Australian lamb slaughterings up 1%
For the first quarter of 2003, Australian national lamb slaughter increased 1% to 4.3 million head, compared with 2002.
Yet during the three months ended March 31, 2003, slaughterings declined in the country’s two largest lamb producing states of New South Wales (-6%) and Victoria (-0.2%). Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) attributes the drought for the decline.
Lamb production declined 1% and lamb carcase weights fell 2% to 19.8kg/head. During March lamb slaughter increased 4% year on year to 1.3 million head in response to strong export demand during Easter and the near record price peaks generated during the month.
Year on year sheep slaughter declined 7% during the month as the long running drought has forced producers to reduce flocks.
Meanwhile, the latest dive in the price of fine wool and strong sheep meat returns signifies that the chance of fine wool merino enterprises coming out of the drought could be further delayed and instead there may be a move to prime lambs.
