Livestock Products, Australia methodology

This publication presents quarterly statistics on livestock and poultry slaughterings, meat production, gross value of slaughterings and the receivals of taxable wool by brokers and dealers.

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 to June 2020 these data are available on a monthly basis in Livestock and Meat, Australia. Data on whole milk intake and market milk sales can be accessed from the Dairy Australia website.

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

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

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

In the month of January 2020, a small number of units in bushfire impacted areas were excluded from collection activities. An adjustment was applied to address the change in coverage; resulting in a small impact on national level estimates. The adjustment applied only to the January month of the March quarter reference period.

From March 2020, exports data (exports of fresh, chilled, frozen and processed meat and exports of live cattle and sheep) will no longer be published in Livestock Products, Australia. ABS exports data can be found in the publication International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia. The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment also publish detailed livestock exports data.

Statistics for livestock slaughterings, meat produced and gross value of livestock slaughtered have been compiled from quarterly returns supplied by commercial slaughtering establishments and abattoirs. Many on-farm and small producers are excluded from the collection; however, the statistics represent a high level of coverage.

From September 2011 to June 2020 this data was available on a monthly basis in Livestock and Meat, Australia.

A coverage exercise to review the quality of the sampling frame for the Livestock Slaughtering Collection was undertaken in 2010. This produced an expanded coverage from September quarter 2010.

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.

Red meat is shown in carcass weight and excludes offal.

Details about unpublished slaughterings, meat production and gross value statistics are available on request. Inquiries should be made to the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.

Statistics for poultry slaughterings, chicken meat produced and gross value of poultry 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.

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.

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.

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

Details about unpublished chicken slaughterings, meat production and gross value statistics are available on request. Inquiries should be made to the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.

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.

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.

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

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).

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.

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).

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

The seasonal time series in this publication (Livestock Products, Australia) use 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 June release. From the September 2020 quarter, seasonal factors will be calculated using data up to and including the June 2020 quarter, then projected from the September 2020 quarter onwards. This approach, known as the forward factor method, ensures that the seasonal factors are not distorted for industries affected by COVID-19 impacts. Switching to the forward factor method may result in revisions in seasonal data for future quarters when the concurrent seasonal adjustment method is reinstated. For more information about the updates to seasonal adjustment methods across ABS' economic statistics during the COVID-19 period, please refer to the ABS release: Methods changes during the COVID-19 period. 

For further information, see Time Series Analysis Frequently Asked Questions.

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.

For further information on ARIMA modelling, see the feature article 'Use of ARIMA modelling to reduce revisions' in Australian Economic Indicators, Oct 2004'.

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.

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

For further information, see Information Paper: A Guide to Interpreting Time Series - Monitoring Trends.

Trend estimates have been suspended from this publication from the March 2020 quarter (livestock slaughter and meat production), with all trend estimates suspended from the June 2020 quarter. The trend series attempt to measure underlying changes in livestock, poultry and wool. In the short term, this measurement may be affected by changes to regular patterns arising from COVID-19 restrictions, as well as changes in overall environmental conditions. Without fully accounting for these factors, trend estimates would likely present a misleading view of underlying changes. The trend estimates will be reinstated when more certainty emerges in the underlying trend series and can be accurately produced.

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

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.

Other ABS publications containing livestock data include:

• Livestock and Meat, Australia.
• Agricultural Commodities, Australia.
• Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia.

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.

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.