Cattle disposals down for 2004

Marts: Cattle disposals for the year are set to show a decline, with factory throughput and live exports down on 2003.

Figures on live exports of cattle are expected to confirm a drop of over 40% on 2003. Bullock supplies will show the largest drop in factory throughput, down 8% for the year. Supplies of heifers are around 9% lower than 2003. Overall intake at the factories is down by 4.5%.

Scarcity of cattle in spring and early summer brought higher-than- expected prices in May and June. This was not compensated for during the short autumn peak and the final months of 2004 delivered fewer-than- expected cattle for the processors after prices dipped in mid-November and producers held back supplies in anticipation of better returns in 2005.