Australia looks on robust cattle trade with Southeast Asia

Australia can dramatically increase its live cattle trade with Southeast Asia, considering the thousands of square kilometres on cattle stations which remain un-grazed, Steve Petty, an North Australian researcher said.

Petty said cattle herds could increase by 50 percent within a decade, allowing an annual production of 600,000 cattle from Australia's Port of Darwin to Southeast Asia.

"The properties I have worked with would suggest that potentially 50 percent increase is in stock numbers, with additional development is do-able," he added.