cattle breeding

ASTANA. Nov 14 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan's Agriculture Ministry is drafting a three-year roadmap for advancing beef cattle breeding, with a focus on integrating advanced technologies, the prime minister's press service reported after a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin and the leading domestic livestock and meat producers.

"The Agriculture Ministry is drafting a three-year plan to improve beef cattle breeding. The plan aims to establish modern, export-focused meat processing plants and advanced feedlots. The feedlots will use new technologies to help cattle gain weight faster," the government press service said.

Kazakhstan's livestock industry is growing steadily. In the past five years, beef production across all farm categories has risen by 56,000 tonnes, or 11.7%, from 477,400 tonnes in 2018 to 533,200 tonnes in 2022. Consequently, the current beef supply has reached 102%.

"With Kazakhstan's domestic market now fully supplied with meat, the future growth of the industry is focused on expanding exports," the government press service said.

Kazakhstan's governmental policy for developing livestock farming will incorporate advanced global technologies based on the method of Australia, which is recognized as one of the top-five global lamb producers and the world's largest exporter in the field.

Zhumangarin emphasized that, "We will support those willing to implement best practices from developed countries in order to reduce meat production costs in Kazakhstan. New methods will be tested in pilot projects at farms ready for the challenge. The focus is on creating successful models rather than large-scale programs, which could later be replicated nationwide."

Each project will be evaluated for financial stability, business reputation, compliance with financial institutions, and other criteria by regional authorities and the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan.