India: Livestock and Products Annual

India's cattle inventory beginning 2027 is forecast at 307 million head, marginally lower over last year, as rising slaughter (driven by strong domestic and export demand for bovine meat) modestly outpaces herd growth. Cattle/buffalo slaughter is forecast to rise 1.6 percent to 44.2 million head, supporting bovine meat production growth to 5.0 million metric tons (MMT) carcass weight equivalent (CWE). India's carabeef exports continue near-record growth, reaching a forecast of 1.9 MMT CWE in 2027 (up 2.7 percent year-over-year), driven by competitive pricing and expanding markets. Domestic consumption is also rising steadily, supported by affordability relative to other meats.