Australia beef output up six percent on-year in August

Australian beef and veal production during August increased six percent on-year, boosted by higher Queensland adult cattle slaughter due to record August heat and deteriorating seasonal conditions.

Production for August reached 186,256 tonnes cwt, with a 17 percent year-on-year rise in Queensland offsetting falls in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Austraia and Tasmania, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The deteriorating season throughout southern Queensland during August contributed to a 16-percent jump in total adult cattle slaughter, as processors benefitted from reduced competition from restockers and feeders.

Reduced cattle slaughter in August 2008 also contributed to the rise, as transport issues restricted cattle movements during the first week of the month.

While male and female slaughter in Queensland for August were up 15 percent and 20 percent, respectively, on the same period last year, compared with the five-year average, they were up only one percent and seven percent, respectively.

Average rainfall across much of Victoria tightened cattle turnoff in August, with total adult slaughter falling 13 percent year-on-year, with male and female numbers down 14 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

After a rapid start to the year, boosted by drought and weak conditions for the dairy sector, female cattle turnoff has now declined for the past four months. A very wet August had total adult cattle slaughter in Tasmania down 19 percent year-on-year.

New South Wales cattle slaughter during August declined three percent year-on-year, with female and male numbers tightening four percent and two percent, respectively.