Australia: Cattle and hog inventories expected to increase during 2010

According to the US agricultural attaché, cattle inventories in Australia stood at 27.0 mln head as of January 2010 which compares to 27.3 counted one year earlier. The total includes 1.7 (1.6) mln dairy cows. Until the end of 2010, cattle inventories are forecast to rise to 27.8 mln head. Beef production in 2010 is forecast to total 2.1 (2009: 2.1) mln t.
Hog beginning stocks in 2010 are estimated at 2.3 (2.2) mln head including 263,000 (241,000) sows. Until the end of 2010, hog inventories are expected to reach 2.5 mln head. Pork production is forecast at 346,000 (327,000) t.
(USDA, March 2010)