Agricultural
6 September, 2022
MLA Sees Positives Ahead for Herd Rebuild
Low female slaughter and positive bull sale results point towards strengthening of the herd rebuild, according to Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).
The female slaughter rate (FSR) is a technical lead indicator of whether the national herd is operating in a rebuild or liquidation stage.
The FSR tracks the number of female cattle processed compared with the total as a percentage.
In the June quarter, albeit slightly higher the lowest figure in a decade in Q1, the national FSR sat at 44%.
Over the past 12 months, the FSR has averaged 44% nationally which supports MLA’s current cattle projections for a 5.6% rise in national numbers in 2022 due to the high retention of females.
MLA Senior Market Information Analyst, Ripley Atkinson, said the state figures highlighted producers rebuilding attitudes.
“We’re seeing producers with a retaining a higher percentage of females on farm which will drive a longer-term positive outlook for the strength of the rebuild with larger calf drops for each season moving forwards,” Mr Atkinson said.
“Across large parts of the eastern seaboard, on average the 2022 spring bull sale season, clearance rates and numbers of bulls offered and sold have also been high.
“The correlative relationship between producers purchasing more bulls during this selling season and the lower FSR’s demonstrates producers either intend to or have females available to be joined to increase their herd numbers on farm.” Mr Atkinson said.
