Australia - Cattle kill up

SLAUGHTER numbers jumped in most Australian states last week, as beef producers look to offload cattle before any loss of condition is experienced during the cooler winter months.

In Queensland, beef producers sent more cattle to slaughter than at any time since October 2011, with more than 74,000 head processed.


However, restricted throughput earlier in the month has pulled average slaughter for the past four weeks back 10 percent year-on-year to just above 68,000 head.


Despite rain across southern and Central Queensland, processors report a steady flow of cattle direct to works, with many heavy lines delivered from western areas.


Most other states reported an increase in slaughter numbers compared with the corresponding week in 2011, with Tasmania up 15pc. Compared to 2011, slaughter was 14pc higher in Victoria and 13pc higher in SA.


NSW registered a decrease in slaughter compared to last year, with many producers in cooler regions having already sold stock earlier in the month.

Source: farmonline.com.au

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