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Livestock and Meat, Australia

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Monthly data from abattoirs and major slaughtering establishments. Includes livestock slaughtered by country butchers and other small establishments

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Reference period
February 2020
Released
6/04/2020
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Key statistics

  • Cattle slaughtered decreased 1.8% to 696,200 head compared to January 2020.
  • Sheep slaughtered decreased 1.2% to 787,800 head compared to January 2020.

Main features

Trends in livestock slaughtered and meat produced

Cattle

    Compared to January 2020:

    • 1.8% decrease in cattle slaughter to 696,200 head
    • 1.3% decrease in beef production to 201,200 tonnes
       

    Compared to February 2019:

    • 0.5% increase in cattle slaughter
    • 2.2% increase in beef production
       

    Calves

    Compared to January 2020:

    • 0.1% decrease in calf slaughter to 47,200 head
    • 1.5% decrease in veal production to 2,300 tonnes
       

    Compared to February 2019:

    • 0.8% increase in calf slaughter
    • 9.1% increase in veal production
       

    Sheep

    Compared to January 2020:

    • 1.2% decrease in sheep slaughter to 787,800 head
    • 1.2% decrease in mutton production to 19,600 tonnes
       

    Compared to February 2019:

    • 0.5% increase in sheep slaughter
    • 4.4% increase in mutton production
       

    Lamb

    Compared to January 2020:

    • 0.4% increase in lambs slaughtered to 1.81 million head
    • 0.5% increase in lamb production to 42,700 tonnes
       

    Compared to February 2019:

    • 5.9% decrease in lambs slaughtered
    • 3.3% decrease in lamb production
       

    Pigs

    Compared to January 2020:

    • 0.2% increase in pig slaughter to 427,600 head
    • 0.5% increase in pork production to 33,500 tonnes
       

    Compared to February 2019:

    • 2.8% decrease in pig slaughter
    • 1.8% decrease in pork production
       

    Bushfires and COVID-19

    Quality assurance undertaken by the ABS confirmed that the bushfires and the COVID-19 virus did not result in quality impacts to Livestock and meat statistics for February 2020. For information on the expected economic impacts of the Bushfires and COVID-19, please see the ABS Chief Economist Series paper Measuring natural disasters in the Australian economy.

    Data downloads - time series spreadsheets

    Table 1. Livestock slaughtered - bulls, bullocks and steers: all series ('000)

    Data files
    Download xls [292 KB]

    Table 2. Livestock slaughtered - cows and heifers: all series ('000)

    Data files
    Download xls [322 KB]

    Table 3. Livestock slaughtered - cattle (excluding calves): all series ('000)

    From December 2014 cattle slaughtered and beef produced in the Northern Territory have been included with Queensland figures where applicable

    Data files
    Download xls [532.5 KB]

    Table 4. Livestock slaughtered - calves: all series ('000)

    Data files
    Download xls [511.5 KB]

    Table 5. Livestock slaughtered - sheep: all series ('000)

    Data files
    Download xls [518 KB]

    Table 6. Livestock slaughtered - lambs: all series ('000)

    Data files
    Download xls [517.5 KB]

    Table 7. Livestock slaughtered - pigs: all series ('000)

    Data files
    Download xls [509.5 KB]

    Table 8. Red meat produced - beef: all series (tonnes)

    From December 2014 cattle slaughtered and beef produced in the Northern Territory have been included with Queensland figures where applicable

    Data files
    Download xls [486.5 KB]

    Table 9. Red meat produced - veal: all series (tonnes)

    Data files
    Download xls [486.5 KB]

    Table 10. Red meat produced - mutton: all series (tonnes)

    Data files
    Download xls [486.5 KB]

    Table 11. Red meat produced - lamb: all series (tonnes)

    Data files
    Download xls [486.5 KB]

    Table 12. Red meat produced - pig meat: all series (tonnes)

    Data files
    Download xls [486.5 KB]

    Table 13. Red meat produced - total red meat: all series (tonnes)

    Data files
    Download xls [486.5 KB]

    Data downloads - data cubes

    Publication tables

    Data files
    Download xls [88.5 KB]

    Methodology

    Livestock and Meat, Australia methodology, February 2020