Meat. Situation and outlook

Anonymous

Final statistics for Australia for 1975, with preliminary figures for 1976 in parentheses, were as follows: cattle population, 32 790 000 (33 430 000); number of cattle slaughtered, 9 531 000 (11 247 000); production of beef, 1 630 000 tonnes (1 777 000); exports of beef, 733 000 tonnes (840 000); production of veal, 66 000 tonnes (94 000); exports of veal, 11 000 tonnes (20 000); sheep population, 151 700 000 (148 600 000); number of sheep slaughtered for mutton, 14 750 000 (17 560 000); production of mutton 293 000 tonnes (333 000); exports of mutton, 162 000 tonnes (225 000); number of lambs slaughtered, 15 550 000 (16 140 000); production of lamb meat, 256 000 tonnes (261 000); exports of lamb meat, 32 000 tonnes (37 000). Final statistics for 1975 and 1976 resp. were as follows: pig population, 2 197 000 and 2 173 000; sow population, 311 000 and 308 000; number of pigs slaughtered, 3 299 100 and 3 376 200; production of pig meat, 171 800 and 179 100 tonnes; exports of pig meat, 4 500 and 4 900 tonnes; number of poultry slaughtered, 146 700 000 and 158 400 000; production of poultry meat, 191 000 and 209 100 tonnes; exports of poultry meat, 5 500 and 4 500 tonnes. The study reviews Australian production, trends in domestic and foreign consumption, the situation on world markets and of other exporting countries for beef and veal, lamb and mutton and pigmeat. Continued high levels of cattle slaughterings in Australia and ample supplies of beef relative to demand on the US market are expected to be the main reasons for only a moderate strengthening in Australian saleyard prices for cattle in 1978. Movements in consumer incomes in North America and the volume of imports by the USSR and Eastern European countries will also critically affect the Australian market over the next twelve months. Mutton and lamb production is expected to be lower in 1978 as producers respond to the relatively stable and moderately strengthening, prospects for wool and sheepmeats and retain increased numbers of sheep and lambs to rebuild depleted flocks. Output of pigmeat could be slightly lower in 1978, but poultry meat production is likely to continue to expand.