The Indian government has published new animal welfare regulations restricting the trade of live cattle to transactions between farmers for agricultural purposes such as dairying, breeding and ploughing.

"It is envisaged that welfare of cattle dealt in the market will be ensured and that only healthy animals are traded for agriculture purposes for the benefits of the farmers," the Ministry of Environment and Forests stated at the weekend. "Animal for slaughter will have to be bought from the farmers at the farms."

300m-head cattle herd

This effectively shuts down supply channels to the beef industry from India's 300m-head cattle and buffalo herd – the largest in the world. India exported 1.3bn tonnes of beef (meat from cattle and buffaloes) worth €3.5bn last year, mostly to other Asian countries. The removal of this trade would leave a gap larger than all of Ireland's beef exports on the global market.

The decision is seen as a political move by the nationalistic Hindu government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in accordance with the sacredness of cattle in the Hindu religion. It will hit the beef industry, which is largely operated by the Muslim minority. Legal challenges to the new regulations are expected from local governments and industry bodies dependent on the beef trade.

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India bans sale of cattle for slaughter in radical beef market move

India's government has banned the trade of cattle for purposes other than dairying and field work, effectively outlawing beef production from the world's largest herd.