Aust, sheep flock declines also

Press, 18 February 1983, Page 24

Aust, sheep flock declines also

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural Economics (8.A.E.) estimates that the country’s sheep flock will decline by 2.8 per cent to around 134 million by March 1983.

The decline in the Australian flock is due primarily to the effects of drought on slaughtering and death rates in 1982. Sheep numbers are forecast to increase slightly to 135 million by March 1984,

despite the lingering effect of the drought on 1983 lambings. (New Zealand has about 70 million sheep.) B.A.E. expects Australian lamb production to decline by 8.3 per cent to 263,700 tonnes, 28,000 tonnes of which would be available for export. Mutton production is expected to decline by 11.4 per cent to 236,000 tonnes of which 124,000 tonnes (shipped weight) should be exported. Australian cattle numbers at March 31, 1983, are forecast to be 22.4 million, a decrease of 2.1 million from the March 1982 level. “This reflects the substantial increase in slaughter caused by severe drought in 1982,” the B.A.E. says. Beef and veal production in Australia is expected to fall by 19.5 per cent to 1,366,000 tonnes. Total exports are estimated at 465,000 tonnes shipped weight, down 24.6 per cent, with 260,000 tonnes destined for the United States.

Total Australian milk production in 1982-83 is expected to be down by nearly 1 per cent on the previous year. “Cow numbers have remained stable and the fall in milk production is due almost entirely to reduced

yields per cow caused by the drought. “The medium-term profitability of Australian dairying is expected to remain favourable relative to other rural industries. The size of

the industry could increase significantly as new entrants are attracted by the stability of returns.” There are signs of this occurring in Victoria where the number of dairy farms has increased for the first time in 10 years.