Latest news with #ErinLukey
West Australian
29-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
ABS statistics show WA cattle farmers will help make 2025 another record-breaking year for red meat production
Farmers are beginning to see some relief from prolonged dry conditions in WA in early 2025, easing cattle turn-off and lifting average carcase weights. According to the Australia Bureau of Statistics' slaughter and production data for the first quarter of 2025 released on May 20, national production volumes are above levels from the same time last year, indicating they are on track to tip records once again. National beef production lifted to 679,000 tonnes while lamb production tipped 167,000 tonnes. In WA, beef production was 34,000 tonnes and lamb production was 16,000 tonnes. Meat and Livestock Australia senior market information analyst Erin Lukey said the relief from prolonged dry conditions in WA early in the year buoyed industry confidence. 'Producers were able to hold on to stock to make weights, resulting in lifted average carcase weights across species and reduced throughput,' she said. 'Cattle turn-off eased to 115,000 head, producing 34,000 tonnes of beef. This reduction was mainly due to improved conditions.' Ms Lukey said increased turn-off from feedlots led to a 5kg lift in average carcase weights to 293kg despite female slaughter staying relatively high. 'Lamb slaughter eased to 710,000 head, though a 2kg lift in average carcase weights to 23.2kg saw an overall lift in lamb production to 16,000 tonnes. 'This lift points to grain-fed stock but could also indicate more meat breeds being turned off across the State.' Ms Lukey said mutton slaughter, production, and carcase weights eased to 624,000 head, 16,0000 tonnes and 24.9kg. 'Due to more positive conditions coming through, producers held on to breeding stock, dropping turn-off,' she said. Rabobank's Australian beef seasonal outlook 2025 released on May 26 also indicated Australia was posed to equal, if not rival, meat production levels of 2024. Report author Angus Gidley-Baird said the high beef production volumes are being matched by growing global demand — with the relatively-balanced market expected to support stable prices and good returns for Australian beef producers. 'Successive favourable seasons – with the exception of ongoing significant dry areas in Victoria and south-east South Australia – have allowed Australian cattle numbers to build,' he said. 'The increased calving from this larger cattle inventory is now flowing into markets as finished cattle, with 2024 setting a new record (2.57 million tonnes) in Australian beef production.' Senior animal proteins analyst Mr Gidley-Baird said it was also fortunate for Australia that other major beef-producing countries are expected to see a decline in production in 2025. 'This creates demand for imports and reduces competition in Australian export markets, supporting demand for Australian beef,' he said. 'The outlook of high production balanced by growing global demand leads to the bank's expectation that Australian cattle prices will remain relatively steady through the course of 2025 with some potential upside.'
West Australian
25-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
WA feedlot numbers continue to surge as global demand for Australian boxed beef booms
WA feedlotters are feeling positive about the year ahead with 51,235 head of cattle on feed in March and grain fed beef exports continuing to surge to record highs. The latest WA figures were revealed in the latest national feedlot survey by the Australian Lot Feeders Association and Meat and Livestock Australia and published earlier month. Australian feedlot numbers climbed to record levels in March, with 1.49 million head in feedlots across the country by the end of the month. Nationally, feedlots were at 90 per cent capacity, which industry refers to as feedlot utilisation. WA Lot Feeders Association president Lucy Morris, the senior operations manager at TW Pearson and Son, said the State's feedlot sector was feeling positive about demand for feedlot space and grainfed beef. 'The tight summer period and lack of rainfall throughout the southern areas of the State has brought some opportunities for feedlots to access additional feeder cattle which came onto the market as a result,' she said, 'Demand for WA grain fed beef seems to be on the rise with China looking for alternatives to the US market, and subsequently other markets are seeking to fill the void created by the demand from China. 'This is really positive for WA and there will be opportunities to gain ground in markets especially throughout South East Asia where we have a freight proximity advantage over our competitors.' While WA's feedlot numbers were hovering at 10 per cent above the same quarter last year, the report noted feedlot utilisation was 71 per cent with capacity remaining flat at 89 per cent. Comparatively, drought-like conditions plaguing farmers in South Australia and Victoria had sent feedlot utilisation in the latter soaring to more than 90 per cent — the State's highest since 2019. Meat and Livestock Australia senior market analyst Erin Lukey said it was important to note that WA's feedlot sector was 'largely seasonal' and traditionally peaked in March. She said the national and WA results highlighted the adaptability of the lot feeding sector and how it could respond to shifting seasonal and market conditions. 'Australia is currently facing a stark contrast in seasonal conditions: the south is experiencing sustained dry weather, with SA, Victoria, and parts of NSW experiencing poor pasture and feed availability,' she said. 'As a result, many producers have turned to feedlots to finish cattle to hit target weights through short-feeding programs.' Australia exported a record amount of beef in April, at 127,000 tonnes, with China ramping up is imports after ceasing imports from the US on the back of US President Donald Trump's controversial trade tariffs. But the US remains Australia's biggest beef customer, taking 37,213t compared to China's 21,572t. WA's feedlot sector is seasonal in nature, and typically peaks during the first and last quarters of the year. Queensland is the nation's feedlotting capital, with more than 850,000 cattle on feed in March, followed by NSW at 442,735, South Australia at 71,060 and Victoria at 69,613.
