See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/262805309

Indian Meat Industry: Opportunities and Challenges

Article · January 2011

CITATIONS READS
3 7,726

2 authors:

Yogesh Gadekar A. K. Shinde

ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute
62 PUBLICATIONS   212 CITATIONS    97 PUBLICATIONS   518 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Nutritional Manipulation for enhancing qualitative and quantitative mutton production View project

Development of value added products from sheep mutton and milk View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Yogesh Gadekar on 10 October 2014.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 TARs
TECHNICAL A RT I C L E S
Indian Meat Industry: Opportunities and Challenges
Y. P. Gadekar* and A. K. Shinde
Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar,
Rajasthan- 304 501
*E-mail: yogirajlpt@gmail.com

Abstract
Livestock sector is vital component of Indian of the output of Rs 1376561 crore from total agriculture
economy. Indian meat industry is playing pivotal role in and allied sector (DHADF Annual Report, 2010-11).
the socioeconomic development as it is providing Among agriculture produce, meat occupies a significant
employment to the millions of workers from the weaker place as about 80% of Indian population is non-
section are engaged in meat and allied industry. Meat and vegetarians. Although, India is bestowed with huge
meat products are essential livestock resources with
in the diet for sound health. enormous potential but
Changes in socioeconomic Indian meat industry has not
status, increasing number of att ained its due status
women entering in the because of obvious reasons.
workforce are fuelling high Major portion of meat from
demand for ready to eat heat sheep, goat, pig and poultry
and serve type of meat is primarily used for
products. Still there is huge domestic consumption in
gap in demand and supply of the form of hot meat.
meat and meat products in Certain portion of meat from
India. Present st atus of buffaloes, cattle and sheep
Indian meat i ndust ry, is exported. Though, the
contribution of different Indian consumer has a taste
food animals in total meat preference for chevon all
production, export of animal over the country and mutton
products, consumption of in J&K and southern states,
meat and meat products as supply is not keeping pace
well as demand scenario, with growing demand in the
underlying problems and prospects of Indian meat industry country.
is reviewed. Meat and meat products are crucial part of the
man’s diet. Meat is highly demanded food items of
Introduction human being due to presence of plentiful proteins,
The livestock sector is floating for revolution in minerals and all the B-complex vitamins with excellent
developing countries where the major increase in meat digestibility and well-balanced composition of essential
and milk production is anticipated in next few decades. amino acids. Population growth, urbanization, changed
Livestock production is a vital activity in rural areas, which life styles and increased per capita income are fuelling a
provide employment, livelihood and income for farmers, massive increase in demand for food of animal origin all
rural poorer and weaker sections of society. Meat sector around the world. Delgado et al (1999) made a prediction
plays an important role in India as it not only provides that the demand for milk will double and that for meat
meat and by-products for human consumption but also will treble in India by 2020. As per World Bank
contributes towards sustainable livestock development and projection, worldwide demand for food will increase by
livelihood security for millions of men and women from 50% and for meat by 85% by 2030. Governments and
weaker sections. According to estimates of the Central industries must prepare for meeting demand of meat in
Statistical Office (CSO), the value of output from livestock the country with long run policies and investments to
sectors at current prices during 2009-10 was Rs 408386 satisfy ever rising consumer demand, improve nutritional
crore (Rs 340473 crore for livestock sector and Rs 67913 status, generation of income opportunities and alleviate
crore for fisheries) which is about 29.7 % of the value environment stress. Government of India has already

Indian Food Industry  30(4), July-August 2011 17

Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com)
 TARs
recognized livestock and poultry as an important sector as against 15% from small ruminants, 10% from pigs and
for the socio-economic development of the country. 13.4% from poultry in the total meat production. India
contributes 2.2% of world meat production and on the
Meat production and supply of meat for local
basis of per capita availability of meat, India ranks 170
consumption is the most neglected sector in the country.
in world. There are 2702 registered slaughter houses in
Meat is sold in open premises leading to contamination
the country, mostly providing service of only slaughtering
from dirt, dust, flies and other pollutants. The traditional
and dressing. Meat and meat products from India are
production systems and the unhygienic practices have
finding wider acceptance in world market mainly because
ruined and flawed the image of the Indian meat industry.
of the fact that the Indian meat is internationally price
Indian meat industry on scientific and modern lines is
competitive.
need for benefiting livestock producers, processors, finally
consumers. Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MFPI) has
established National Meat and Poultry Processing Board
In India, poultry industry is one of the fastest
(NMPPB) at New Delhi to support the healthy and
growing segments of the livestock sector. The production
organized development of meat sector for clean and
of agricultural crops is growing at a rate of 1.5 to 2
wholesome meat production. NMPPB formulates uniform
percent per annum that of eggs and broilers at a rate of 8
and effective meat quality testing systems and looks for
to 10 percent per annum. Poultry meat is the fastest
reduction of environmental pollution due to meat
growing component of meat demand in the globe as well
industry. It also gives priority on R & D for production
as in India. There are number of small poultry dressing
and marketing of newer value added meat products for
plants in the country in addition to five modern integrated
poultry processing plants producing dressed chicken,
chicken cut parts and other chicken products (APEDA,
2010).

Present Status
Presently India possesses 106.6 (53.6% of world)
million buffaloes, 172.4 (12.4% of world) million cattle,
126 (14.5% of world) million goats, 65.7 (6.1% of world)
million sheep, 13.84 (1.46% of world) million pigs and
613 (3.3% of world) million chicken (FAO, 2009). They

domestic and international markets. NMPPB also serves

as a single window service for producers and
manufacturers and exporters of meat and meat products
promote and regulate the meat industry for increasing
exports and help industry for establishing self-sustainable
and viable projects. Further, Food Safety and Standards
Act, 2006 regulates and ensures the processed meat sector
to produce safe and quality products in order to meet the
requirements of International trade and make the Indian
food and meat industry competitive in the global market.

Export of Meat
The share of Indian meat exports in the world
market is less than 2%. Adequate potential of meat
production exists in the country to meet the domestic
demand and to substantially increase the export. India’s
international trade in livestock and livestock products is
provide milk, meat, draft power, hides and skins, manure
mainly confined to meat and meat products (82%), to
and other valuable by-products thereby significantly
live animals (17%), dairy and egg products (1%). India
contributing to sustainable human nutrition and economy
exports both frozen and fresh chilled meat to more than
of the nation. Although, India stands at number one in
54 countries of the world. The major item of export
milk production in the world whereas the meat production
includes deboned and deglanded frozen buffalo meat,
is a miserably lower compared to other developed
which accounts for 97% of the total meat export. Meat
country. It is reported that annually 5% cattle, 10%
is produced from animals procured from disease free zones
buffaloes, 30.2% sheep, 38% goat, 99% pigs and 123%
and processed in modern abattoir and processing plants
poultry are slaughtered. The share of bovine meat is 62%

18 Indian Food Industry  30(4), July–August 2011

Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com)
 TARs
Table 1. Trends in livestock production and meat production in
India-2009

Livestock Population Percent Average yield / Meat production

species (in million) slaughtered animal (kg) (MT)
Cattle 189.4 8.0 103 1.49
Buffalo 105.0 9.7 138 1.58
Sheep 57.0 47.0 12 0.25
Goats 140 38 10 0.57
Pigs 18 88.9 31 0.60
Poultry 1049 73.6 0.8 1.60
(Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, GOI, FAO-2009)
Table 2. Meat and meat products export trend from India (Value in
Rs. crores)
Item /Year 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10
Buffalo meat 2629.57 3213.74 3549.8 4839.7 5480.6
Sheep/goat meat 80.37 65.87 134.09 493.36 747.2
Processed meat 2.43 7.12 12.96 10.14 9.58
Poultry products 167.58 318.17 441.08 422.05 372.1
(APEDA, 2011)

certified with HACCP and ISO 9002 following world class
SPS measures. Meat industry, which has shown a
tremendous development in the last decade, has a greater
scope of improvement with support of the industrialists
and government.
According to APEDA, India’s export of buffalo
meat products in 2008-09 was Rs. 4839.71 crores. The
export of sheep/goat meat products also increased from
Rs. 134.10 crores in 2007-08 to Rs 493.37 crores in 2008-
09. Animal products export from India has increased from
Rs. 5129.27 crores in 2007-08 to Rs 6913.11 crores in
2008-09. India’s export of processed meat in 2008-09 was
857.63 MT amounting to Rs. 10.14 crores. Major market
for Indian buffalo meat is Malaysia and Egypt and for sheep
and goat meat is UAE, Iran and Jordan. India also exports
small quantity of processed meat to Thailand, Yemen,
and Japan and poultry products to Saudi Arabia, Oman,
Kuwait and Qatar. Indian meat is leaner with less fat and
cholesterol. Moreover, meat is free from growth
promoters or other therapeutic residues and mad cow
disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy, BSE), which
favors Indian meat in international market.
Meat processing
In India, meat is consumed either in curry form
with high spices or as processed meat products. Only 2%
of the meat is processed in India (APEDA, 2008), the
remaining meat is sold in fresh or frozen form. The meat
processing industry is still in infancy even though there
is vast scope for processing. Now scenario is changing
rapidly with entries of top players like Shalimar Super
Foods, Venkateswara Hatcheries, Godrej Agrovet, Al-
Kabeer, Arpit Enterprises, Allanasons, Mark International,
AL Barkat Exports, Nensey Poultry Farm, Prabhat Poultry,
Vista Processed Foods, Fiza Exports, Meatzza - Darshan
Foods, etc, with an aggressive rise of commodity branding;
there is beginning to change the economics of the Indian
meat processing industry. Modern state-of-the-art slaughter
and processing plants have changed the entire scenario,
making the industry to grow at the rate of 10%. There is
a huge scope for expanding exports, especially in buffalo
and poultry meat, eggs and dairy products.
Demand for Meat and Meat
Products
Meat serves as the principal source of animal origin
protein for mankind. In addition meat also contributes
macro and micro nutrients required for the growth and
health. The rate of increase in per capita consumption of
animal products was found to be higher in the developing
countries compared to developed countries. The per capita
animal protein consumption in India is 10.4 g per day
compared to world average of 25 g. Minimum
requirement of 20 g per capita /day for animal protein
can be fulfilled from milk 10 g, meat 4 g, fish 4 g and 2
g eggs. As per Indian Council of Medical Research
Indian Food Industry  30(4), July-August 2011 19

Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com)
 TARs
(ICMR) recommendation, minimum amount of 30 g of
meat /day/head should be taken which makes 10.95 kg
of meat/head/annum. At present availability of meat is
only 5.5 kg /head/annum. From the above figures, it is
clear that there is wide gap between demand and
availability. During 1993-2020, the average growth rate
(weighted) for the total domestic demand of milk was
reported to be 4.9% whereas for mutton and goat meat
it was 13.7%, for beef & buffalo meat 3.5%, for chicken
4.8% and for eggs 6.2% (Dastagiri, 2004) indicate bright
prospects of meat industry in India.
In India, meat production and consumption has
increased remarkably in recent years. Meat eating habits
of the consumers are slowly changing from fresh to frozen
and to processed meat and meat products. Demand for
quality meat and meat products are increasing due to
growing awareness about nutritional and sensory
characteristics of such meat products. Changing socio-
economic status also contributed towards enhancing
consumption of processed and convenience meat
products. Though, the meat industry in the country is yet
to transform into an organized sector, still its contribution
to the national GDP at present is significant.
Need of Modern or Semi-odern
Abattoir
At present, condit ion of the maj ority of
slaughterhouse is not satisfactory. Adequate slaughter
facilities are not available to produce meat under sanitary
conditions. Animals are slaughtered both in authorized
and unauthorized places which makes meat inspection
impossible. Floor slaughter is practiced for large animals
with poor hygiene. Overcrowded slaughter in unaesthetic
premises is quite common. Inadequate drainage facility
and improper utilization of valuable byproducts like
blood results in environmental pollution and offensive
smell in premises and creates negative image of
slaughterhouses in the minds of public. Slaughterhouses
are regulated by the local bodies and mostly they are
reluctant to develop these premises. Meat produced in
such environment is potential source of diseases for
human beings. Thanks to our cooking method which is
very effective in destroying all the pathogens. But if we
want to compete with international market we need to
improve the quality of our produce so that it can be
accepted without any hesitation.
Escalating global market opportunities for the Indian
meat sector have significantly generated a plenty of private
investment in meat processing through state-of-the-art
technology of integrated plants. Many corporate firms are
coming up and have set up modern integrated plants with
state-of-the-art facilities for slaughtering and dressing of
animals, carcass deboning, packing, chilled and frozen
storages, byproducts processing, effluent treatment etc.
There are already established ten state-of-art mechanized
abattoirs-cum-meat processing plants and four integrated
poultry meat-processing plants, which are adopting
20 Indian Food Industry  30(4), July–August 2011
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com)
international standard sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS)
measures. These plants are eco-friendly, where all the
slaughterhouse byproducts are utilized in the production
of carcass meal, meat-cum-bone meal, tallow, bone chips
and other value-added products. Several more plants are
coming up due to large potential for export of meat. At
present, there are 70 meat processing plants and 29
APEDA approved Indian abattoirs-cum-meat processing
plants in India.
Globalization and WTO
Animal production is the most competitive sector
in the entire agriculture economy. There is immense
potential for producing animal products for domestic and
overseas markets. In the quest of globalization, agriculture
and animal husbandry must acquire the status of an
industry. Hence, there is need for a farmer friendly and
export oriented clear policy to realize the full potential
of livestock resources. To get the benefits of globalization,
the production and processing of value added traditional
products has to be improved by employing modern
processing machinery and quality control techniques like
HACCP and GMP to meet the stringent standards of
importing countries. Collaborative linkages among R&D
institutions, small and large firms would be desirable for
the benefit of sun rise meat industry. India can be a
beneficiary of globalization if it launches a positive
programme for technology creation and implementation.
To ensure quality of international standards, a world-class
infrastructural facility has to be developed/ strengthened
in the country.
Constraints of Indian Meat
Industry
There are many reasons for slow growth rate of meat
industry in India:
1. Myths about meat consumption and half truths in the
media against meat consumption.
2. Insanitary and unhygienic conditions of the
slaughterhouses and the meat shops.
3. Lower carcass weight and dressing percentage of food
animals due to the slaughter of spent / aged animals.
4. Indian consumer prefers fresh meat, resulting in less
demand for frozen meat.
5. Diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) are
a major concern
6. Subsidies in developed countries, stipulation of
Sanitary and Phyto Sanitary (SPS) measures, and
increasing cost of production and inputs as compared
to competing Nations.
7. Non availability of good quality livestock in the open
market.
8. Overcrowding of food animals during transport
resulting into inferior meat quality.
9. The lack of a sufficient cold chain infrastructure.

The factors favoring meat
sector development
1. Low cost of production of meat type of animals to a
desired age of 2 years.
2. Leanness of Indian meat: contains less fat and the
present international trend is favorable for low fat
meat. Average fat content of Indian beef is around
4% compared to 15-20% in most of the developed
countries.
3. Green fodder feeding, absence of animal protein
(carcass meal; meat and bone meal) in the ration are
favorable factors for Indian meat industry.
4. Price structure of various meats in international
market. Beef price is the highest followed by pork,
mutton, and chicken.
5. The absence of hormones, antibiotics and growth
promoters’ in the feed, the Indian meat is considered
not only lean but also clean and organic.
6. There is no incidence of Bovine Spongiform
Encephalopathy (BSE) in India.
7. Close proximity to promising Middle East market.
Challenges and opportunities
for the Indian Meat Industry
1. Setting up of State of Art- Abattoir cum meat
processing plants: In India, there are only 10 most
modern sate of art mechanized abattoir cum meat
processing plants in various states for slaughtering of
buffaloes and sheep. These plants are eco-friendly as
the byproducts are utilized for production of MBM,
tallow, bone chips etc. In addition, establishment of
Effluent Treatment Plant for waste water treatment
from abattoir and lairage, with the water discharged
having BOD values  30 ppm. These plants follow
SPS measures prescribed by the International Animal
Health Code of O.I.E. There are four fully integrated
poultry meat processing plants of world standard too.
2. Raising male buffalo calves for meat production: In
India, 15 million calves are removed from the buffalo
production system due to intentional killing by the
farmers to save dam’s milk in the wake of non-
remunerative cost of raising them. Male calf therefore
is unfortunately not cared for and resultantly does not
survive. A major potential exists for male calf rearing
for meat purposes. These calves can be salvaged for
meat production thereby improving the economic
condition of the farmers and also meat production
for domestic and export market. Male calves can be
reared without the use of hormones, antibiotics, and
growth promoters. They can then be slaughtered
scientifically for meat production. The GOI has
proposed a financial outlay of $250 million to fund
the programme ‘Salvaging and Rearing of Male Buffalo
Calves’ for the purpose of increasing meat production
during the XI plan (GAIN report, 2008).
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com)
TARs
3. Rearing buffaloes: Contractual farming as backward
integration to modern abattoir: A strong need has been
felt to establish a production base around each
modern abattoir to produce quality and disease free
animals as per SPS requirements of O.I.E. The success
story of broiler farming with contract farming can be
employed here to safeguard the interest of small and
marginal farmers by providing them the feed, medicine
and marketing of finished product and ascertaining a
fixed remuneration to farmers.
4. Establishing disease free zones for rearing animals:
India is fortunately free from most of the trade related
diseases and BSE has not been reported. However,
FMD is still prevalent in an endemic form in some
states. The establishment of 3 zones with 56 districts
to control FMD in the X five year plan was the first
step by the Government of India towards the
establishment of disease free zones. The World
Organization of Animal Health (OIE) declared India
“Rinderpest free” in May 2006.
5. Byproduct utilization: For the profitability of the
meat industry, proficient utilization of meat by-
products is important. It has been estimated that
11.4% of the gross income from beef and 7.5% of
the income from pork, come from the by-products.
6. Identification and up gradation of municipal slaughter
houses for export purpose: Government should make
efforts to upgrade municipal slaughter houses to semi
modern abattoirs with all basic requirements and
minimum hygienic standards. In the present context
of WTO agreement on sanitary and phyto-sanitary
(SPS) measures, the hygienic standards of existing meat
plants should be improved at par with the best in the
world.
7. Need for modernizing the Quali ty Control
laboratories of the State Govt.: The State Govt.
laboratories are not well equipped and also lacking
in skilled staff to conduct various examinations of
meat. It is therefore need of an hour to upgrade the
quality control laboratories in terms of modern testing
facilities and skilled manpower in order to produce
safe, clean and wholesome meat.
8. Need for strict laboratory inspection of meat and meat
products: In most of the slaughter houses, basic
facilities required for hygienic meat production are
lacking so ante mortem and post mortem inspection
are not followed.
9. Training programmes for meat workers: Regular
training should be conducted by Govt. institutions,
SAUs for meat workers, supervisors and managers on
importance of scientific slaughtering and dressing.
This will help in realization of significance of hygiene
and sanitation in slaughter house, meat processing
plants etc.
10. Marketing of Meat and Meat Products: Most of the
meat production and marketing practices in India are
Indian Food Industry  30(4), July-August 2011 21
 TARs
traditional. Well-integrated marketing system for meat
and meat products is lacking in India. The main
reasons are monopoly of meat trader, lack of co-
ordination between production and demand, too many
middlemen in the trade and inefficiency management
in slaughterhouse. There is a dire need to modernize
the meat production and marketing system.
Government of India is keen to improve the marketing
system so that the consumers would get the quality
meat and meat products at reasonable prices.
11. Setting up cold storages: Meat is nutrient dense food
which makes it perishable commodity. In order to
improve keeping quality of meat, cold chain is of
crucial importance during transport as well as storage
till it reaches to consumers. The Government should
support setting up cold storages, supply/value chain
and 100% export oriented slaughter houses in the
country.
Future prospects of meat
industry
Strategies for the prosperity of Indian meat industry:
1. Production of good quality animals for slaughter is
must for production of good quality meat. Hence,
farmers’ cooperative can play a major role in the field
of production and marketing of quality animals,
extension education and encouragement of backward
integration / contract farming as in poultry industry
for intensive and semi-intensive system of rearing
small ruminants.
2. Food safety at all stages of production, processing,
packing, storage and marketing of meat and meat
products, maintenance of standards such as SPS,
HACCP certification and others which are prescribed
by the importing countries.
3. Consumer awareness: Priorities must be given to
address the myths prevalent among the public
regarding meat consumption and diseases (Meat
consumption and risk of cancer, Meat consumption
associated to increased risk of coronary heart disease
due to its fat and cholesterol content) with proper
extension programmes.
4. Meat processing and value addition are key for the
prosperity of meat industry. The awareness regarding
the processed meats and the convenience to the
consumers and households should be improved.
5. Packaging of meat and meat products: Most of meat
is sold in India is in unpacked form. Meat is packed
only in some organized meat factories and in bacon
factories. For safe delivery of the meat and various
value added meat products through the various stages
of processing, storage, transport, distribution and
marketing packaging is of utmost importance.
6. Breeding strategies: Meat scientists and animal
geneticists should collaborates their research for
developing a potential cross bred buffalo for meat
purpose. Meat production potential under extensive
22 Indian Food Industry  30(4), July–August 2011
Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com)
View publication stats
and intensive system should be adequately exploited
through cross breeding of selected local breeds/ non-
descript breeds with specific exotic and improved
breeds.
7. At present buffalo meat is obtained as a byproduct
of buffalo milk production. There is vast scope for
increasing carabeef export consequent to cattle
slaughter ban act, availability of male buffalo calves
and the steady demand for the same from the
importing countries. It is high time to consider
growing/fattening of male buffalo calves for veal
production. Sufficient nutrition and improved levels
of hygiene and sanitation at meat handling will
enable India a quantum jump in meat production by
utilizing the surplus male calves.
Conclusion
Since last decade, due to stringent SPS requirements
imposed by the importing countries has brought in a sea
change in the meat industry This has forced the
establishment of State of Art abattoirs and modernization
of local slaughterhouses by the Ministry of Food
Processing Industries, GOI for export. India had already
witnessed revolution in food grain and milk production,
now its prime time for the revolution in meat production
in up-coming years. Indian farming community has been
very progressive by need based adaptation. Animal
agriculture has been favorable and so has become
popular. The major role played by buffaloes in
strengthening dairy industry in India can well be repeated
in meat industry. The non-tariff barriers (NTB) such as
SPS should be based strictly on real health and
environmental standards. Collective and planned efforts
from liaison offices, meat industries, meat corporations,
scientists and nodal bodies like APEDA and Directorate
of Marketing and Inspection (DMI) are required for
exchange of information, overall improvement and thus
transformation of this escalating industry.
References
APEDA. (2008). Export of agro and processed food
products including meat and meat products.
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export
Development Authority. Ministry of Commerce,
Government of India.
Dastagiri M. B. (2004) Demand and Supply Projections
for Livestock Products in India. Policy Paper 21.
Delgado, C., M. Rosegrant, H. Steinfeld, S. Ehui, and C.
Courbois.1999. ‘Livestock to 2020 – The Next Food
Revolution’: Food, Agriculture and the Environment
Discussion Paper 28. IFPRI/FAO/ILRI.
DHADF Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying &
Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of
India, New Delhi annual report, 2010-11
FAO. (2009). Food and Agriculture Organisation, Rome.
GAIN Report (2008) India Livestock and Products Annual
2008 (IN8098).