Australia: Livestock and Products Semi-annual
Australian cattle numbers are expected to decline to 24.6 million head in 2019, the lowest level in two decades. The decrease is attributed to continuing widespread drought in two major cattle producing states as well as stock losses from severe flooding in northern Australia. Slaughter is forecast at 7.9 million head in 2019, slightly above the official estimate of 7.8 million head due to poor pasture and high feed prices. Beef and veal production is forecast at 2.18 million metric tons (MMT) and exports are forecast at 1.53 MMT. In 2019, pig slaughter is forecast at 5.3 million head and pig meat production at 0.42 MMT.
