July 9, 2012

Australia's beef production lower in May

Australia's adult cattle slaughter have dropped 3% on-year for May, to 666,000 head, with total beef production also falling 3% over the same period, to 190,395 tonnes.

Despite the on-year decline in both slaughter and production, May is traditionally a large production month, with May's volume the highest so far in 2012 (Australian Bureau of Statistics).

Underpinning the overall decline in adult cattle slaughter was a 3% on-year reduction in Queensland, which reached 329,000 head. Despite falling on last year (highest monthly total in 2011), slaughter in May 2012 increased in comparison to the other months as a result of the higher seasonal turnoff as producers offload stock as winter approaches. Adult cattle slaughter in New South Wales (124,500 head) fell 18% on-year, while Victorian slaughter (124,400 head) surged 12% on-year in May, the highest since March 2010. Female slaughter continues to track lower than the same time last year, falling 1% on-year, to 308,700 head.

Average national carcase weights in May increased slightly on the corresponding month last year, to 286 kilogrammes per head. Despite easing 1% on-year in May, Queensland average carcase weights hit 300 kilogrammes per head, with the biggest improvement in carcase weights attributed to New South Wales, which gained 4% or 11 kilogrammes per head on last year, to average 285 kilogrammes per head.