Dry January Underpins Increased National Cattle Throughput
AUSTRALIA - National cattle supply for January at markets reported by Meat and Livestock Australia’s NLRS was up 15 per cent year-on-year, with almost all states recording higher throughput, underpinned by the prolonged hot and dry conditions across the eastern states pressuring producers to offload stock.
6 February 2014
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Furthermore, consignments are reported to have a larger proportion of lightweight young cattle, particularly in the vealer and yearling categories, while grown cattle numbers have increased substantially in NSW and Queensland.
Usually, Queensland and northern NSW receive good summer rainfall throughout January, however, as this has failed to eventuate this year, young cattle supply in NSW jumped 43 per cent, while grown cattle lifted by over 50 per cent year-on-year.
Queensland young cattle throughput increased 16 per cent, consisting mostly of yearling steers, while grown cattle throughput remained similar with the previous year, at approximately 10,800 head.
Young cattle numbers offered in Victoria remained firm year-on-year (14,500 head), while grown cattle supply slipped 12 per cent year-on-year. SA young and grown cattle throughput declined 13 per cent and 17 per cent year-on-year, respectively, while WA penned 22 per cent more young cattle, and at the same time, old cattle numbers increased two-fold, despite the majority of the state recording ‘above average’ January rainfall.
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