Australia-Live shipping trade for cattle slows down.

There are signs of a slowdown in the live cattle trade to Australia’s largest export market, Indonesia.

Agrogiri Perkasa is among the three largest cattle feedlots in Indonesia importing 55,000 cattle from north Australian pastoral stations last year.

The managing director Greg Pankhurst predicts the fallout from the global economic crisis will hit Australia’s live cattle trade within two months.

"It’s simply just coming down to consumer spending. People are just tightening their belts in Indonesia."

Last year Australia exported a record 651,000 cattle to Indonesia, but he’s predicting this year’s tally could drop 20 per cent.

"The consumer will cut back on their buying in May June."

The Industry forecaster Meat and Livestock Australia is more cautious predicting a 6 per cent slide in total exports.