Queensland floods to affect Australia beef prices

The impact of the North Queensland floods will be felt by consumers, a minister said.

About 150,000 cattle are estimated to have been killed by the floods, but it will take some time before an accurate figure is known.

Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke said there would not be an immediate shift in supermarket meat prices, as it would take until the first muster in May or June to know the exact cattle numbers.

Some cattle, the stronger ones, can swim for some weeks but most of last season's calves will be taken out, Burke said.

Burke added that Queensland is the main calf producing state in Australia so there will be significant challenges in total beef numbers.