September 5, 2007

Australia's cattle slaughter up 6 percent in July

Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show that Australia's July adult cattle slaughter has jumped to 6 percent against the same period last year, to 670,000 head due to harsh winter weather contributing to a turnoff increase. ABS also reports that national cattle slaughter for the first seven months of 2007 remains 5 percent above 2006, at 4.7 million heads.

The July increase was also driven by an 18 percent surge in New South Wales (NSW) by 145,000 heads and a 7 percent jump in Victoria to 111,000 heads. Slaughter numbers in South Australia and West Australia were also up by 15,000 or 24 percent head and 38,000 head or 20 percent, respectively. Queensland's slaughter rates however eased back 1 percent on July 2006, to 339,000 head. For the seven months to July, Queensland cattle slaughter is unchanged on the same period last year, at 2.2 million head, while NSW is up 8 percent (1.1 million head) and Victoria 12 percent (916,000 head).

Female cattle slaughter during July climbed 16 percent on last year, to 319,000 head, while male cattle slaughter eased 1 percent, to 351,000 head.

Given the increase in slaughter, national beef production during July increased 3 percent, to 178,669 tonnes (hundredweight) cwt - despite a 3 percent fall in Queensland by 97,077 tonnes cwt. Australian beef production for the seven months to July is up 3 percent, to 1.3 million tonnes cwt.