Early in the year, factors contributing to the fall in throughput included flooding throughout northern Queensland and the competitive live export market.

A better season across Victoria and SA towards the end of the year encouraged producers to hold on to stock, with heavy rain in southern WA throughout spring also restricting the movement of cattle.

However, the most significant long term impact on throughput during 2009 has been the ongoing drought across many regions, with many producers having little option but to reduce carrying rates over several years.

While the number of calves penned remained largely unchanged in 2009, vealer steer and heifer numbers rose by 4pc and 3pc, respectively.

This was partly the result of the ongoing drought and poor demand for grown cattle, which saw many producers offload rather than to hold onto stock.

Yearling steer numbers declined 6pc on last year, while heifer numbers slipped 5pc year-on-year.

Grown steer numbers slipped 5pc on last year.

Grown heifers and cows both registered a 7pc fall in numbers on last year – the largest decline across all the cattle categories.

Interestingly for 2009, total adult cattle slaughter was expected to be back between four and five per cent on the previous year, indicating that the decline in numbers through saleyards was largely supply related, not a shift away towards other selling methods.