November 18, 2010

Australia's Q3 beef production shows increase

Compared with the previous quarter, beef production in Australia rose 2.5% for July-September, reaching 530,113 tonnes, up 3.9% from the year-earlier period, the government's Bureau of Statistics reported.

The total number of cattle slaughtered in the third quarter, excluding calves, reached 1.87 million beasts, little changed from the second quarter and down 2.1% on-year.

Live cattle exports jumped to 216,600 beasts valued at AUD148.3 million (US$146 million) from 183,100 beasts valued at AUD120.1 million (US$118.2 million) in the second quarter, but fell on-year from 258,500 beasts valued at AUD161.0 million (US$158 million).

Australia exports two-thirds of its beef production to the major markets of Japan, the US, South Korea and Southeast Asian nations, with the level of exports closely tied to production.