June 23, 2011

Concerns in Australia over downgrade of beef markets

Cattle producers from northern Australia may be forced to flood southern states with meat unsuitable for the markets, according to livestock consultant Graham Hopf.

Hopf claims southern markets will likely become saturated with cattle that do not meet local market specifications and were bound for export.

"They're not suitable, but they can't be left on the properties. They'll starve to death if they're left on the properties," he said.

"A lot of it is beef that's not suitable for our local trade here," he added. "It's not supermarket-type beef and they'll be second grade beef that'll be forced onto our markets."

Hopf says this may downgrade the Australian beef industry and make many farms unviable.

The Australian Federal Government has yet to reach an agreement with Indonesia on animal welfare standards, two weeks after it introduced its six-month suspension of live exports.

A bill to ban all live exports is before Federal Parliament, but it is unlikely to get support from the major parties.