쇠고기 수입자유화에 따른 일본의 경험과 한우산업의 대응방안

Experience of Japanese Beef Industry under Liberalization and Prospects for Korean Beef Industry

Japanese beef industry was surveyed to derive some implications for Korean beef industry. Import liberalization of beef in Japan did not render significant influences to the Wagyu(Japanese native cattle) secter, mainly due to the reinforced safety nets and differentiation strategy. In recent years, however, the number of Wagyu is gradually decreasing. Lack of successors in breeding farms located in less favoured area and increased production control of paddy are the main reasons. Unlike Japan, Korea failed in establishing safety nets and differentiation strategy in advance to the import liberalization. Accordingly, many small breeding farms quit production to avoid risk under liberalization. In addition, many farms run into purchasing cow for slaughter since it is more profitable than retaining the cow for breeding. As a result, the slaughter rate of cow by far exceeded 50% and the number of Hanwoo(Korean native cattle) showed significant decrease followed by unprecedently high price. The experience of Japan suggests that surplus of rice will further force the small breeding farms responsible for more than 50% of calf production quit raising Hanwoo. Thus, efforts to complement the current safety nets and to correct market failure by increasing castrated fattening instead of female slaughter are badly needed to maintain Hanwoo herd at a proper level.