Australia’s Meat and Livestock Association’s (MLA) cattle industry projections for 2012, released on 23 January 2012, provide a comprehensive outlook on the Australian cattle industry, including national herd, cattle and beef supply, and export numbers. Projections for 2012: Continued strong demand from a diverse range of global markets combined with favourable seasons will drive an expansion in Australian meat production and exports Australian beef and veal production is forecast to reach a... ...Read more »

Despite a fall in Australian lamb production during 2011, strong overseas demand and tight global supplies (particularly out of New Zealand) resulted in the third largest volume of lamb exported from Australia on record.   China saw a major jump during 2011 in Australian lamb imports, up 15 per cent year-on-year, to 29,620 tonnes. This is a region identified by both Australia and New Zealand as a key growth market for lamb (and mutton). With disruptions to New Zealand supply during late 2010... ...Read more »

Australian scientists say they have identified new genetic markers that will allow Australian producers to increase the lean meat yield and productivity of their sheep. The research, undertaken by the Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation (Sheep CRC) in conjunction with Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), will provide sheep breeders with the ability to use DNA testing early in an animal’s life to identify a wide range of traits, including meat quality. The Sheep CRC research,... ...Read more »

The lockout of workers at the Swift meatworks in Brooklyn, Victoria, has entered its second month, after NUW members again voted to reject the company’s 2% annual pay offer. One hundred and forty cold storage workers at Swift Australia, Brooklyn had agreed to taking industrial action on December 3rd last year, following a wage offer they described as ‘well below the cost of living.’ “This pay offer will send workers and their families backwards at a time when workers are facing... ...Read more »

New Zealand meat processor Silver Fern Farms is to increase capacity at three plants after a fire wrecked a facility in Te Aroha on Friday. A blaze late on Friday night “significantly damaged” Silver Fern’s Te Aroha plant on New Zealand’s North Island, 140km south-east of Auckland. No staff were injured and no livestock were affected but Silver Fern chief executive Keith Cooper yesterday met with workers from the Te Aroha site to detail the meat group’s plans to rejig... ...Read more »

New Zealand meat processor Silver Fern Farms revealed last week that it had swung to a loss in its most recent financial year after restructuring costs hit its bottom line. For the 12 months to the end of September, the firm made a net operating loss of NZ$800,000, compared to a profit of NZ$5.4m last year. One-off restructuring costs of NZ$7.2m contributed to the loss. Silver Fern’s EBIT halved, falling from NZ$36.3m to NZ$18m. Revenues dropped to NZ$1.81bn from NZ$2.01bn. Silver Fern Farms... ...Read more »

New Zealand meat processor Silver Fern Farms has announced plans to close its Brooks operation in the UK city of Norwich. The company notified its Brooks employees of the closure on Friday. Some 64 employees will be affected by the closure, which will come into effect immediately. Silver Fern Farms took ownership of the frozen meat processing facility in 1998, where it processed and packed a variety of frozen products, which for logistical and presentation reasons were unable to be retail-packed... ...Read more »

New Zealand meat processor Silver Fern Farms has announced plans to close its Canterbury lamb-cutting plant and restructure operations at its Belfast facility. The moves, which could affect up to 174 jobs, come as Silver Fern looks to streamline its operations and improve efficiency at its sites on New Zealand’s South Island. As well as the Canterbury closure, the company is also looking to close the rendering and casings departments and restructure the coldstore department at its Belfast plant. Silver... ...Read more »

Lamb production and prices are on track to post a record high in 2010, up 2% on 2009 levels, despite extremely low flock numbers, according to Meat & Livestock Australia’s 2010 Sheep Projections. “The key factor underpinning this production growth is improved pasture conditions in southern Australia, combined with the positive price signals for lamb that continue to drive the shift in flock composition towards prime lamb production,” said MLA sheepmeat analyst Kara Tighe. “The... ...Read more »

Australia’s leading advocate of lamb, Sam Kekovich, has received supported from one of the world’s most famous businessman as he takes the Australian lamb message global. Now in its sixth year, the Australia Day lamb campaign has seen Kekovich head overseas as he seeks to persuade the United Nations to declare 26 January ‘International Australia Day’. Braving far from idyllic barbecue conditions in New York on Monday 11 January, Sam fronted up to the UN headquarters to deliver... ...Read more »