Analysis of beef production volume in Serbia from 1985 to 2011.

The aim of this study was to examine and compare the volume of beef production in Serbia in three six-year periods: from 1985 to 1990, from 1995 to 2000, and from 2006 to 2011. The number of cattle, as well as the number of slaughtered cattle from 2006 to 2011 was significantly lower (p<0.01) compared to previous periods (1985-1990 and 1995-2000). The average live weight of cattle in the period from 1985 to 1990 was significantly lower (p<0.01) than the average live weight of cattle from later periods (from 1995 to 2000, and from 2006 to 2011). The average carcass weight of cattle was not significantly different between periods from 1995 to 2000 and from 2006 to 2011. No significant difference was established in dressing percentage of cattle between periods from 1995 to 2000 and from 2006 to 2011. In comparison to the period from 1985 to 1990, the production of beef decreased by 24.60% from 1995 to 2000, and by 29.20% in the period from 2006 to 2011. Such a decrease in beef production in Serbia is a result of permanent reduction in the number of cattle in the past twenty-five years.