Australian slaughter volumes increase
Figures released by The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for the first quarter of 2023 show “significant improvements”, particularly cattle and mutton, however lamb slaughter and production improved to a lesser extent.
National adult cattle slaughter numbers in the first quarter of 2023 were higher by 202,000 head, year-on-year, a 5% increase.
With a female slaughter rate (FSR) below the recognised level for herd liquidation, Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) reported that "The continuation of the low FSR demonstrates that the nation’s cattle herd continues to rebuild and grow, depending on each state. This data supports MLA’s forecasts for the national cattle herd to reach its highest level in a decade at 28.8 million head".
Lambs held back from the 2022 spring flush hit the market, with Q1 2023 seeing 656,000 more lambs processed than Q1 2022, an increase of 13%.
Year-on-year mutton slaughter rose by 54% (830,600 head) to see the highest mutton slaughter since Q4 2019.
