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Tassie moves on herd sizes
KAROLIN MACGREGOR
MORE than a quarter of Tasmanian beef producers say they
intend to reduce their herd size
as low prices and seasonal conditions take their toll.
The latest Beef Producer
Intentions Survey by Meat
& Livestock Australia has
reported that 28 per cent of
Tasmanian producers intend
to reduce their cattle numbers.
The survey, which is run
three times a year, found Tasmania has about 1.3 million
beef cattle across the state.
Overall, the survey found
con昀椀dence among Australian
beef farmers has increased
by 11 per cent to 34 per cent
compared to the last survey in
November 2023.
About 37 per cent of producers noted that improving prices
were a factor in their increasing
con昀椀dence levels.
More than half of Australian
producers, 54 per cent, indicated that they would maintain their current herd size,
while 28 per cent said they
would increase numbers, and
More than a quarter of Tasmanian beef producers said they want to reduce herd size ... but mainland producers were more optimistic.
19 per cent said that they would
decrease their herd.
to increase the on-farm grassfed adult beef cattle
A much smaller cohort of 16 per cent saw herd in the next 12 months.
a negative outlook, while about one in three
Mr Bignell said this was a clear change in
were uncommitted and uncertain about the next intention from that reported in the November
12 months.
2023 survey, where there was a stronger inten2024–2025 TO 2026–2027
The survey spoke to over 3000 grassfed beef tion to reduce herd sizes, re昀氀ecting the dry concattle producers in April and May this year. It ditions heading into summer.
“While the results do not indicate producers
covers producer sentiment and intentions, herd
pro昀椀le, spring and autumn calving, turn-off have all shifted to a rebuild focus, there has been
weights for different producer
a noticeable shift away from
types and sales-to-date forecast.
herd reductions at this stage,”
Queensland,
Manager for Market Informahe said.
New South
tion at MLA, Stephen Bignell,
When analysed further, prosaid that Northern producers
Wales and Vic- ducers noted that the summer
Sustainable Timber Tasmania has released the annual update to its
were generally more positive
rainfall had in昀氀uenced their
Three Year Wood Production Plan 2024–2025 to 2026–2027 to the
torian producers herd-size intentions.
than Southern producers, but
Tasmanian community for feedback.
that there were key variations
The April 2024 survey had
are more posacross the states.
a focus on measuring some of
itive than proThe Three Year Plan identifies forest
How to provide feedback
“The results suggest that that
the demographics of Austracoupes across Tasmania’s public
Queensland, New South Wales
lia’s
herd.
ducers in other
production forests that are available
Visit sttas.com.au
and Victorian producers are
The survey estimated there
states.
across a three-year period from which
more positive than producers
are approximately just over 26
a schedule of harvesting, roading
in other states, mostly due to an
million on-farm grassfed adult
Read the Three Year Wood
and regeneration operations will be
increase in prices and increased
beef cattle.
Production Plan
developed.
con昀椀dence following rain over the summer,”
Over half of the on-farm grassfed adult beef
Mr Bignell said.
cattle on hand are breeding cows with heifers
The release of the Three Year Plan
“Producers in Western Australia continue to making up an additional 15 per cent of the total
View the Access Map to identify
provides an opportunity to identify
report a far less positive outlook, driven by a estimated herd size.
which forest
which forest coupes and future
fall in prices and a lack of rainfall in key cattle
Queensland accounts for almost half the herd
coupes may be of interest to you
operations may be of interest to you.
size with 48 per cent, with New South Wales
grazing areas.”
Inviting community feedback on the
At the producer level, there is a net intention holding 20 per cent.
Three Year Wood
Production Plan
‘
INVITATION FOR FEEDBACK
ENTRIES for the state’s only
Royal Show this year are now
open.
Competitors interested in a
number of key sections for the
Royal Hobart Show can now
of昀椀cially submit their entries.
Sections now open include
beef cattle, cats, dogs,
alpacas, cavies, rabbits and
woodchopping.
Other sections such as Art on
Show and Creative Crafts are
already open.
During redevelopment of
the Hobart Showground, this
year’s show will again be held
at multiple venues, starting
with poultry, pigeons and
canaries at Brighton on July 27.
Hobart City Hall and the
Regatta Grounds will again be
the focus of the show on October 24-26.
Entries can be completed
atwww.entries.hobartshowground.com.au/Home
Contact us with your feedback
at stakeholder@sttas.com.au
or (03) 6169 2800
Please visit sttas.com.au for more information
about the Three Year Wood Production Plan
BC • STT10154
Hobart Show open for entries
Plan is part of Sustainable Timber
Tasmania’s commitment to engaging
with local stakeholders. Your feedback
will be considered during detailed
operational planning and decision
making processes.
TASMANIAN COUNTRY Friday, July 5, 2024 9
