Implementing the measures will ensure that production of livestock and poultry for slaughter will increase by 820,000 tonnes live weight, or 6.5 per cent, by 2017, according to Cherkizovo.

Mr Yuriev added that under the country's food security policy, the proportion of domestic production of meat and meat products should be at least 85 per cent of total consumption by 2020. Last year, this figure was estimated at 82.2 per cent.

Over the last six years, production of livestock and poultry for slaughter has increased by 3.4 million tonnes live weight to 12.7 million tonnes in 2014. This is 36 per cent more than in 2008.