September 3, 2004

Australia Scores Record Beef Production In July

Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics have revealed that Australian beef production for July totalled 185,336 tons cw. This is the highest July production total on record and 11% above the same period last year (166,754 tonnes cw).

The significant increase in production during July can be largely attributed to the sharp jump in male cattle slaughter, in addition to an increase in the average weight of cattle slaughtered.

Male cattle slaughter for July totalled 365,000 head, up 18% on last year, as producers enticed by historically high saleyard prices increased turnoff rates. Male cattle slaughter in Queensland jumped 21% on last year to 208,000 head, while slaughter rates in NSW rose 29% to 81,000 head.

Meanwhile, female slaughter declined 7% on last year to 337,000 head, as producers focus on rebuilding drought-depleted herds. For the first seven months of 2004, total female cattle slaughter fell 7% to 2.25 million head. Slaughter was down in all states except Western Australia.

On top of the sharp jump in male cattle slaughter for the month, the average weight of adult cattle slaughtered for July reached 264kg/head, an increase of 6% on the same period last year (248kg/head).