Third biggest lamb production quarter on record

On Friday, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released the official livestock and production figures for the second quarter of 2022. The data also provided insights on slaughter, production, value and carcase weight for sheep and cattle for the 2022 financial year.

Gross value of livestock

The value of cattle slaughtered in FY2022 was a new financial record totalling $14.48b AUD, this was $2.2b higher than the value of cattle slaughtered in FY2021. Q2 of 2022 recorded the highest value of cattle slaughtered ever, hitting $3.85b for the quarter and 20% higher than Q2 2021.

High livestock prices were behind the record value of livestock slaughtered in FY22. The average price of cattle being slaughtered in FY22 was $2,457.82, 25.7% higher than FY21 prices.

In sheep, the value of lambs and sheep slaughtered in FY22 was $5,13b. This figure is 14.5% above the value of sheep and lambs slaughtered in FY21.

Q2 FY22 (October to December 2021) was the quarter recording the highest value of sheep and slaughtered ever. The average price for a finished lamb/sheep in FY22 was $189.39, up 10.5% on 2021.

Cattle

Slaughter

As calves born in 2020 and early 2021 reached processing weights in 2022, Q2 of this year saw an increase in slaughter volumes of 11.2% quarter-on-quarter, with 1.49m head processed. The biggest jump in quarterly slaughter was in Tasmania, increasing by 13.4%, followed by Queensland, which was up 13.2%.

For FY22 Australian cattle slaughter was 5.89m, this is 6.6% below the 2021 levels. Queensland was responsible for 47.7% of all cattle slaughtered last financial year.

Carcase weights

According to Stephen Bignell, Manager - Market Information at Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), continued strong seasonal conditions, improved genetics across the national herd and strong on-farm management has helped carcase weights to remain at historically high levels.

“Carcase weights across the country are averaging 317.6kg/head. This is the second highest carcase weights ever, only behind the record previous quarter.

“National male carcase weights rose by 600g to a new record of 348.5kg, driven by jumps in Victorian, Western Australian and South Australian male carcase weights. However, the increased volumes of females slaughtered prevented the national carcase weights reaching record levels.

“A softening in average carcase weights for cattle is not uncommon through the Australian winter. This has been particularly relevant in 2022 with wet and cool conditions affecting livestock’s’ ability to gain or maintain weight,” Mr Bignell said.

Beef production

With increased higher slaughter numbers and only slightly lower carcase weights, beef production rose by 9% quarter-on-quarter to 473,394 tonnes but was softer year-on-year.

“Overall, with carcase weights remaining high and forecast actual cattle supply to increase into the end of 2022 and beyond, the Australian beef industry is well positioned to capture emerging opportunities both domestically and globally,” Mr Bignell said.

Lambs

Lamb production

In Q2 of 2022, lamb production was 140,165 tonnes, the third highest quarterly volume on record, behind Q2 2018 and Q4 2016. The quarterly total of 140,165 tonnes was a 12.5% increase on Q1 2022 levels and 1.8% higher than the same quarter in 2021.

Lamb slaughter

Lamb slaughter for Q2 was recorded at 5.44m, an increase of 9.5% on the previous quarter and 1.1% higher than the June 2021 quarter. For the full financial year, lamb slaughter nationally stood at 20.8m lambs.

“The fact that lamb slaughter for Q2 2022 was not within in the historical top 20 lamb slaughter volumes, but was the third highest level of production, shows the benefits of increasing carcase weights,” according to Mr Bignell.

Lamb carcase weight

“The implementation of new genetics, well managed on-farm production and above average rainfall patterns have ensured national lamb carcase weights achieved record highs in Q2 2022.

At 25.8kg/head, this is a 0.6% increase year-on-year levels, demonstrating that genetic improvement and management is driving increased efficiencies and production for the national lamb flock,” Mr Bignell said.

New South Wales lambs are weighing 26.8kg/head on average, leading the trend for heavier lambs nationally, they are followed by South Australian lambs at 26.7kg/head.

Sheep

Slaughter

Unlike lambs and cattle, sheep slaughter fell in Q2 2022, reducing by 13.2% or 209,600 head. According to Mr Bignell however, a drop in slaughter in the June quarter is common as producers are retaining ewes for lambing during this period.

“Encouragingly, when compared to the corresponding June period in 2021, mutton slaughter is up 27% or close to 300,000 head. This would suggest the flock rebuild is maturing and inline with MLA’s most recent June sheep projections,” Mr Bignell said.

Production

Production of mutton was recorded at 35,091 tonnes, a 11.3% reduction on the previous quarter but 25% higher than 2021 levels. As mutton production fell by less than the fall in slaughter, carcase weights climbed.

Carcase weights

National sheep carcase weights for Q2 2022 were recorded at 25.5kg/head, a 500g increase on Q1 2022 levels but well below the 2.2kg/head below the highs recorded in December 2021.

“Interestingly, the average carcase weights for sheep are below that of lambs on a national level. Sheep in New South Wales are the heaviest weighting 27.3kg, while sheep in Tasmania are the lightest weighing 19.5kg/head,” Mr Bignell said.

Goats

In FY22 goatmeat production jumped 47% to 24,091 tonnes. In FY22 production in all states except Tasmania jumped by at least 41%, with Western Australian production growing by 3,538% year-on-year.

Goat slaughter was up 52% in FY22 to 1.46m head. Production growth was slightly less than the growth in slaughter supply as goat carcase weights continued to soften marginally.