Mongolia exported 80,400 tons of meat and meat products in 2023, hitting a historic high,  reported  the country’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

The majority of the meat and meat products were exported to China, Russia, and Iran.

Almost all provinces of Mongolia have been experiencing the extreme weather “dzud” this winter. “Therefore, in order to overcome the harsh winter with less loss, meat exporting companies are organizing the purchase of live animals from herders throughout the country until Feb. 1,” the ministry said.

“Dzud” is a Mongolian term to describe a severely cold winter when many livestock die because the ground is frozen or covered by snow.

The number of livestock in the Asian country reached 64.7 million at the end of 2023, down by 9.1 percent from the previous year, according to the National Statistics Office.