Australian lamb slaughter and production was higher again in August compared with the corresponding period in 2011 – maintaining the higher turnoff rates throughout 2012.
Slaughter for the month was 7% higher, at 1.7 million head, while production rose 5%, to 37,333 head (Australian Bureau of Statistics).
For the first eight months of 2012, national lamb slaughter was up 12%, or 1.4 million head, year-on-year, at 13.0 million head.
While the higher production and slaughter levels of 2012 have largely been the result of the improved breeding and growing seasons of 2010 and 2011, prices received at the farm gate have also reflected the changed situation.
For 2012, lamb prices have tracked between 10-30% below the corresponding period in 2011, with the higher production, softer overseas demand and record high prices of 2011 all contributing to the decline.
Added to these factors are the recent drier conditions across much of southern Australia, which have seen many producers taking a more cautious approach to stocking rates.
There was year-on-year growth in lamb production in Victoria and SA during August, up 10%, to 16,885 tonnes cwt, and 21%, to 6,930 tonnes cwt, respectively.
This was in line with similar increases in slaughter, of 10%, to 793,794 head in Victoria, and 23%, to 289,365 head in SA.
NSW production for August declined 9% year-on-year, to 9,830 tonnes cwt, with slaughter falling 7%, to 439,785 head. In WA production was 5% lower, at 2,017 tonnes cwt, with slaughter back 7%, to 97,973 head.
Source: Argentine Beef Packers S.A.
Back to News Headlines