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Australia

Drought Increases Slaughter Numbers

Australia, now in its summer months, is experiencing unusually hot weather and a prolonged drought which bumped September cattle slaughter to 683,749 head, 5 percent greater than September 2001, but 2 percent lower than August, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Despite the rise in September, Australian year-to-date cattle slaughter (5.9 million head) through September is 1% below the equivalent period in 2001 and beef and veal production is 2 percent less at 1.6 million mt.