Australia: Cattle and goat carcase weights on the rise

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Published Feb 24, 2023

Tridge summary

Carcase weights for beef cattle and goats are on an upwards trajectory, according to the latest data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Here, MLA’s Market Information team takes a deep dive into the driving factors. Adult cattle carcase weights Average cattle carcase weights have been increasing in recent years due to improvements in genetics and management systems across Australia.

Original content

According to the ABS, average carcase weights have risen by 30% since June 2003 – when the average carcase weight was 245.86kg/head – to sit at 320.16kg/head nationally in Q4 2022. Attributed in part to the higher numbers on feed, Queensland cattle were, on average, the heaviest cattle with weights 5% higher than the national average in Q4. This is unsurprising – see further details in the latest Lot feeding brief, released this month. According to the ABS, average adult male cattle carcase weights have remained at 347.7kg/head nationally for the last four quarters. Male carcase weights in Queensland are 4% higher than the national average and in 2022 Queensland male carcase weights reached a new record of 363kg/head, beating the previous record set in Q1 2022. WA male carcase weights also reached a new record of 314kg/head. Female weights have also improved over the past 10 years, with the current average for Q4 sitting at 282.2kg/head nationally. This is a 38.5kg increase on ...

Source: Mla