March 4, 2004
 
 
Australian Beef Output Up In January

Beef production in Australia, a major global exporter, edged 0.9% higher in January to a seasonally adjusted 173,438 metric tons from 171,899 tons in December, the government's Bureau of Statistics reported Thursday.
 
Beef output in January was down 2.4% from 177,767 tons in January 2003.
 
Australia exports about two-thirds of its beef production, mostly to the U.S. and Japan.
 
The bureau reported the total number of cattle slaughtered, excluding calves, in January fell to 664,400 beasts from 667,500 in December, both down from 704,000 in January 2003.
 
The bureau said a trend estimate for cattle slaughterings rose in January for the sixth consecutive month.
 
"Strong domestic demand for beef and dry conditions in some areas are driving recent movements in cattle slaughtering numbers," it said in a statement.
 
A trend estimate of data further smoothes seasonally adjusted figures.
 
               AUSTRALIAN MEAT PRODUCTION
  (seasonally adjusted data, metric tons, carcass weight)
 
                 Jan. 2004    Dec. 2003   Jan. 2003
 
 Beef               173,438     171,899       177,767
 Veal                   3,257        3,588          3,172
 Mutton              18,766      18,770         22,678
 Lamb                28,906      29,528         28,485
 Pigmeat            33,243      32,437         37,248
 
 (Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics)