The bearer of the good news was the chief of the executive committee for the Russian National Meat Association, Sergey Yushin, who is in Orange today for Meat and Livestock Australia’s Meat Profit Day.

This increase had come about due to the quality of Australian beef and its ability to meet Russian quarantine protocols, plus an inability of local production to meet growing demand, Mr Yushin said.

In as short a period as a couple of years, he said Australian frozen beef imports to Russia had increased from almost nothing, to accounting for 8pc.

In 2008 the US provided 2pc.

Also driving demand were factors such as low efficiencies in local production, a Government which didn't properly understand the meat business, and a large proportion of small scale producers.

For these reasons, plus a declining Russian herd, Mr Yushin expected imports of beef to increase.

He said this would provide opportunity for Australian suppliers providing the quality remained high.

* More details on Russia and the Meat Profit Day in next week's issue of The Land.