Finished cattle supplies to drop 8%

Marts: Supplies of finished cattle for the remainder of the year are expected to be down up to 8% on the same time last year, according to the latest supply forecast, based on the national herd.

Figures from the Cattle Movement Monitoring System (CMMS) for 2004 show the number of male animals in the 12-24 month category at the end of 2004 was 74,000 head lower than a year earlier. The number of heifers in the same age category was up 4,200.

The intake of bullocks at the beef factories to date is down 8% - a drop of 36,000. Based on CMMS figures for the national herd a continuation of the same pattern is being predicted to the end of the year, which would result in a drop of 38,000 head in bullock supplies for the balance of the year.