QUALITY DECLARATION - SUMMARY

INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT

For information on the institutional environment of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), including the legislative obligations of the ABS, financing and governance arrangements, and mechanisms for scrutiny of ABS operations, please see ABS Institutional Environment.


RELEVANCE

Livestock Products, Australia presents statistics on a number of different collections.

The data relating to livestock slaughtering and meat production is collected monthly from abattoirs and other major slaughtering establishments, and include estimates of animals slaughtered on farms and by country butchers and other small slaughtering establishments. The figures represent human consumption only. Slaughtering and meat production for pet food is not included in these estimates.

The statistics on wool receivals are based on a quarterly census of wool brokers and dealers. The data are collected on the basis of the state in which the wool has actually been received.

Chicken slaughtering statistics are compiled quarterly from a survey of commercial poultry establishments.

Data relating to exports of live sheep, live cattle, fresh, chilled and processed meat are obtained daily from the Australian Customs Service (ACS). Statistics are compiled for all Australian states and territories as well as for total Australia.

Milk data is obtained from Dairy Australia, who collects milk production and milk sales on a state basis.


TIMELINESS

Livestock Products, Australia (ABS Cat. No. 7215.0) is released quarterly, six weeks after the reference period, and contains information from the most recent quarter for slaughtering, meat produced, exports and wool and for the previous quarter for milk intake data. For example, the September quarter publication presents slaughtering, meat produced, exports and wool data for the September quarter and milk data for the June quarter.


ACCURACY

Most respondents to the livestock, poultry and wool surveys are able to report all the data requested directly from company records. In cases where not all information is available careful estimates are provided. For example, some small abattoirs do not record the weight of the individual animals. An estimate of the amount of meat produced is derived by multiplying the number of animals slaughtered by an average weight provided or by a predetermined average. As some smaller abattoirs provide aggregate data only, e.g. for cattle slaughterings, an estimate is required to split the data between the appropriate categories.

The statistics on chicken slaughtering exclude very small producers, however the level of coverage remains high. The Australian total excludes Tasmanian, Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory data due to confidentiality.

Exports data are compiled using information provided by exporters and their agents to the Australian Customs Service (ACS). This data is obtained by the ABS and subjected to further quality checking procedures to ensure that the quality of aggregate data is of an acceptable standard.


COHERENCE

Most data are directly comparable over different collection cycles. From July 1997 onwards, the category of Bulls, bullocks and steers was separated into two separate categories of Bulls and Bullocks and Steers.

From September 2004, the categories Baconers, Porkers, and Other Pigs were expanded to include a separate category for Breeding sows.


INTERPRETABILITY

The livestock, poultry and wool surveys provide a broad range of up-to-date data about the processing of livestock and poultry, production of meat, and wool receivals, through a suite of standard products or as data customised for individual requirements. Detailed explanatory notes are provided each quarter in Livestock Products, Australia (ABS Cat. No. 7215.0) to assist users in determining and specifying their data requirements and to understand the concepts underlying the data.

Milk statistics were collected and supplied by Dairy Australia. For more information refer: http://www.dairyaustralia.com.au/

Further information on exports data can be obtained from the following publication which can be downloaded free of charge from the ABS web site: International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia (ABS Cat. No. 5368.0).

The major series estimates in this publication are available in original, seasonally adjusted and trend series. To find out more information on seasonal adjustment and trend estimator please see Timeseries Analysis Frequently Asked Questions.


ACCESSIBILITY

Data is presented by state in most cases except for chicken statistics, where data for South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmanian are collected, but not released for publication to ensure confidentiality of the providers of the information.

If the information you require is not available as a standard product or service, then ABS Consultancy Services can help you with customised services to suit your needs. Inquiries should be made to either the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Agriculture Client Services on (03) 6222 5939.