May 16, 2006

 

Australian beef output increased slightly in first quarter

 

 

Beef production in Australia rose 1.3 percent in the first quarter to an estimated 516,495 tonnes from the 2005 fourth quarter but was still down 2.6 percent from the year-earlier period, the government's Bureau of Statistics reported Tuesday (May 16). 

 

The total number of cattle slaughtered, excluding calves, in the 2006 first quarter rose 1.1 percent from the fourth quarter but was still down 4.0 percent from the year-earlier period, the report said.

 

Australia exports about two-thirds of its beef production, with Japan, the US and South Korea accounting for more than 90 percent of total shipments.

 

The level of exports is closely tied to production.

 

                      Australian Meat Production

               

                              1Q 06           4Q 05         1Q 05

     Beef                 516,495        509,971      530,538

     Veal                     6,732           6,923          6,936

   Mutton                  60,046         60,454         59,727

    Lamb                   93,199         94,035         91,739

  Pigmeat                 96,408         96,895         97,078

Chickenmeat          192,588       192,035        189,146

 

(Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics)