TEHRAN- Production of red meat in Iran stood at 31,952 tons in the fourth Iranian calendar month Tir (June 21-July 21), the Statistical Center of Iran (SCI) announced.

As reported, beef and veal had the lion’s share in the country’s red meat output during the third month with 18,439 tons, followed by lamb and mutton with 10,409 tons, goat meat with 2,425 tons, and red meat from other livestock with 679 tons.

Supply of red meat in the fourth month of this year fell 28 percent from that of the same month in the previous year, and dropped four percent as compared to the third month of the present year.

Iran is among the leading consumers of red meat in the West Asia region with lamb being the most sought after. However, the consumption per person is around a third of what is normally seen in countries like the U.S. and Australia, mainly due to the prohibition of pork in Islamic law.

The major part of Iran’s red meat imports comes from countries like Brazil, where Iranian supervisors directly control culling methods to ensure they comply with religious rules.

MA