October 13, 2014

Australia's cattle slaughters jump 9% in August

The continual drought in Australia has escalated adult cattle slaughters by  9% year-on, at 796,900 head, according to Meat and Livestock Australia.

With slaughters expected to stay high till the end of 2014, Australia's beef production this year could be its highest ever.

At six million head, slaughters for the year-to-August is 10% above 2013's highest kill since 1978.

In New South Wales, number of slaughters is reported at 170,400 head, a 14% rise on-year, and at 168,000 head (15% rise on-year) in Victoria. "Below average" winter rainfalls, which are registered in the Riverina and northern Victoria, is said to be the catalyst behind the increases.

In August, female cattle accounted for over half of the slaughters, at 421,200 head, bringing the year-to-August total to 3.17 million head. Given the significantly high rate of female kill for the duration of 2014, and a large portion of 2013, the breeding nucleus has shrunk considerably from the highs of 2012.

In the meantime, production of beef and veal has increased with 224,890 tonnes in August, pushing the total for the first eight months of 2014 to 1.7 million tonnes. The figure represents a 10% rise above the 2013 record for the same period.