Australia Cattle Slaughter Volumes Jump but Herd Growth Still on Track
Ripley Atkinson, StoneX Livestock and Commodity Broker, examines the latest ABS Q2 livestock slaughter and production figures and their implications for the beef industry.
Key Takeaways
National slaughter volumes reached the highest quarterly level since 2015
Record beef production was achieved in Q2 2025
Rising female kill numbers do not signal nationwide herd liquidation
Slaughter Volumes at Decade Highs
Atkinson highlights that Q2 slaughter reached 2.34 million head, the highest quarterly volume since Q2 2015. This was up 10 percent year on year, adding 215,000 head compared to Q2 2024. For the first half of 2025, national slaughter volumes were up 13 percent, or 580,000 head. He notes this reflects both a larger national herd and improved processor capacity.
Processor Capacity and Expansion
Atkinson stresses the importance of processing capacity in supporting higher slaughter volumes. “It tells you the processors are handling those higher supplies by getting through them”. Plants have increased shifts, improved labor productivity, and expanded capacity, with one facility in South Australia reopening after several years offline.
Female Kill Numbers and Herd Implications
Female kill reached 1.275 million head, the second-highest quarterly figure since 1978. Atkinson urges caution in interpreting this as herd liquidation. He emphasizes that strong seasonal conditions in key northern regions mean the national herd is not under pressure, despite localized liquidation in the south. Strong cow prices and improved genetics have also supported higher female turnoff.
Record Beef Production and Exports
Despite a small decline in carcass weights quarter on quarter, beef production in Q2 2025 hit 719,000 metric tonnes, the highest quarterly output on record. Year to date production is running 15 percent ahead of 2024. These volumes are underpinning record-breaking export levels, particularly into the grinding beef market in the United States.
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---- Written by Frederic Guetin, StoneX TV Producer
----Expert: Ripley Atkinson, Australian Livestock and Commodities Manager for StoneX
Meats & Livestock
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