AUSTRALIA’S beef exports last calendar year crashed to a 19-year low, as the combination of low slaughter cattle numbers available due to herd rebuilding after drought, weather disruptions and processing labour resource challenges took a heavy toll on performance.
Uncompetitive meat pricing due to record-high Australian livestock prices also clearly played a part in trade in many markets.
Total beef export volume to all markets last year reached just 854,592 tonnes – the lowest seen since 2003 (840,929t), when global alarm over BSE (mad cow disease) dramatically slowed beef demand…
