Mongolian livestock has now surged to record numbers, far in excess of domestic demand. The total number reached 66.2 million animals at the end of 2017, which is an increase of approximately 7.8% from 2016.  However, these days, the inhabitants of the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar cannot afford to buy meat because of high prices: one kilogram of beef costs MNT 10.000 (approximately USD 4). As for 16 July, a kilogram of mutton sold by MNT 7545- MNT 8090, a kilogram of beef to MNT 9011- MNT 10882 and a kilogram of horse meet to 6600 . Our investigators didn’t visit an expensive food shop, but rather the Khuchit Shonkhor market, which is known to be the cheapest market in Ulaanbaatar.

Mongolians use meat on a daily basis as it is totally central to the national diet.