New Zealand's total cattle slaughter for February was back 22% on-year, to 192,327 head, largely due to producers taking advantage of good feeding conditions caused by widespread rainfall in December and January, according to Statistics New Zealand.

The decline was recorded across all categories, with the largest on-year fall in cows and heifers, declining 29%, to 81,854 head. Slaughter of steers and bulls was back 16%, to 110,246 head.

The ample feed supplies pushed average carcass weights up for adult cattle in February, which helped to partially offset the decline in slaughter. Beef production for the month totalled 53,325 tonnes cwt, down 17% on-year.

An increase in slaughter was seen through March, which followed drier than average conditions through February and March, reported NZX Agrifax.