Argentinean Slaughter Down But Cow Kills High
ARGENTINA - Argentinean beef production reached 1.2 million tonnes (carcase weight) between January and May this year, a 3.2 per cent fall compared with the same period in 2007 according to statistics from the Argentinean National Agricultural Trade Control Office, reported by Meat and Livestock Australia.
21 July 2008
1 minute read
Cattle slaughter fell by 0.7 per cent, while the average carcase weights fell from 217.5 kg, to 212.2 during the period.
The fall in production was not that large considering the farmer strikes since March, including road blockage, in protest against the government’s exports taxes and restriction, MLA said.
Despite the fall in total slaughter, female slaughter rose by 6.5 per cent on the previous year (reaching 51 per cent of the total in May) and calves by over 20 per cent, indicating a liquidation of the cattle herd. The slaughter of steers decreased 16.6 per cent during the period.
The herd liquidation is in response to both the government’s export restrictions and price controls, and the rise in returns to cropping.
TheCattleSite News Desk
