Argentine Cattle Slaughter Hits 20 Year Low
ARGENTINA - Argentinean cattle slaughter for 2011 totalled 10.8 million cattle, falling 8.7% year-on-year and 32.5% from 2009.
17 February 2012
1 minute read
According to Meat and Livestock Australia, producers have been encouraged to rebuild herd numbers decimated by drought conditions in previous years.
Highlighting the intention of producers to rebuild herd numbers was a noticeable decline in female slaughter, which accounted for 39% of total slaughter – with anything under 43.5% constituting a rebuilding phase according to Ciccra.
As a result, beef production fell 18.4% year-on-year and 62.7% from 2009, to 156,552 tonnes cwt. Not only has the drought restricted beef production, but government price controls has forced some producers to move away from beef production towards cropping.
The fall in production has coincided with a drop in export rankings, with Argentina falling from number four in 2009, to just inside the top 10 for 2011.
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