JULY KEY TREND FIGURES

	June 2018	July 2018	June 2018 to July 2018	July 2017 to July 2018
Livestock (no.)
Cattle (a)	661 789	668 208	1.0%	8.8%
Calves	36 513	36 686	0.5%	5.8%
Sheep	863 077	899 081	4.2%	37.9%
Lambs	2 070 797	2 089 058	0.9%	10.4%
Pigs	452 521	452 575	0.0%	1.8%
Meat (t)
Beef	191 505	191 917	0.2%	5.1%
Veal	1 511	1 547	2.4%	-3.6%
Mutton	19 839	20 552	3.6%	24.2%
Lamb	46 750	47 036	0.6%	8.2%
Pig Meat	35 436	35 487	0.1%	3.3%

(a) Excludes calves

Source(s): Livestock and Meat, Australia (cat. no. 7218.0.55.001)

Source(s): Livestock and Meat, Australia (cat. no. 7218.0.55.001)

JULY KEY POINTS

As a result of continuing dry conditions in the eastern states the numbers of sheep, lambs and cattle being slaughtered has steadily increased as producers in effected regions reduce stock numbers. Lamb slaughterings continues to set records with July being the sixth consecutive month of increased slaughtering.

Livestock and meat slaughter monthly trend movements for July 2018:

• Cattle slaughter increased by 6,400 head (or 1.0%) for the month ending July 2018 compared with the previous month and increased by 53,900 head (or 8.8%) year-on-year.
• Calf slaughter increased marginally (up 0.5%) in the month ending July 2018 compared with the previous month and increased by 2,000 head (or 5.8%) year-on-year.
• Sheep slaughter increased by 36 000 head (or 4.2%) for the month ending July 2018 compared with the previous month and increased by 246,900 head (or 37.9%) year-on-year.
• Lamb slaughter increased by 18,300 head (or 0.9%) for the month ending July 2018 compared with the previous month and increased by 196,000 head (or 10.4%) year-on-year.
• Pig slaughter remained steady for the month ending June 2018 compared July the previous month and increased by 7,900 head (or 1.8%) year-on-year.