Feedlot utilisation & turnoff up
March 2025 cattle on feed update
The March 2025 quarter cattle on feed (COF) numbers have been released and they continue to show growth in the sector, despite some strong quarterly turnoff figures for the start of the year. There was nearly 1.5 million head of cattle on feed reported for Q1, 2025 and the capacity of national feedlots dipped marginally, taking the national utilisation ratio from 87% in Q4, 2024 to 90% in Q1, 2025.
A reduction in longer fed cattle over the last few quarters (particularly Wagyu cattle) has seen the average number of days on feed continue to ease down from 172 days in 2023 to 164 days in 2024. As at Q1, 2025 the average number of days on feed has dropped further to sit at an average of 159 days.
Cattle turnoff has started the 2025 season in a string fashion with 858,613 cattle marketed, this is the strongest start to the season since Q1, 2020 for cattle turnoff from Australian feedlots. Compared to Q1, 2024 this turnoff is nearly 13% higher and it sits 16% above the five-year average turnoff levels for the first quarter of the year.
Comparing Q1 turnoff for grain finished versus grass finished cattle the ratio of grainfed has lifted from 37.9% in 2024 to 39.5% in 2025. Historically the grainfed ratio lifts as we enter into herd rebuild phases and the trend appears to be turning for the grainfed ratio in 2025 towards the possibility of a rebuild phase beginning later in 2025 or 2026. However, as it stands presently the female slaughter ratio remains in liquidation territory.
