2017 saw mutton demand up while lamb eased

LAST year’s poor seasonal conditions in broader Australia slowed the sheep flock rebuild during winter and early spring, followed by a late break in the season, which revived some restocking activity.

In December, national lamb slaughter totalled 1.71 million head, back 15 per cent year-on-year.

It is important to note that this is off the back of two historically high December totals in 2015 and 2016.

December 2017 was more closely aligned to 2013 and 2014 levels, and just 4 per cent lower than the five-year average for the month of 1.78 million head.

This brought the national total lamb kill for 2017 to 22.4 million head, down 2 per cent from 2016 levels.

A very dry winter and start to spring slowed flock rebuilding efforts, with many producers having to turn off stock, and a surge in processing during these months as a result.

A late break in the season and above-average rainfall across many key sheep producing regions during December revived restocking activity and encouraged producers to carry over stock to reach heavier weights.

Following lower slaughter numbers, Australian lamb production for December was 37,548 tonnes carcase weight (cwt), 18 per cent lower than year-ago levels, this brought the total for the year to 509,221 tonnes cwt, similar to 2016.

The national lamb carcase weight for December was the lowest monthly average recorded since September 2016, at 21.95kg, with the average for the calendar year being similar to 2016 at 22.72kg.

The opposite trend was true in sheep, with December slaughter up 18 per cent year-on-year totalling 656,096 head.

However, a reduced ewe flock in 2016 meant this comparison was from a lower base. Compared to the five-year average for the month, December 2017 was down 12 per cent – with the aforementioned seasonal conditions influencing producers’
rebuilding intentions.

Total Australian mutton slaughter for 2017 was 7.54 million head, up 8 per cent from 2016.

Mutton production in December increased 14 per cent year-on-year to 16,233 tonnes cwt, reflecting the rise in slaughter.

Total production for the year reached 188,434 tonnes cwt, up by 11 per cent from 2016 with the average carcase weight for December being 24.74kg, back 3 per cent year-on-year.

This may reflect the poorer seasonal conditions seen, throughout the country, the national average for the 2017 calendar year was 24.96kg, up 2 per cent year-on-year.