Total kill for 2006 rises 5%

Marts: End-of-year returns show the total kill for 2006 was up 85,000 head on the previous 12 months, equivalent to an increase of over 5%.

Heifers recorded the largest percentage increase at more than 15% to 417,978 head, compared to 362,277 head for 2005. The throughput of cows was almost 5% higher at 358,295 head. The supply of bullocks was over 3% higher at 811,204 head compared to 785,462 for 2005.

The pattern for the year has shown a recovery of most of the decline experienced in 2005, when the throughput at the beef export plants dropped by more than 6%.