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| Foreword |
| Australia’s live animal export industry has developed to meet the demands of its target markets in south east Asia and the Middle East. Exports of live cattle and sheep have represented a small but important component of Australian livestock trade, and are important to the regional economies of parts of northern and western Australia. ABARE was commissioned by the Food and Agriculture Division of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to assess the size and value of the live export sector and analyse the factors influencing global trade and Australia’s share of this trade over time. This report contains summary statistics of Australian live cattle and sheep trade, including the volume and value of exports to major markets. The dependence of broadacre farms in northern and western Australia on income from live exports is analysed using ABARE’s farm surveys data. The drivers of demand for Australian exports are identified in the report, and the challenges facing the industry in the future are discussed. |
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| Phillip Glyde Executive Director February 2008 |