December 04, 2003

 

 

Australia October Beef Output Up 0.3% To 158,777 MT Vs September

 

Beef production in Australia, a major global exporter, rose 0.3% in October to a seasonally adjusted 158,777 metric tons from 158,227 tons in September, the government's Bureau of Statistics reported late Wednesday.

 

Beef output in October was down 9.4% from 175,298 tons in October 2002.

 

Australia exports about two-thirds of its beef production, mostly to the

U.S. and Japan.

 

The bureau reported the total number of cattle slaughtered, excluding calves, in October fell to 626,400 from 636,200 in September and was down from 701,500 in October 2002.

 

The bureau said its trend estimate for cattle slaughter, a measure that further smoothes seasonally adjusted data, fell in October for the eleventh consecutive month.

 

"Current slaughtering levels continue to be influenced by the large volume of stock sent to slaughter throughout 2002 and the need for farmers to retain younger cattle to rebuild herds" after a savage drought in 2002 and 2003, it said in a statement.

 

Australian beef production rose in 2002 as cattle producers sold their beasts in the face of a savage drought that withered pastures.

 

With the breaking of the drought in eastern Australia, many producers now hold beasts on properties to take advantage of rejuvenated pastures.

 

                AUSTRALIAN MEAT PRODUCTION

   (seasonally adjusted data, metric tons, carcass weight)

 

                      Oct. 2003    Sept. 2003     Oct. 2002

 

 Beef                158,777       158,227       175,298

 Veal                    3,019          2,776           2,200

 Mutton               17,498        14,205         24,966

 Lamb                 27,844        26,368         24,854

 Pigmeat             34,256        33,690         35,021

 

 

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics