Australia cattle herd slips one percent

The Australian cattle herd declined one percent to 27 million head for the year ending 30 June 2009, according to preliminary estimates released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) this week.

These estimates indicate significant herd declines in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Victoria.

Cattle numbers in Queensland for the end of the 2008-09 fiscal year were estimated to have declined 145,000 head or one percent on-year to 11.76 million head.

Drought and extensive flooding across the northern and western regions contributed to the decline. Severe drought throughout western region in late 2008 saw increased numbers of Queensland cattle turned off, many destined for the live export sector, while widespread flooding in January and February saw major cattle losses throughout the northwest and gulf regions.

Eastern and southern Northern Territory suffered the same conditions, with its cattle herd estimated to have declined by 15 percent to 1.7 million head as of June 30.

Many cattle in drought-stricken Barkly Tablelands in late 2008 were moved either for eventual live exporting or into better faring regions of Central Queensland. Losses due to flooding were also recorded in some regions in early 2009, although these were reportedly lower than it would have due to the destocking during the preceding drought conditions.

Victoria and Tasmania were the only south eastern states to record a decline for the year, down one percent and two percent as of June 30 2009, respectively. Continued drought conditions were the main driver of the decline, as female cattle turnoff surged for both beef and dairy cattle. The Western Australian herd also slipped two percent.

New South Wales and South Australia were the only states to record growth, with cattle herds estimated to have increased two percent and 11 percent, respectively.