7218.0.55.001 - Livestock and Meat, Australia - Electronic Publication, May 2004  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 02/07/2004   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All

MAY KEY POINTS

TREND ESTIMATES

  • The trend estimate for sheep slaughterings rose for the ninth consecutive month, to 1.0 million. Poor rainfall in key farming areas such as the south-east quarter of NSW continues to influence slaughtering numbers.
  • The trend estimate for lamb slaughterings rose for the ninth consecutive month, to 1.5 million. Producers have been off-loading increasing numbers of lambs in response to reduced feed and water supplies in some regions.
  • The trend estimate for pig slaughterings fell for the twelfth consecutive month, to 452,400. A combination of drought, a high Australian dollar and lower domestic prices continues to place pressure on producers.

MAY KEY FIGURES

Seasonally
Trend
LIVESTOCK SLAUGHTERED
Original
adjusted
estimate
'000
'000
'000
Cattle
695.9
649.9
643.9
Calves
74.3
83.4
79.3
Sheep
956.8
1,034.6
1,009.1
Lambs
1,509.7
1,494.9
1,489.1
Pigs
468.3
438.5
452.4
Seasonally
Trend
MEAT PRODUCED
Original
adjusted
estimate
tonnes
tonnes
tonnes
Beef
181,580
172,005
169,714
Veal
2,678
2,839
2,646
Mutton
19,367
21,740
21,216
Lamb
31,637
30,837
30,915
Pig meat
34,281
31,755
32,649


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.