Australia-Mutton exports up.

AUSTRALIA.

MUTTON EXPORTS UP 5%.

The rise in mutton exports to 157,689 tons in 2008 from Australia, are bound to have an impact on lamb numbers for next season. For not only were many ewes slaughtered that could have bred for 3/3 more years, many pregnant ewes were slaughtered in May and June.

The majority of the mutton went to the Middle East as normal, however as long as they can buy live sheep they will. They are getting boat loads of cheap sheep from the Horn of Africa currently.

South Africa took 13,680 tons of mutton for the year, which has proved to be a good new market for mutton and beef offal. The Middle east took 50,491 tons or 32% of total production and Russia took 10,425 tons.

There was drop in mutton sent to the USA and they took 13,415 tons, while the European Union took 7,433 tons mainly legs from prime sheep.