February 14, 2012

In a bid to emerge self-sufficient, Indonesia slashed imports of livestock from Australia last month by nearly 50%, but some cattle traders from Australia's Northern Territory found after a recent tour a widespread scarcity of beef.

Scott Armstrong from Beetaloo Station in the Northern Territory was part of the delegation that visited a number of abattoirs and feedlots across the archipelago nation. He said the slaughterhouses have raised their standards since Australia banned livestock exports over animal treatment concerns in June 2011, but the feedlots are housing significantly fewer cattle.

Armstrong said the Indonesian government's figures on local supplies are not at all clear. "The feedlots are half full, if that. They are trying to source a lot of local cattle but quite simply the local cattle aren't there," he said.

The trader noticed that the price of beef has risen drastically since the government cut import permits in January to 280,000 from 520,000.