Average national meat consumption in 2012 rose to 54.4 kilos per head, the Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed.

This is believed to be due to animals for meat slaughter rising 3.4 per cent from 2011 figures as live weight throughput grossed 3.4 million tons.

“Increasing consumption of meat is being supported by producers,” said Mykola Prysiazhniuk, Minister for Agrarian Policy. “Therefore the state will continue to provide support to encourage livestock sectors.”

Mr Prysiazhniuk attributed government funding for the boost in livestock production, saying all categories of cattle increased in number and this favourable trend is set to further increase production and consumption rates.

He added that cattle numbers from the beginning of the year to the start of February totalled 4.7 million, up 4.5 per cent on the same period last year.

Increases of 3.7 per cent in pig numbers saw numbers rise to 7,500 with Mr Prysiazhniuk adding that poultry numbers had witnessed the greatest increase reaching 206.4 million, a 7.8 increase on 2011 figures.