New production and slaughter data out now
26 May 2022
Key points:
- Low female cattle slaughter in Q1 2022 indicates the herd rebuild has continued to strengthen, while male cattle carcase weights increase in most states.
- Lamb production has strengthened in Q1 2022, alongside increased slaughter and heavier carcase weights.
- Goat slaughter volumes were higher year-on-year in Q1 2022 but carcase weights were lighter.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released new production and slaughter data for the first quarter of 2022 on Friday 20 May. Read on to find out the key insights from this release.
Beef
The latest data released by the ABS shows that female slaughter represented 41% of all slaughtered animals and has hit its lowest point in a decade. This confirms that the national herd rebuild has continued to strengthen significantly as more producers retain both potential and current breeding females. Female slaughter below 47% typically indicates a herd rebuild.
Notably – although slaughter has softened in all states compared to the last quarter of 2021 – NSW has seen a 3% increase compared to this time last year, reaching 297,000 head in the first quarter of 2022. Although slaughter has softened by 5.8% compared to Q1 2021, production has only eased 2.5% due to the heavier carcase weights found nationally on the back of generally favourable seasonal conditions.
Meanwhile, Victorian male carcase weights have fallen, dropping back 20kg from last quarter. This could be attributed to the higher proportion of grass-fed cattle in the state with more feed on the ground. Victoria is the only state that went against the trend of increasing carcase weights.
Over in Queensland, male cattle averaged 363kg/head – the highest of any of the states at 14kg or 4% above the national male average.
Every state averaged above 300kg/head for males. WA recorded the lightest carcase weights but despite this, the weights remained heavier overall compared to historical performance.
Nationally, female cattle are closing in on 290kg/head at 289.5kg/head. Victoria is producing significantly heavier females than the national average. At 310kg/head, these weights were in line with their male counterparts, which were recorded at 311kg/head.
Lamb
Lamb production has strengthened in Q1 2022 compared to Q4 2021 as a result of the heavier carcase weights achieved. The average lamb carcase weight was 25kg/head – a growth of 491g or 2% quarter on quarter.
Lamb production in NSW increased by 4,910 tonnes or 7% year-on-year, while WA reduced their production by 16% from last quarter.
South Australian lambs are now recognised as the heaviest nationally, averaging 26.6kg/head.
Lamb slaughter has also increased year-on-year by 11,800 head compared to Q1 2021 to reach 4.97 million head.
Goat
Goat slaughter volumes are higher year-on-year but carcase weights are lighter. There has also been a major jump in goat production in WA with a new processor coming online.
