March 9, 2007

Feed prices to restrain Australian poultry and pork production
 

Increased feed grain prices are forecast to restrain growth in the Australian poultry and pig meat industries, according to the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics (ABARE).

According to ABARE, Australian pig meat production in 2006/2007 is forecast to decline 4 percent on the previous year, to 374,000 tonnes, with production levels to remain relatively steady through to 2010-11. With domestic production restrained, total Australian pigmeat imports are forecast to increase 23 percent between 2006-07 and 2011-12, reaching 107,000 tonnes slaughterweight (swt).

Australian poultry production in 2006/2007 is forecast to total 842,000 tonnes. Production levels from 2007/2008 through to 2011/2012 are forecast to increase by 8 percent, with growth again dependent on feed grain prices.