This article summarizes a 2006 study of the meat consumption habits of 1,500 Russians living in 44 different regions, finding that 51% consume meat almost every day, 34% consume it twice a week, and 10% consume it once or twice a month. The remaining 5% consume meat once a year or less. Personal farming is also addressed in this report, with Muscovites accounting for 20% of all owners of personal farming plots, while villagers comprise 70%.

According to this survey of Russians:

• 51% consume meat almost daily
• 34% consume meat once or twice a week
• 10% consume meat once or twice a month
• 2% consume meat once a year
• 3% do not consume meat at all

The rate of meat consumption strongly correlates to income levels: 40% of families with monthly per capita incomes under 3,999 rubles eat meat on a daily basis, as do 62% of those with higher earnings. In Moscow, where the income levels are traditionally believed to be the highest in the country, daily consumption of meat does not significantly exceed the mean figures (59%) while it reaches 70% in other large cities. Conversely, villagers are less likely than city dwellers to eat meat every day (42%). [Excerpted from report]

53% eat meat whenever they like, while 43% restrict consumption for financial reasons.

With respect to farming, some 38% of respondents own personal farming plots. 52% of those (20% of the entire sample) raise farmed animals (livestock) or poultry. The most common types of animals raised are:

• Chicken (15%)
• Cows (8%)
• Pigs (8%)
• Water fowl (5%)
• Goats and sheep (2%)
• Rabbits (2%)
• Horses, turkeys, ostriches (1%)

65% of farming plot owners (13% of total sample) say they face problems raising livestock including the high cost of feed (12%). 75% (15% of total sample) raise animals for personal consumption, with 25% (4% of total sample) selling at least some of the meat they produce.