In a blow to the cattle industry across Australia, beef exports are likely to fall short of their official estimates for the year to June.
While rains have begun to revive pastures in Queensland – the largest cattle producing state in the country – previous periods of drought have meant that farmer’s beef stocks are dwindling.
Statistics from Rabobank and reported by Reuters suggest that export targets of 1.18 million tonnes of Australian beef will no longer be achievable, due to the limited water supply making it difficult to sustain important crops that are subsequently used to supplement cattle growth.
$7.4 billion industry
It is now feared that the countries that usually purchase large quantities of Australian beef – such as China – will turn elsewhere in efforts to fill any deficit.
Keeping the Australian cattle industry in the best of health can have a huge impact on the wider economy. According to Meat & Livestock Australia, the industry is worth up to $7.4 billion annually.
Within the agriculture sector, the beef industry accounts for more than half (57 per cent) of all of the farms in Australia. That’s approximately 200,000 livelihoods that are at stake including those in beef processing and retail.
Keeping cattle healthy
Having a plentiful water supply is crucial in keeping cattle healthy, but drought conditions can often lead to that being easier said than done.
However, making the most of water collected in bores doesn’t have to be laborious. A Hydrosmart water conditioner can make the whole process easy, impacting salinity which is one of the main inhibitors to sustained and healthy crop growth, and unlocking the goodness that’s in the water to create a nutrient-rich supply.