There have been 1.52 million head of cattle on feed within the September quarter, a dip of 4% from the earlier quarter, however nonetheless the second-highest quantity on file. It was an almost 7% improve on the identical quarter in 2024, and 29% above the five-year common for the interval. It was the primary quarter-on-quarter fall in cattle on feed in 11 quarters, with numbers coming in decrease in each state.
The actual energy of those sustained near-record numbers is highlighted by a file turn-off within the quarter of 962,436 head, up 8% from June. This in flip meant grainfed beef exports rose 7% for the June to September interval to a file quarterly determine of greater than 121,000 tonnes. Capability additionally rose, up 3% from the earlier quarter to a file 1.74 million head.
These two components prompted a dip in utilisation, again to 87% from the file 93% set in June. The five-year common utilisation for the September quarter is 77%, with capability having risen 18% over that interval. Queensland and NSW utilisation remained above the nationwide utilisation fee at 91% and 87% respectively. In NSW, the place utilisation was 95% the earlier quarter, cattle-on-feed numbers fell by lower than 1% from June, nevertheless, capability lifted 7%. Figures fell throughout the board in South Australia, with numbers on feed down 22%, whereas utilisation in WA, which is historically decrease within the September quarter, was simply 50%.
The Nationwide Feeder Steer Indicator climbed 20% from the beginning of July to the top of September, regardless of throughput for this indicator additionally rising by 13%, its highest degree since 2015, in accordance with the Nationwide Livestock Reporting Service. It ended September about 35% stronger than the identical time in 2024 and the 10-year common, and 20% above the five-year common. It averaged 455¢/kg for the quarter, almost 100¢/kg lower than the identical interval in 2024, and 38% decrease than 2023; nevertheless, it remained about 40¢/kg beneath common for the 2021 and 2022 quarters.
