7218.0.55.001 - Livestock and Meat, Australia - Electronic Publication, Oct 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 03/12/2003   
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OCTOBER KEY POINTS


TREND ESTIMATES

  • The trend estimate for sheep slaughterings fell for the thirteenth consecutive month, to 706,900. This was the lowest monthly figure recorded since February 1984. Numbers slaughtered remain low due to destocking during the drought and subsequent attempts to rebuild sheep numbers.
  • The trend estimate for cattle slaughterings fell for the eleventh consecutive month, to 624,700. 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.
  • The trend estimate for beef production fell for the twelfth consecutive month, to 157,500 tonnes.


OCTOBER KEY FIGURES

Seasonally
Trend
LIVESTOCK SLAUGHTERED
Original
adjusted
estimate
'000
'000
'000
Cattle
706.6
626.4
624.7
Calves
98.5
87.7
82.4
Sheep
943.8
804.7
706.9
Lambs
1,595.8
1,346.4
1,287.3
Pigs
475.1
474.4
472.3
Seasonally
Trend
MEAT PRODUCED
Original
adjusted
estimate
tonnes
tonnes
tonnes
Beef
180,962
158,777
157,451
Veal
3,237
3,019
2,823
Mutton
21,063
17,498
15,175
Lamb
32,654
27,844
26,375
Pig meat
34,491
34,256
34,198


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.