Australia-Increase in finished steer numbers.

AUSTRALIA-INCREASE IN FINISHED STEER NUMBERS.

The first quarter of 2009 witnessed a significant jump in the number of grown cattle offered at physical markets compared to the previous two years, according to the National Livestock Reporting Service.

Meat and Livestock Australia’s NLRS reports that total throughput during the quarter climbed 17pc on 2007 and 18pc on 2008 as the more plentiful supply of feed in NSW and Queensland enabled producers to grow out cattle.

The March quarter saw processors more active in the saleyards, with this group buying 15pc more cattle than in 2008 and 21pc more than in 2007.

The NLRS reports that feeder interest lifted 10pc on 2007 and 34pc on 2008, largely due to the low Aussie dollar and reduced grain prices.

This drop in grain prices also encouraged a large number of grain assisted cattle onto physical markets.

Heavy weight grown steers offered at MLA’s NLRS saleyards in the first quarter of 2009 increased 26pc on 2008 and 18pc on 2007.

Coinciding with this increase were significant rises in the number of medium weights and bullocks offered.

One of the factors contributing to the rise in grown cattle was the reduction of young cattle offered, highlighting that producers opted to take advantage of the lower grain prices and improved pastoral conditions on offer and grow young cattle out.