Country Profiles

Cambodia COUNTRY PROFILE
Overview

Key facts about the industry 2001-2013

Compounded Annual growth (%)
Herd size (million head 2013): 3.43 1.4%
Turn off/slaughter (million head 2013) 0.11 3.1%
Turn off rate/Slaughter rate (% 2013) 3.2 1.9%
Cattle meat (thousand tonnes 2013)4 13 3.1%
Cattle meat supply (kg/person 2013) 0.87 1.7%

Source: adapted from MAAF (2013).

4 The cattle meat production figures were calculated from reports on number of cattle slaughtered. Average cattle brought for slaughter is 250kg/head with carcass weigh 48%, therefore the average carcass weight is 120kg/head.

       HIGHLIGHTS

  • Cattle and buffalo in Cambodia concentrated in the provinces along the Mekong River, are widely used in the agricultural sector for their draught power and manure.
  • Cattle production is primarily based on mixed crop-livestock systems, predominately utilising local yellow breed and Haryana crosses. Very few commercial cattle farms have been developed in Cambodia.
  • The commercial market chain, which has been developing for less than 15 years, involves collectors/brokers and traders before animals reach markets.
  • Shortage of feed is a critical constraint for increasing cattle production and productivity.
  • The processing sector is rudimentary, largely dominated by small scale slaughterhouses.
  • Government policy currently focuses on developing cattle and buffalo for draught power – to increase rice production for self-sufficient food consumption.
  • Cambodia is a net exporter and a transit country for cattle movement in the Mekong region.
  • Unofficial exports of live cattle from Cambodia have reportedly increased in recent years in response to a growing demand from Vietnam. However, the Cambodian cattle industry has to compete with cattle and beef exports from other countries, including Australia.
Scroll Top