April 11, 2011

Australia's beef production shows increase

Beef production in Australia rose to 192,522 tonnes in February, marking a 24% increase compared to January and an 18% increase on-year, according to the government's Bureau of Statistics.

The total number of cattle slaughtered in February of a seasonally-adjusted 671,475 beasts, excluding calves, rose 17% on month and 10% on-year.

While the bureau does not explain the figures, industry participants said in January that the prevalent flooding that damaged roads, bridges and rail facilities in Queensland, the major beef producing state, had disrupted the movement of cattle to slaughterhouses. With fewer beasts slaughtered, production fell.