Lamb production high in the east, low in the west
5/11/2009
Australian lamb production during September increased 11% year-on-year, to 39,348 tonnes cwt (Australian Bureau of Statistics). Lamb production for the nine months to September is up 7% on the same period last year, at a record 321,819 tonnes cwt.
A combination of increased lamb slaughter and higher average carcase weights led to the rise in production for the month, with slaughter up 7% year-on-year, to 1.9 million head and average carcase weights up 4%, to 20.3kg/head. This trend was reflected across Victoria, NSW and SA, where lamb production for the month increased 11%, 39% and 17%, respectively.
In contrast, lamb production in WA during September fell 36% year-on-year, to 3,202 tonnes cwt. A 35% reduction in the number of lambs slaughtered was behind the fall, with only a small fall in average carcase weights (19.5kg/head). The limited supply of lambs due to the late start to the season and processor closures contributed to the decline in slaughter during the month.
Lamb production in Tasmania during September increased 16% year-on-year, to 840 tonnes cwt, on the back of a 14% rise in lamb slaughter and 2% improvement in average carcase weights to 21kg/head.
Queensland lamb production during the month declined 19% year-on-year, to 548 tonnes cwt, due to a 22% fall in lamb slaughter, which was partially offset by a 4% rise in average carcase weights to 19.9 kg/head.
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