Meat and Livestock Australia reports that adult cattle turn-off fell sharply throughout the summer months, while the number of grainfed cattle processed continued to be well below the previous year.

It says the difficult trading conditions for lotfeeders during 2007-08 contributed to a sharp decline in the number of cattle entering feedlots throughout the year.

Given the extended time required to finished cattle on grass compared to grain, most of the male cattle that would have been slaughtered in 2007-08 if grain finished, are now forecast to be turned off during the second half of 2008.

As a result, MLA says male cattle slaughter for 2007-08 declined 6pc nationally and 7pc in Queensland, with the lack of heavy grainfed cattle slaughtered throughout the year also contributing to the lower production.

In Queensland, the concentration of feedlots, along with heavy rain throughout summer, contributed to production falling 6pc on 2006-07, to 1.04 million tonnes cwt – or 48pc of the national total.

Production in NSW slipped 1pc, to 463,081t, while SA and Tasmanian production fell 10pc and 5pc respectively.

In contrast, Victorian production increased 1pc, while an increased focus on cropping saw turn-off increase in WA, with production rising 6pc, to a three-year high of 121,700t.

Total adult cattle slaughter for 2007-08 declined 3pc, as the 6pc decline in male slaughter (4.13 million head) was partially offset by a 1pc increase in females (3.8 million head).

Drought pressures contributed to increased female slaughter in NSW, up 7pc to 866,000 head, while Victoria and Tasmania recorded increases of 2pc and 7pc respectively.

Herd building efforts across Queensland contributed to female slaughter for the year falling 4pc to 1.4 million head.

Average adult carcase weights for the year declined 0.9kg/head, to 268.1kg/head.