This was 5.2 per cent (126,300 tonnes) more than in the corresponding period last year.

In the first half of 2014 the number of birds slaughter rose by 2.6 per cent or 13.5 million birds and reached 529.2 million.

The main volume came from agricultural enterprises in Belgorod (372,900 tonnes), Chelyabinsk (156,500 tonnes) and Leningrad (148000 tonnes).

According to RosFood, the most promising regions for the development of the poultry meat sector are Kursk, the Republic of Mordovia, the Republic of Mari El and Chelyabinsk.

Between 2007 and 2013, the retail prices for chicken in Russia rose by 25 per cent, according to a study, "Sales and meat consumption in Russia: trends and patterns of pricing".

In 2013, the cost of 1 kg of broiler meat reached 110 rubles.

The growth rate was one per cent over the last year with the relative stabilisation between 2013 and 2012 due to the gradual integration of the country in world trade after WTO accession.

Consumer prices in the domestic market, despite the prevalence of national production, which amounted to 86 per cent, was strongly influenced by imports.

Monitoring of retail prices by analysts IRG in 11 regions of the Russian Federation in February and March 2014, found that poultry in the retail trade comprised goose, turkey, chicken and duck meat.

Poland and Hungary were the main exporters of goose meat top Russia in the first quarter of this year with mainly whole carcases with average prices of 220 and 313 rubles. per kg,.