EXPLANATORY NOTES
INTRODUCTION
1 This publication contains information on livestock slaughterings and meat production.
2 The statistics on slaughterings for red meat production are based on a monthly collection from abattoirs and other major slaughtering establishments and include estimates of animals slaughtered by country butchers and other small slaughtering establishments. This reflects a revised methodology adopted from July 2010. Refer below for further details.
3 Red meat is shown in carcass weight and excludes offal.
4 Care should be taken when using this information as the figures only relate to slaughterings for human consumption and do not include animals condemned, slaughtered for pet food or those killed for boiling down.
5 The figures in this publication have been rounded. As a result, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.
CHANGES IN THIS ISSUE
6 Estimates published in previous editions of this publication included a small, stable component to represent the on-farm slaughter of livestock. Following a quality review of this collection and consultation with the key users of these data, on-farm slaughter has now been removed. Historical data back to July 2007 have been revised for all series.
7 The quality review has also aligned the collection's calf and pig definitions to current industry standards.
8 These changes impact on livestock slaughtering and meat production estimates published in this and future editions of Livestock and Meat, Australia. Related estimates published in future editions of Livestock Products, Australia (cat.no. 7215.0) will also be affected.
9 As a result of these changes the estimates included in this release cannot be directly compared to those published in previous editions. To assist users in accounting for the associated breaks in the time series, re-based historical estimates to July 2007 have been made available in the Downloads tab.
10 Further information on the new methodology and revised definitions may be obtained by contacting The Environment and Agricultural Business Centre, Australian Bureau of Statistics, GPO Box 66, Hobart TAS 7001. Alternatively, email <agriculture.statistics@abs.gov.au> or phone(03) 6222 5940.
SEASONAL ADJUSTMENT
11 Seasonal adjustment is a means of removing the estimated effects of normal seasonal variation from the series so that the effects of other influences can be more clearly recognised.
12 In the seasonal adjustment of the livestock estimates, account has been taken of both normal seasonal factors and ‘trading day’ effects, where significant. Seasonal adjustment does not remove from the series the effect of irregular influences (e.g. abnormal weather, industrial disputes).
13 As for the seasonally adjusted state components, the state component trend estimates have been produced independently and therefore may not add up to the Australian group totals.
14 In this publication, the seasonally adjusted estimates are produced by the concurrent seasonal adjustment method which takes account of the latest available original estimates. This method improves the estimation of seasonal factors and, therefore, the seasonally adjusted and trend estimates for the current and previous months. As a result of this improvement, revisions to the seasonally adjusted and trend estimates will be observed for recent periods. A more detailed review is conducted annually.
15 For further information, see Time Series Analysis Frequently Asked Questions, 2003 (cat. no. 1346.0.55.002).
16 From September 2007, improved methods of producing seasonally adjusted estimates, focused on the application of Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) modelling techniques, were implemented. The ARIMA modelling technique can be used to extend original estimates beyond the end of a time series.
17 For further information on ARIMA modelling, see the feature article 'Use of ARIMA modelling to reduce revisions' in Australian Economic Indicators, Oct 2004 (cat. no. 1350.0).
TREND ESTIMATES
18 A trend estimate is obtained by reducing the irregular component from the seasonally adjusted series. For monthly data, trend estimates are derived by applying a 13-term Henderson moving average to the seasonally adjusted series. Revisions of trend estimates will occur with revisions to the original data and re-estimation of seasonal factors.
19 For further information, see Information Paper: A Guide to Interpreting Time Series - Monitoring Trends, 2003 (cat. no. 1349.0).
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
20 Current publications and other products released by the ABS are listed under the Statistics and Topics @ a Glance pages on the ABS website <https://www.abs.gov.au>. The ABS also issues a daily Release Advice on the website which details products to be released in the week ahead.
21 Other ABS publications containing livestock data include:
- Agricultural Commodities, Australia (cat. no. 7121.0)
- Agricultural Commodities: Small Area Data, Australia (cat. no. 7125.0)
- Livestock Products, Australia (cat. no. 7215.0)
- Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia (cat. no. 7503.0)
GENERAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT
22 ABS publications draw extensively on information provided freely by individuals, businesses, governments and other organisations. Their continued cooperation is very much appreciated. Without it, the wide range of statistics published by the ABS would not be available. Information received by the ABS is treated in strict confidence as required by the
Census and Statistics Act 1905.
Quality Declaration 
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