May 5, 2005

Australians meat numbers up

Dry weather conditions in Australia have caused a rise in the number of animals being slaughtered. The Australian Bureau of Statistics' monthly livestock and meat report indicated 1.472 million lambs slaughtered in March, the largest number since January 2002.

The total number of cattle slaughtered rose three percent to 675,700, while calve numbers were up 1.8 percent to 67,600. Sheep slaughtered rose marginally to 978,100 and pig numbers were up 5.1 percent to 46,170.

Meat production is up as well, with beef up 3.8 percent to 183,000 tonnes, mutton up marginally to 20,700 tonnes and pork up 2.8 percent to 33,200 tonnes.