2023 Marks a Record Year for Goat Slaughter and Production in Australia
TL;DR: The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has unveiled its official livestock slaughter and meat production figures for 2023, revealing unprecedented levels of goat slaughter and production. The data, released on 20 February 2024, highlights a significant uptick in activity within the goat sector, underscoring a year of robust growth and productivity. In a remarkable […]
Current Trends in Cattle and Sheep Market Influenced by Market Dynamics and Seasonal Changes
TL;DR: As of 1 March 2024, the Australian cattle and sheep markets have witnessed notable trends influenced by market dynamics and seasonal conditions. The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) has seen a modest increase, settling at 628 cents per kg carcass weight (cwt), driven primarily by demand in Queensland for well-bred lines. Conversely, the feeder […]
Global Beef Consumption to Face Pressure from Higher Costs in 2024
TL;DR: In 2024, global beef consumption is anticipated to face challenges, remaining steady or potentially declining, as forecasted by Rabobank in its Q1 Global Beef Quarterly report. This projection is based on expectations of limited or negative real wage growth coupled with a higher cost environment, which could impact consumer spending on beef, considered a […]
Slaughter Rates in Australia Reach New Highs as the Year Progresses
TL;DR: The latest national slaughter statistics reveal a significant uptick in adult cattle slaughter rates, hitting 127,465 head for the week ended Friday, marking the highest point of the year. This surge is notable, being the largest weekly kill since May 2020, which was influenced by the tail-end of drought conditions. Queensland saw a substantial […]
MLA’s Latest Cattle and Sheep Industry Projections for 2024
TL;DR: Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has released its first industry projections for 2024, providing a detailed outlook for the cattle and sheep sectors over the next three years. These projections cover herd and flock sizes, slaughter rates, production volumes, and carcass weights, alongside an analysis of domestic and global market influences. The Australian cattle […]
Australian Sheep Flock to Decline as Lamb Slaughter Hits Record High for Second Year
TL;DR: After three years of growth, the Australian sheep flock is anticipated to decrease by 2.9% to 76.5 million in 2024. This decline is attributed to a record lamb slaughter, projected to reach 23.7 million in 2024, and an elevated turnoff of sheep, particularly older, unproductive breeding stock. This shift is partly due to the […]
Cattle Australia Hails New Biosecurity Oversight Initiative
TL;DR: Cattle Australia (CA) has expressed strong support for the Federal Government’s recent initiative to establish a Sustainable Biosecurity Funding Advisory Panel, aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in biosecurity funding for farmers. Dr Chris Parker, CA’s Chief Executive Officer, highlighted the importance of the panel’s terms of reference and Cattle Australia’s involvement in ensuring […]
Australian Cattle Herd to Ease Slightly to 28.6 Million Head
TL;DR: As of 27 February 2024, the Australian cattle industry is poised for a slight adjustment, with the national herd expected to decrease by less than 1% to 28.6 million head by 30 June 2024. This forecast comes after a period of significant growth, culminating in the largest cattle herd seen in a decade by […]
Australia’s Beef Herd Sees Recovery After Brief Liquidation Phase
TL;DR: Last year, the Australian beef herd momentarily entered a liquidation phase, as indicated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in their latest report. This phase, akin to the government’s definition of an economic recession, is marked by two consecutive quarters of the female slaughter ratio (FSR) exceeding the 47 per cent threshold, signalling […]
UK Farmers and Australian Beef: A Debate Over Environmental Standards
TL;DR: In a recent development reminiscent of sportsmanship debates, UK farmers and environmentalists have raised concerns over the environmental impact of Australian beef, drawing parallels to contentious moments in sports history. This concern has escalated to a legal challenge against the UK government by the environmental group ‘Feedback’. The group argues that the free-trade agreements […]
