Livestock slaughter on the rise in Australia

MLA market information manager Stephen Bignell said the ABS figures reflected drier conditions experienced in many parts of Australia over the winter and producers' response to the El Niño forecast in the summer.

Mr Bignell said the latest ABS statistics for Q3 showed a 5.7% increase in red meat production, with cattle slaughter up 10.5% to 1.9 million head and overall beef production up by 8.3% to 589,406 tons.

Lamb slaughter in Q3 2023 increased by 8.7% to 6.6 million head, and lamb meat production increased by 7.7% to 160,954 tonnes.

Mr Bignell said sheep slaughter was in contrast down 18.1% to 2.1 million head, with lamb production down 11.8% to 54,189 tonnes.

“Although there has been an increase in cattle and lamb slaughter, ABS figures reflect lower overall values ​​due to lower performance on the marketing floor for producers,” Mr Bignell said. “The gross slaughter value of cattle and calves fell by 2.5% to $3.2 billion, and that of sheep and lambs by 18.5% to $956.6 million.”

He added that weather in the coming months will be critical in determining whether the downward trend in herd numbers continues: “In recent weeks we have started to see some positive weather trends and a strong market response, and continued positive rainfall will further bolster that confidence.” .