TEHRAN- As announced by the head of the Agriculture Department of Tehran province, the capital's total monthly need for red meat is 13,500 tons.Saying that 450 tons of red meat of mutton and veal are consumed daily, the official stated that according to the available statistics, 800 calves and 9,000 sheep are slaughtered daily, and another part of the consumption needs of Tehran province is provided from other provinces.As previously reported, the production of red meat in Iran stood at 43,775 tons in the second month of the current Iranian calendar year (April 21-May 21), showing 11 percent fall compared to the same month in the past year.As reported, beef and veal had the lion’s share in the country’s red meat output during the second month with 23,281 tons, followed by lamb and mutton with 17,057 tons, goat meat with 2,592 tons, and red meat from other livestock with 845 tons. 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