CATTLE, sheep and lamb turn-off will all decline in the 2008-09 financial year due to several years of drought and herd rebuilding, according to ABARE.
Cattle slaughter is predicted to dip 1.1 per cent while lamb and sheep slaughter will slump 6.7 and 6.1 respectively.
ABARE predicts the retention of breeders in response to improved seasonal conditions will more than offset the higher steer turnoff.
Slaughter for the current financial year is forecast to reach 8.7 million head while heavier average carcass weights are expected to keep production steady at 2.15 million tonnes.
Lamb slaughter for 2008-09 will drop to 19.5 million head while a smaller sheep flock and rebuilding in some better faring areas could decrease sheep slaughter to 11.2 million head – the lowest outlook since 2003-04.
With tighter supplies across all three categories and a much lower A$, weighted average saleyard prices for 2008-09 are forecast to average 4.9 per cent more for cattle, while lamb and sheep prices are predicted to be up 16 per cent and 10 per cent respectively.
