The number of lambs slaughtered in Australia has jumped by 5% in January of this year on 2015 levels, according to Meat and Livestock Australia.
It says that the Australian lamb kill in January stood at 1.85m head.
This increase in production has occurred despite the above average rainfall levels in New South Wales, while Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia had a drier than average month, it says.
Australian lamb production has also increased on a volume basis, as production stood at 41,697t during the month of January, which is 5% higher than the same time last year.
According to Meat and Livestock Australia, the carcass weights of lambs slaughtered have gradually increased over the past decade due to genetic advances.
It expects this trend to continue in 2016, with the average carcass weight for the year forecast to increase 1% year-on-year, to 22.4kg.
Lamp production to fall in 2016
However, it also expects the overall levels of Australian lamb production to fall by 2% this year compared to last year’s levels.
The 2% prediction by Meat and Livestock Australia is lower than a prediction made by the AHDB in February of this year.
The AHDB suggested that Australian lamb production would fall by 3% in 2016 on the year before.
The decline in Australian lamb numbers will more than likely occur due to a decline in breeding flock size and an increase in slaughterings late last year, it says.
The dry weather in 2015 meant that some Australian lambs were sent for slaughter earlier, it says, leading to a lower number of lambs being available for slaughter this year.