After slaughtering, beef and offal are passed on through wholesalers and then retailers throughout the country with various arrangements of take-now-pay-later or through sales. Beef processing is at minimal in Myanmar. Thus, beef is retailed freshly slaughtered and sold in the morning at local markets.
A typical retailer maintains a stall in a market and sells beef in the morning. The retailer cuts the portions of meat at the request of a customer and weigh to before selling, usually use a set of balance scales. In addition beef can also be sold as meat cuts from refrigerator. This accounts for a small amount, but appears as an emerging market segment.
Although beef consumption is not common in the Burmese culture, there is a high demand for beef in highly populated cities, tourist areas and industries including Yangoon, Mandalay city, Bago city, Taungyi city (Southern Shan State), Mawlamyaing city (Mon State).
Meat consumption in Myanmar was estimated by LBVD based on the ‘trade balance method’ as domestic meat production, plus net trade divided by the population.
Figure 5 demonstrates that meat consumption has risen significantly in the past decade. However, beef accounts for the smallest level of total meat consumption, and the growth in beef consumption is the lowest.