Know the numbers: supply update

Cattle 

For the week ending 3 July, eastern states cattle slaughter eased 17% from year-ago levels to 126,700 head. All the mainland eastern states reported double-digit year-on-year declines last week, with Queensland continuing to be the primary source of supply, contributing over 50% of total processor throughput.  

Several processing plants have reduced the number of weekly shifts to align with the lack of supply and will likely take the opportunity to complete maintenance in the coming weeks. Eastern states cattle slaughter in June totalled 485,200 head, the lowest monthly throughout this year and the lowest June total since 1997, according to the National Livestock Reporting Service records.

Lamb

Eastern states lamb slaughter totalled 277,000 head last week, 7% below the same week in 2019. Queensland and SA reported year-on-year increases in slaughter levels, however, these increases were outweighed by the decline from year-ago levels in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania.  

Lamb turn-off was anticipated to be subdued throughout winter, given diminished flock numbers. However, this year is shaping up to be particularly tight as the remaining old season lamb supply starts to recede.

Sheep

Sheep slaughter continues to track well below year-ago levels, easing 46% from this time last year to 49,500 head. Despite increasing from the week prior, all eastern states except Queensland have reported significant year-on-year declines, a flow-on effect from the high turn-off of breeding stock in 2019.

Goat

For the week ending 3 July, goat slaughter in the eastern states totalled 12,200 head, back 67% year-on-year. Domestic supply constraints following consecutive years of drought-driven destocking in key supply regions, combined with reduced overseas demand has underpinned the sharp decline.