May 3, 2004

Australian Beef Output Up 0.8% In March

Beef production in Australia, a major global exporter, edged 0.8% higher in March to a seasonally adjusted 169,558 metric tons from 168,129 tons in February, the government's Bureau of Statistics reported Monday.
 
Beef output in March was up 6.2% from 159,605 tons in March 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 March rose to 656,000 beasts from 638,900 in February, compared with 638,400 in March 2003.
 
The bureau didn't comment on the cattle slaughtering or beef production figures.
 
               AUSTRALIAN MEAT PRODUCTION
  (seasonally adjusted data, metric tons, carcass weight)
 
                     March 2004     Feb. 2004      March 2003
 
 Beef               169,558         168,129          159,605
 Veal                   2,806            2,868             4,693
 Mutton              20,028          19,997            17,418
 Lamb                30,527          29,119            29,253
 Pigmeat            35,141          32,076            34,906
 
 (Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics)