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Goat slaughter and production ease in May
15 July 2015
During May, Australian goat slaughter decreased 28% year-on-year, with 138,767 head processed (Australian Bureau of Statistics). As a result, overall goatmeat production for the month was 33% lower than year-ago levels, at 1,971 tonnes cwt – the lowest monthly volume since June 2013.
A reduction in slaughter was recorded across the majority of states, with May processing in NSW 17% lower year-on-year, at 9,924 head, while levels in Queensland decreased 51%, to 39,963 head, as earlier annual maintenance shutdowns slowed kills. SA recorded a 50% drop in supplies, to 17,172 head, while slaughter in Victoria and WA increased to 70,191 head and 1,506 head, respectively.
Goatmeat production in NSW eased 24%, to 136 tonnes cwt, while levels in Queensland and SA decreased 56% and 46%, to 600 tonnes cwt and 252 tonnes cwt, respectively. Victoria production lifted 2%, to 959 tonnes cwt, while WA recorded an increase, to 23 tonnes cwt.
