New Livestock Market Indicators Launched by Meat & Livestock Australia

Weaner heifers

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) recently introduced two new livestock market indicators that promise to enhance transparency in the industry.

Introducing the National Feeder Heifer Indicator and Online Sheep Indicator

The National Feeder Heifer Indicator (NFHI) and the Online Sheep Indicator (OSI) are the latest additions to MLA’s National Livestock Reporting System, which currently covers over 50 physical saleyard markets and offers 18 price indicators.

These new indicators aim to provide valuable, real-time insights for producers, processors, and other stakeholders in critical market segments. MLA’s managing director, Michael Crowley, noted that these innovations come directly in response to the industry’s growing demand for more granular and accessible market data.

National Feeder Heifer Indicator (NFHI)

The NFHI represents a groundbreaking effort in livestock market reporting by focusing specifically on feeder heifers—a segment that has been historically underrepresented. This indicator provides comprehensive data on:

• Price trends
• Head counts
• Saleyard breakdowns
• Regional categories

With filters by state and report dates, the NFHI aims to be an essential decision-making tool for both producers and buyers. According to Mr. Crowley, combining this indicator with the existing National Feeder Steer Indicator offers a complete overview of the feeder market, equipping stakeholders with critical insights into supply and pricing dynamics throughout various cycles.

Online Sheep Indicator (OSI)

The OSI marks MLA’s first endeavor in utilizing online sales data for restocker and breeder sheep. This indicator monitors:

• Price trends
• Head count data over 12 months
• Breakdowns by breed
• Filters by state, region, and category

Mr. Crowley emphasized the importance of the OSI in tracking value and pricing during flock rebuilding phases, particularly in regions currently facing adverse conditions like South Australia and Victoria.

Promoting Market Transparency

These new indicators are part of MLA’s ongoing commitment to utilize recommendations from the 2017 ACCC report aimed at improving competition within the cattle and beef industry. By investing in these tools and leveraging two decades of historical data, MLA strives to enhance price transparency across all livestock markets.

“The more information we can capture, the better the price transparency across all livestock markets,” Mr. Crowley stated, urging all livestock sale platforms to participate to further amplify the value of these indicators.

Source: MLA