Australia: analysis of slaughter and red meat production in 2022

Despite a decline in cattle slaughter, record carcass weights ensured stable beef production. Also mutton production and sheep carcass weight reached record highs.

Cattle slaughter fell by 2.8%, or 171,400 heads, in 2022 compared to 2021 and reached 5.85 million heads. This volume was the lowest annual slaughter rate since 1984.

Adjustments across all states occurred during 2022, with Queensland seeing a 5.5% decrease in total processed cattle, or 157,000 heads. This resulted in its market share falling 1.3% to 46.8% year on year.

Victoria also experienced a decline in numbers, with a 5.5% or 67,500 HEAD decrease in the number of heads handled. This resulted in a 0.6% drop in Victoria's market share to 20.2%.

Western Australia was the state that increased slaughter rates in 2022 with the opening and expansion of some processing plants. Last year, the slaughter volume of ZA increased by 13.8% or by 45.5 thousand heads.

Carcass weight in 2023 averaged 319 kg per head, which is in line with 2021 levels. This weight was 13%, or 37 kg/head, above the 20-year average and 6%, or 19 kg/head, above the five-year average. Due to record high carcass weights, total beef production was reduced by only 0. 77%, or 14,400 tons. This carcass weight compensated for losses during slaughter. Compared to the 10-year average, beef production decreased by 15.7%, or 348,000 tons. This data demonstrates the genetic investment made by producers by maintaining and breeding high quality stock over the past two years.

Lamb slaughter hit a record high in 2022 with 21.45 million processed lambs, the highest since the 2019 drought-driven eradication. This is an increase of 2.9%, or 595,400 heads. Sheep slaughter in 2022 exceeded the July release of forecasts by 7.7%, or 512,500 heads, and reached 6.63 million sheep processed. This volume was 15%, or 864,700 heads, higher than in 2021.

A new production record was reached in 2022, with mutton production up 5.2% or 26,400 tons from last year and reaching 534,500 tons in 2022. Historically high carcass weight has contributed to this improvement along with an increase in slaughter.

Lamb production in 2022 increased by 12.1%, or 18.7 thousand tons, compared to 2021 volumes. This increase of 12.1%, or 18,700 tons, is due to favorable seasonal conditions as well as improved genetics. Lamb production in 2022 was the highest since 2020.