December 7, 2007

Australia posts lower beef production in October

Australian beef production fell during October, as the decline in the number of heavy steers turned out of feedlots and an increased proportion of female cattle slaughter combined to reduced average carcase weights. Despite a 1 percent on-year increase in adult cattle slaughter during October, total beef production decreased 2 percent, to 195,764 tonnes hundredweight (cwt), according to Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The reduced supply of heavier cattle out of feedlots contributed to Queensland beef production falling 5 percent for the month, to 96,055 tonnes cwt. The very high feed grain prices during 2007 have seen many feedlots significantly reduce the number of cattle on feed, along with feeding regimes. Adult cattle carcase weights in Queensland for October averaged 283kg/head - back 3 percent year-on-year. Similarly, Victorian and South Australia beef production also declined, falling 5 percent and 3 percent, respectively, on the same period last year.

In contrast, beef production in NSW jumped 10 percent on-year, to 42,132 tonnes cwt, as the deteriorating seasonal saw turnoff increase. Production in West Australia also increased, rising 8 percent on-year, to 10,934 tonnes cwt.

National average adult carcase weights for October averaged 3 percent below October 2006, at 264kg/head. Cattle slaughter during October climbed 1 percent on last year, to 742,000 head, a combination of an 11 percent jump in female and 7 percent decline in male slaughter.