Dry seasonal conditions across many key supply regions saw Australian lamb slaughter in June reach almost 1.8 million head, up 3% year-on-year (ABS).
This brought the total for the financial year (July 2016 – June 2017) to just over 22.3 million head. While this was down 3% from the record highs of 2015-16, it remained 4% higher than the five-year average.
On a state-by-state basis for 2016-17, compared to last year, lamb slaughter in:
- Victoria was10.4 million head, up 1%
- NSW was 5.1 million head, down 2%
- SA was 3.4 million head, down 11%
- WA was 2.9 million head, up 4%
- Tasmania was 501,000 head, down 31%
- Queensland was 68,300 head, down 79%
Sheep slaughter for June totalled nearly 420,000 head, up 18% from the same time last year.
While there has been strong producer intent to retain older ewes and wethers over the past 12 months, it is likely that these animals are starting to come back through the system.
The number of sheep processed during 2016-17 was just over 6.5 million head, down 19% year-on-year.
Lamb production for June totalled nearly 42,000 tonnes cwt, up 6% from the same time last year – with much of the increase underpinned by heavier carcases.
For 2016-17, lamb production reached just over 506,000 tonnes cwt, back 2% on the year prior. This was, however, up 7% on the five-year average.
The national average lamb carcase weights increased to 22.64kg/head in 2016-17 – 1% higher than the year prior and up 3% from the five-year average.
A drier autumn and winter this year has seen many lambs being supplementary fed, which has continued to push carcase weights higher.
https://www.mla.com.au/prices-markets/market-news/sheepmeat-production-lower-in-2016-17/