Australia's cattle herd is officially in destock, with the female slaughter rate reaching 52.2%, according to ABS data analysed by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA). Last quarter’s slaughter hit 2.24 million head, the highest since 2015, with national rates up 6% from the previous quarter and 17% year-on-year.

MLA’s Stephen Bignell attributes the destocking to herd stabilisation after years of rebuilding, with producers reducing older breeding cows.

Beef production set a quarterly record of 690,694 tonnes, up 7%, supported by improved carcase weights averaging 308.2kg. Producers earned $4.26 billion for slaughter-ready cattle, the highest on record. Slaughter is on track to meet MLA’s 2024 projection of 8.18 million head.

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