Russia: Lamb, duck, rabbit - agricultural holdings are looking for niches to increase meat production

The Russian agricultural market is witnessing a shift as agricultural holdings seek to diversify from traditional meat products such as pork and chicken, which have become increasingly saturated. This push is propelling the consumption of alternative meats like turkey, mutton, and rabbit. Turkey's success story serves as a beacon, with its consumption rising to become one of Russia's favorite meats, despite being a novelty only a decade and a half ago. This growth is largely driven by large poultry companies like the Damate Group and Tambovskaya Turkey.

Other niche meats like mutton and rabbit are following suit, with mutton consumption on the rise, particularly in regions outside of the traditional southern and North Caucasus areas. Miratorg, a key player in the industry, plans to boost its sheep breeding operations in the Kursk region by 2.3 times by 2023, backed by significant investment. The Damate group is also investing heavily to acquire and modernize existing processing facilities. Rabbit meat producers are facing similar challenges and opportunities, with the market for this meat currently estimated at around 20 thousand tons. These developments highlight the potential for niche meats to carve out a significant space in Russia's agricultural landscape, offering a strategy for growth in a crowded market.