Strong finish for feedlot cattle

The number of cattle finished at feedlots lifted nationwide at the end of last year.

Feedlot numbers surged across the country last year.

CATTLE on feed finished last year on a record high of more than 1.2 million, a lift of more than 10 per cent.

The latest Australian Lot Feeders’ Association and Meat and Livestock Australia survey for October to December last year showed increased numbers of cattle on feed across all states.

The survey, released last week, found Queensland, NSW, and Western Australia recorded the largest gains.

Queensland increased by 59,786 cattle or 9 per cent to 720,055 head, while NSW increased by 27,743 or 8.6 per cent to 349,694.

Western Australia increased by 28,723 to 56,193 cattle.

Modest increases were recorded across Victoria and South Australia. In total there were 1,239,563 cattle on feed for the October to December quarter, an increase of 120,234 head or 10.7 per cent.

ALFA president Bryce Camm said last year was a significant year for feedlot production.

“Cattle on feed has been above 1 million head during the past eight quarters, culminating with a historical high exceeding 1.2 million and feedlot utilisation reaching 90 per cent at the end of 2019,” Mr Camm said.

“The feedlot industry continues to demonstrate the significant role it plays in helping supply chain business continuity in the face of persistent and widespread drought conditions,” Mr Camm said.

According to MLA senior market analyst Adam Cheetham, African swine fever influenced the global meat market last year, as China scrambled to fill its increasing protein deficiency off the back of reduced pork production.

“Australian grain-fed exports totalled 82,520 tonnes shipped weight through the December quarter, an increase of 5 per cent from year-ago levels and 2 per cent higher than volumes in the September quarter,” Mr Cheetham said.

“Grain-fed exports to China continued to climb, improving 61 per cent year-on-year to 23,989 tonnes, up 20 per cent from the previous quarter.”

Mr Cheetham said exports to Japan dropped 10 per cent for the same period down to 33,565 tonnes.

Grain-fed exports to Korea fell 2 per cent year-on-year to 14,168 tonnes.