7218.0.55.001 - Livestock and Meat, Australia - Electronic Publication, Mar 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 05/05/2003   
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MARCH KEY POINTS


TREND ESTIMATES

  • In March 2003, the trend estimate for cattle slaughterings fell for the fourth consecutive month to 660,400 due mainly to adequate follow up rains in Queensland and New South Wales which built on good rains during February. This follows a ten month long period of increases in 2002 when drought conditions in the second half of the year led to a forced sell off of cattle.
  • The trend estimate for sheep slaughterings fell for the sixth consecutive month to 1.02 million due mainly to the cumulative effect of last year's drought conditions which had seen the flock size fall. Recent widespread rains across eastern and central Australia have encouraged producers to hang on to stock for flock rebuilding. The March 2003 trend estimate was the lowest monthly figure recorded since March 1989.
  • Mutton production fell for the sixth consecutive month, to 20,000 tonnes. This was the lowest monthly figure recorded since August 1988.


MARCH KEY FIGURES

Seasonally
Trend
LIVESTOCK SLAUGHTERED
Original
adjusted
estimate
'000
'000
'000
Cattle
650.7
638.4
660.4
Calves
67.9
135.2
119.8
Sheep
940.9
881.5
1,022.1
Lambs
1,389.3
1,456.1
1,502.4
Pigs
468.0
465.1
481.7
Seasonally
Trend
MEAT PRODUCED
Original
adjusted
estimate
tonnes
tonnes
tonnes
Beef
162,090
159,605
165,077
Veal
3,257
4,693
4,226
Mutton
17,906
17,418
20,005
Lamb
27,763
29,253
29,862
Pig meat
34,721
34,906
35,835


NOTES


INTRODUCTION

This publication presents statistics on livestock slaughterings and meat production. These statistics are based on a monthly collection from abattoirs and other major slaughtering establishments. More detailed information on this series can be obtained by contacting the ABS or by referring to the quarterly ABS publication Livestock Products, Australia (cat. no. 7215.0).

For more information about these and related statistics, contact John Moody on Hobart 03 6222 5867, or the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.