December 28, 2007

Australia's October beef production shrinks

Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) has reported that Australian beef production fell in October due to decline in number of heavy steers and  increased proportion of female cattle slaughtered combined to reduced average carcase weights.

Despite posting a one percent on-year increase in slaughtered adult cattle in October, total beef production still dwindled to 2 percent, to 195,764 tonnes hundredweight (cwt).

The reduced supply of heavier cattle out of feedlots contributed to Queensland beef production falling 5 percent for the month, to 96,055t cwt.

This year's soaring feed grain prices have significantly reduced the number of cattle on feed.

Adult cattle carcase weights in Queensland for October averaged 283 kilograms/head - down 3 percent on-year.

Similarly, Victorian and South Australian beef production were also falling 5 percent and 3 percent, respectively, on the same period last year.

In contrast, beef production in New South Wales jumped 10 percent on-year, to 42,132t cwt, as the deteriorating season saw turnoff increase.

Production in West Australia also increased to 8 percent on-year to 10,934 cwt.

National average adult carcase weights for October were also 3 percent below from yearago, at 264kg/head. Cattle slaughter in October climbed one percent on last year, to 742,000 head, a combination of an 11 percent jump in female and a 7 per cent decline in male slaughter.