AUSTRALIAN adult cattle slaughter continued its unprecedented run during September, with the ongoing drought conditions offering many producers little option but to offload stock.
Meat and Livestock Australia reports adult slaughter was 800,000 head, up 12 per cent year-on-year, taking the number of cattle killed for the first nine months of 2014 to just below 7 million head – up 12pc from last year’s already high base.
The number of females accounted for in the adult kill eased to just below 50pc, at 395,000 head – historically, however, in September, females usually account for 43pc, reflecting the extent of the current female liquidation.
Female slaughter in Queensland (185,771 head) and NSW (90,330 head) during the month were dramatically higher, up 40pc and 42pc year-on-year, respectively.
With cattle slaughter significantly higher, so too was beef and veal production, with the September volume up 11pc year-on-year, to 220,421 tonnes cwt, taking the volume for the first nine months to 1.9 million tonnes cwt, up 10pc.
Looking forward, given the unwelcome three-month rainfall outlook for most key cattle producing regions, it is likely Australian beef production will remain high at least until the end of the year.
