Consumers in the Netherlands spend less on meat

Beef cattle breeders have to deal with high yield prices. Due to a shortage of luxury calves such as Blonde d'Aquitaines and Limousins, about 100 euros more will be paid than in 2021. For Belgian Blues, this difference can amount to 300 euros per animal, says Rene Zandbelt of Vleesvee Integratie Twente. Fertilizer companies, on the other hand, are going through tough times. They have to pay more for calves and have to contend with more expensive feed. Compared to a year ago, prices for concentrates have risen by about 20 percent. 'And you can easily pay 750 euros more per hectare for maize,' says Zandbelt. So margins are under pressure. Previously, meat processing companies could charge this to the butcher and consumer, but that seems to have come to an end. Due to the high energy costs, they have less to spend on luxury meat', explains Zandbelt. On the other hand, the supply of Dutch quality meat is not large. As a result, a certain scarcity remains and that keeps the prices for ...