Australia: Sheep slaughter increased compared to last year

Sheep slaughter increased by 37.5% or 644,300 HEAD quarter-on-quarter, with 2.36 million sheep processed. Compared to the 1st quarter of 2022, sheep slaughter was 54% higher or 830.6 thousand heads. This was the highest quarterly sheep slaughter volume since the fourth quarter of 2019.

The significant increase in slaughter is a testament to the strength of the flock recovery as producers continue to shed unproductive old sheep.

Next week, the MLA's marketing information team will analyze first-quarter production and slaughter figures at the state level. Retirement rates, female slaughter rates, goat slaughter, production and carcass weights will be analyzed in the coming weeks.