Slaughter still remains ahead of last year

Published: 06 August, 2007

During the four-week period ended May 19, 2007, Federally Inspected Slaughter showed an average weekly kill of 677,000, up from the 634,750 of our previous report. This compares with an average of 679,500 in the same period the previous year and represents a 2.5% increase over 2006.

The Japanese minister for agriculture, Toshikatsu Matsuoka has rejected another Washington application to scrap the cattle age limit on US beef imports. US agriculture secretary, Mike Johanns asked Matsuoka to adopt guidelines under the World Organisation for Animal Health ruling that would ostensibly allow the US to export beef regardless of the age of the cattle. Japan's position is that their import regulations are currently in line with their own scientific procedures.

Only three weeks have elapsed since our last report so export figures for raw hides cover the three weeks ending May 18. China maintained top position with 1,256,800, double the 664,500 reported for the previous four weeks.

Hong Kong was in fourth place with 113,200 giving the region a combined total of 1,370,000. Korea came in second with 202,500 (257,200), followed by Taiwan with 201,600 (258,900).

Mexico came next with 85,500 (76,400), followed by Thailand with 70,600 (20,500), Vietnam with 69,500 (59,100) and Japan with 39,800 (60,500).

Italy only took 5,900 during the three week period under review against 6,300 for the previous four weeks. Spain bought 3,300 (2,900), Croatia 1,300, Canada 900 (12,600), India 1,300 (11,300) and Türkiye and Uruguay both taking 600.

Calf and kip were taken up by four main buyers: Italy with 161,700 calf and kip (8,100); China and Hong Kong with a combined total of 30,500 and Japan with 2,000 kip (6,600).

When it came to wet-blues, Italy came to the fore with 190,500. China took second place with 89,900 (140,200, 229,400) which with Hong Kong's 84,700 (62,00, 59,700) gave them a combined total of 174,600 (202,200).

Mexico took fourth place with 80,300 (62,000, 95,100, 93,100, 27,100) followed by the Dominican Republic with 31,500 536,300); and Taiwan 19,400 (27,800, 12,500, 19,700, 72,000).

Korea came in for 17,900 (47,100, 20,300, 22,500, 15,200).

Next up were India with 3,900, Germany 3,500 (12,200, 1,800, 7,600), Spain 3,100, Indonesia 2,700 and Indonesia 800.

Hong Kong and China combined to buy the bulk of the wet-blue splits with a combined total of 960,200lb (353,620). Italy bought 132,000lb and Mexico 46,200lb.

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