December 19, 2012

Australia's volume and value of pig meat production in 2011 were higher than the previous year.

Overall gross livestock slaughter value was AUD13,730.7 million (US$14.4 billion) in Australia in 2011-12, down from AUD13,762.1 million (US$14.5 billion) the previous year, according to 'Agricultural Commodity Statistics 2012', the annual report from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES).

However, the value of pig meat produced was AUD933.7 million (US$981 million), up 1.6% from AUD919.1 million (US$966 million) the year before.

Total pig numbers in 2011 were slightly lower than the year before but there were 10% more breeding sows and gilts at 295,000.

About 1% more pigs were slaughtered in 2011 than the year before, and average slaughter weight increased from 73.4 kilogrammes to 73.8 kilogrammes, raising total production to 344,300 tonnes.

Compared to the previous year, imports in 2011 were lower and exports were higher. Total consumption of pig meat in Australia in 2011 was 1.5% lower than the previous year, and the per-capita average was down from 25.8 kilogrammes to 25.0 kilogrammes.

Total pig count on June 30, 2012 stood at 2.159 million, down from 2.285 million the year before. There were some significant changes in the location of those pigs, with New South Wales and Victoria gaining at the expense of Queensland - still the nation's no. one pig state - South Australia and Western Australia. Tasmania recorded no change; no pigs were recorded in the Northern Territories and no data is available for Australian Capital Territory.