Widespread showers continue to squeeze slaughter levels

Last week (ending 23^rd September), eastern states cattle slaughter totalled 107,326 head – down 28% on the same time last year – with substantial rainfall across major producing regions in Queensland and New South Wales continuing to impact availability.

Compared to the same time last year, cattle slaughter in:

• Queensland declined 31%, to 53,758 head
• New South Wales decreased 30%, to 25,760 head
• Victoria declined 26%, to 18,491 head
• South Australia decreased 29%, to 5,820 head
• Tasmania increased 27%, to 3,497 head

Reflective of a rebuilding Australian cattle herd and largely underpinning the lower Queensland cattle slaughter recorded last week, female kill levels in Queensland declined 62% compared to the corresponding period last year – at just over 18, 400 head. In a similar trend, New South Wales female kill levels fell just short of 11,400 head processed last week – down 42% on the same time last year.

Although anticipated to be lower year-on-year, wetter conditions in recent weeks have further subdued the seasonal lift in cattle turnoff so far this spring, with access restrictions to several physical markets contributing to even tighter availability, and stronger cattle prices throughout most regions.