French beef production expected to decline in 2023

French beef production is expected to fall in 2023 for the third consecutive year, according to a press release the Institut de L'Elevage IDELE. The reduction in dairy and suckler herds over the past 6 1/2 years is in fact limiting the availability of all categories of cattle. Consumption virtually stable at -0.5% would lead to a continued rebound in imports. Exports of weanlings will fall in the wake of suckler herds. After a drop of nearly -5% in 2022, net production of finished cattle should fall further in 2023 to 1.337 million tonnes of carcass equivalent (-1.6%/2022). The tonnages of females would drop by -13,000 dw, those of uncastrated males by -3,000 dw, those of oxen by -1,000 dw and those of veal calves by -4,000 dw. Exports of weanlings should fall further (-3%) after a very marked fall in 2022. Decline in female production After a sharp decline in 2022 (-3.7% /2021), female slaughter should continue to fall in 2023 (-1.7%). Dairy reforms will again be significantly ...