Australian beef cattle population continues to recover

The USDA says that in 2022 the Australian meat industry will continue the restocking phase that began in 2021.

As the cattle population begins to recover, total bovine slaughter is expected to rise from a 50-year low last year. In 2022, with sufficient grazing in key beef production areas and a continued high proportion of feedlot-fed cattle, slaughter weights are expected to improve slightly in 2022. A 13 percent increase in beef exports is also expected in 2022.

In the pork sector, another record grain harvest has helped reduce the increase in feed costs and, combined with high pork prices, this is expected to bring Australia's 2022 pork production to the same level as last year's record.