August 10, 2009

Beef and veal production for 2008-09 in Australia was back 0.3 percent on the previous year, as increased female slaughter in Victoria and New South Wales (NSW) almost offset declines in male throughput across all states.

Meat and Livestock Australia reveals that figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that total beef and veal production for the past year reached 2.148 million tonnes cwt (hundredweight), back from 2.155 million tonnes cwt in 2007-08, and 4 percent  below the record 2.23 million tonnes cwt from 2006-07.

The contrast in seasonal conditions throughout 2008-09 from northern to southern Australia resulted in an increase in adult female cattle processed in Victoria and NSW, while Queensland numbers declined. Total Australian adult cattle slaughter for the past year declined 1 percent year-on-year, to 7.89 million head, with a 3 percent increase in female numbers, at 3.92 million head, offset by a 4 percent fall in male numbers, at 3.97 million head. Notably for male turnoff, numbers tightened significantly between April and June 2009, as rainfall across the southern states saw producers retain numbers, with Queensland, NSW and Victorian slaughter falling 15 percent, 14 percent and 19 percent, respectively, on the same period in 2008.

The ongoing drought, combined with a downtown in the dairy industry boosted female slaughter in Victoria during 2008-09, jumping 14 percent, to 1.09 million head - the highest fiscal year total for 31 years. In NSW, total adult female slaughter increased 8 percent, to 938,000 head, the highest since 2002-03, while WA and Tasmanian female slaughter increased 0.4 percent and 1 percent, respectively.

Reflecting an improvement in seasonal conditions, both adult male (2.19 million head) and female (1.33 million head) slaughter in Queensland contracted in 2008-09, back 2 percent and 6 percent, respectively. Better seasonal conditions across a large portion of the state throughout the year saw many producers withholding female numbers, while male cattle were retained to capitalise on the ample feed availability, especially in the first half of 2009.

Average adult cattle carcase weights for 2008-09 increased 0.6kg/head on the previous year, to 267.8/kg head. Reflecting the improved seasonal conditions and steady supply of heavy grassfed steers, the average carcase weights in Queensland jumped 1 percent year-on-year, to a record 291.2kg/head - more than 26kg/head above the next highest state, Tasmania, at 265.2kg/head.