Stuck in the middle with moo

Market Morsel

Last week saw the release of the first quarter 2024 Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) cattle slaughter figures. Analysis of the data shows us how the female slaughter ratio (FSR) has opened the season after the annual average FSR finished 2023 at 46.8%, just 0.2% under the threshold level between herd rebuild and herd liquidation.

The start of 2024 has provided no additional clarity on the state of the Australian cattle cycle with the FSR coming in right on the threshold for the first quarter of 2024 at 47.0%. A comparison of the annual change to the herd versus the annual average FSR shows that Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) are forecasting a marginal 0.4% decline in the herd during 2024 which is in line with the current FSR sitting on the tightrope between herd rebuild and herd liquidation.