Uruguay is the country that consumes the most beef per person, at about 132 pounds (60 kg) a person in 2012. Argentina had reigned as the leading country for beef consumption, but in 2012, the country fell behind Uruguay with a rate of 129 pounds (58.5 kg) per person. The drop in the amount of beef consumed in Argentina was thought to be partly the result of government policies that were intended to keep domestic prices down but might have decreased profits for cattle ranchers and reduced the amount of beef produced in the country.
More about beef:
- Americans’ beef consumption tends to be much lower than that of people in many other countries, at about 57.5 pounds (26 kg) per person in 2012.
- In 1956, Argentina’s annual beef consumption peaked at 222 lbs (100.7 kg) of beef per person.
- India became the leading exporter of cattle in 2012, even though cows are considered sacred in the Hindu religion, one of the country's main religions.