May 14, 2012

Australia's cattle on feed drop for March quarter

According to survey results from the Australian Lotfeeding Association (ALFA) and MLA quarterly feedlot survey,  the number of Australia's cattle on feed totalled 750,067 head for the March quarter.

Numbers on feed fell 5% on the December quarter, but increased 2% on the corresponding quarter last year.

While numbers in Queensland (415,508 head) and SA (41,109 head) during the first quarter of 2012 declined 2% and 16% on-year, respectively, cattle numbers on feed in New South Wales (238,703 head) and Victoria (23,394 head) increased 9% and 12% respectively, over the same period.

Western Australia's cattle numbers on feed surged on the back of a very low December 2011 quarter and were also 28% higher on the corresponding quarter last year, at 31,353 head.