Livestock Products, Australia methodology

1 This publication presents quarterly statistics on livestock and poultry slaughterings, meat production, gross value of slaughterings, receivals of taxable wool by brokers and dealers, exports of live sheep and cattle and exports of fresh, chilled, frozen and processed meat.

2 Also presented are limited quarterly and annual data relating to red meat production. Prior to the September 2011 edition, more comprehensive data relating to livestock slaughter and red meat production were included in this product. From September 2011 onwards these data continue to be available on a monthly basis in Livestock and Meat, Australia (cat. no. 7218.0.55.001). Data on whole milk intake and market milk sales can be accessed from the Dairy Australia website.

3 Data in this publication have been revised where necessary and as a consequence may not agree with similar data shown in previous publications.

4 Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.

5 Unless otherwise indicated, Australian totals include data for all states/territories.

6 Statistics for poultry slaughterings, chicken meat produced and poultry gross value have been compiled from quarterly returns supplied by commercial poultry slaughtering establishments and comprise broilers, fryers and roasters. Many small producers are excluded from the collection; however, the statistics represent a high level of coverage.

7 A coverage exercise to review the quality of the sampling frame for the Poultry and Game Birds Collection was undertaken in 2010. This produced an expanded coverage from September quarter 2010. The December quarter 2010 release of this publication contained data for both the September 2010 quarter and December 2010 quarter based on the updated coverage. However, the resulting time series break for poultry estimates prevents meaningful comparisons between the data for June quarter 2010 and subsequent quarters.

8 Care should be taken when using this information as the data only relate to slaughterings for human consumption and do not include animals condemned, slaughtered for pet food or those killed for boiling down.

9 Chicken meat is shown in dressed weight of whole birds, pieces and giblets.

10 Details about unpublished slaughterings meat production and gross value statistics can be found in the Livestock Slaughtering Collection brief on the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) website and also are available on request. Inquiries should be made to the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.

11 International trade statistics are compiled by the ABS from information submitted to the Australian Border Force (previously known as the Australian Customs Service) by exporters and importers or their agents. Factors are applied to beef, veal, mutton and lamb bone-out figures to calculate a derived bone-in carcass weight. The derived bone-in carcass weights are then added to bone-in figures to calculate total exports in carcass weight. The factor for beef and veal is 1.5 and for mutton and lamb is 2.0. This information is sourced from the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.

12 Beef also includes buffalo meat.

13 Bacon and ham shown is the cured carcass weight of smoked or cooked bacon and ham. It also includes the stated net weight of packs of canned bacon and ham.

14 Canned meat is shown as the canned weight and excludes canned bacon and ham.

15 Sheep and cattle exported for breeding are excluded.

16 The unit value is obtained by dividing the gross value by the number of animals exported.

17 The graphs of livestock exports present quarterly original estimates for at least the last five years for the major commodities. These graphs highlight the major movements in the estimates over that period.

18 Wool receivals refer to the amount of taxable wool received by brokers and purchased by dealers from wool producers. It excludes wool received by brokers on which tax has already been paid by other dealers (private buyers) or brokers.

19 From the September quarter 2010, inclusive, an updated sampling frame was introduced in respect of the Wool Receivals, Purchases and Sales collection. The impact of this change on associated time series is negligible.

20 Data are based on the state in which wool has been received, and do not necessarily reflect the production of wool in that state.

21 A coverage exercise for Wool Receivals, Purchases and Sales collection was undertaken in 2015. This produced an expanded coverage from June quarter 2015. The coverage exercise was conducted to ensure the collection frame is up-to-date and inclusive of all in-scope businesses. The coverage exercise ensures the ongoing quality of estimates produced from this collection. These changes have had only a minor impact on estimates and on comparability of data over time. Further information on coverage exercises and related impacts can be obtained by contacting the National Information Referral Service on 1300 135 070 (or +61 2 9268 4909 for international callers).

22 Seasonal adjustment is a means of removing the estimated effects of normal seasonal variation from the series so that the effects of other influences can be more clearly recognised.

23 In the seasonal adjustment of the livestock estimates, account has been taken of both normal seasonal factors and ‘trading day’ effects, where significant. Seasonal adjustment does not remove from the series the effect of irregular influences (e.g. abnormal weather, industrial disputes).

24 The state component series has been seasonally adjusted independently. Therefore, the adjusted components may not add to the Australian group totals.

25 In this publication, the seasonally adjusted estimates are produced by the concurrent seasonal adjustment method which takes account of the latest available original estimates. This method improves the estimation of seasonal factors and, therefore, the seasonally adjusted and trend estimates for the current and previous months. As a result of this improvement, revisions to the seasonally adjusted and trend estimates will be observed for recent periods. A more detailed review is conducted annually prior to the September release, using data up to and including the August release.

26 For further information, see Time Series Analysis Frequently Asked Questions (cat. no. 1346.0.55.002).

27 From September 2007, improved methods of producing seasonally adjusted estimates, focused on the application of Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) modelling techniques, were implemented. The ARIMA modelling technique can be used to extend original estimates beyond the end of a time series.

28 For further information on ARIMA modelling, see the feature article 'Use of ARIMA modelling to reduce revisions' in Australian Economic Indicators, Oct 2004' (cat. no 1350.0).

29 The graphs of livestock slaughtered, meat production and livestock products present quarterly trend estimates for at least the last five years for the major commodities. These graphs highlight the major movements in the estimates over that period.

30 A trend estimate is obtained by reducing the irregular component in the seasonally adjusted series. For quarterly data, trend estimates are derived by applying a 7-term Henderson moving average to the seasonally adjusted series. Revisions of trend estimates will also occur with revisions to the original data and re-estimation of seasonal factors.

31 The state component series has been adjusted independently. Therefore, the adjusted components may not add to the Australian group totals.

32 For further information, see Information Paper: A Guide to Interpreting Time Series - Monitoring Trends (cat. no. 1349.0).

33 Revisions to previously published original series statistics are included in the publication as they occur.

34 As a result of the Intensive Follow Up (IFU) process, data are revised each quarter as final estimates become available. Most respondents are able to report all the data requested directly from company records, but in some cases not all information is available at the time of request, so estimates are provided. When more accurate information becomes available previous published original series statistics will be revised.

35 Other ABS publications containing livestock data include:

• Livestock and Meat, Australia (cat. no. 7218.0.55.001).
• Agricultural Commodities, Australia (cat. no. 7121.0).
• Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia (cat. no. 7503.0).
   

36 Current publications and other products released by the ABS are listed under the Statistics page on the ABS website. The ABS also issues a daily Release Advice on the website which details products to be released in the week ahead.

37 ABS publications draw extensively on information provided freely by individuals, businesses, governments and other organisations. Their continued cooperation is very much appreciated. Without it, the wide range of statistics published by the ABS would not be available. Information received by the ABS is treated in strict confidence as required by the Census and Statistics Act 1905.