September 3, 2008

Australia produced 179,371 tonnes of beef in July, after seasonally-adjustment, a drop of 1.1 percent from 181,407 tonnes in June, according to the Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday (September 2, 2008).

July's production increased only 0.8 percent on-year.

Veal production after adjustment reached 2,169 tonnes, down from 2,234 tonnes in June, and down from 2,524 tonnes in July 2007.

Total number of cattle slaughtered, excluding calves, in July fell 0.8 percent on-month to 665,300 head but increased 2.9 percent on-year, the bureau said.

Australia exports about two-thirds of its beef production, with about 90 percent headed for Japan, the US and South Korea, though Russia has recently become a major market.

The overall level of exports is closely tied to production level.