Production

Beef production to 32 month high

Beef Central, 15/07/2011

Australian beef and veal production in May rose to its highest level in more than two years, according to Meat and Livestock Australia.

Australian beef and veal production totalled 200,212 tonnes in May, five percent higher than May 2010 and the largest volume since October 2008.

MLA said the rise was partly driven by a national one percent increase in adult slaughter, which finished the month at 688,100 head.

“Beef production is traditionally high in May, as producers look to offload stock, especially in the north of the country,” MLA said.

“However this year saw the increased flow of cattle in the north partly offset by tighter supplies in the south, with the improved season enabling herd rebuilding to commence.”

Large increases in beef production in Queensland and NSW drove the national increase, with production and slaughter in all other states fallin below May 2010 levels.

Queensland recorded a 10pc year-on-year  increase in beef and veal production to total 103,000t, and NSW recorded an 8pc rise to 44,000t. With no holiday disruptions and a relatively drier month in the north, slaughter jumped 5% in both states.

“The increase in overall production was also a result of the better season, with adult carcase weights averaging 286kg/head for the month, up 4pc year-on-year,” MLA reported.

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