Russian meat processor Miratorg has plans to construct a 30,000-strong sheep farm, with further plans to build 10 more. A processing plant would also be built, with an annual production capacity of 1.5m head. If successful, it would be one of the largest lamb farm and processing hubs in the world.

In March, UK cattle slaughterings decreased by 5%, to 160,900 head, compared with the same period last year. The majority of the reduction was driven by a 6% decline in heifer throughputs, which stood at 60,000 head. Steer slaughterings also fell by 4%, young bull throughputs declined by 6% and calf slaughterings fell by 11%.

JBS, the world’s largest meat processor, is set to resume slaughtering at six of its 10 processing plants at the end of the month. Ten of its 36 processing plants had been temporarily closed in a bid to adjust capacity amid the food security scandal that rocked processors in Brazil in February.

There has been a 60% slump in urea exports from China in the first two months of 2017, with volumes dropping to 800,000t. Costs from China, the world’s largest producer of urea, are the main reference point for global nitrogen pricing and have this year caused prices to rise.