Australian beef exporters could stand to gain after the Indian government announced new restrictions on the sale of livestock, including cattle, for slaughter.
India's Ministry of Environment on Friday banned the sale of cattle for slaughter from animal markets, allowing the sale of cattle for agricultural purposes only.
India is the world's second largest beef exporter after Brazil, accounting for 20 per cent of all the beef exported in the world last year, according to ABC Online, which would create a significant shortfall in the global meat market.
Cows are revered by Hindus, and when he was elected in 2014 India's prime minister, Narendra Modi vowed to ban their slaughter nationally.
Already 18 states have banned the slaughter of cattle in India in India, and three states require permits for the slaughter of cattle. Only seven states allow cattle to be killed.
