LAST week's decision by the Indonesian Government to cut Australia's live export imports to 280,000 head is another hit for WA pastoralists.
In what has already been a troubled year for the live export industry, farm lobby groups are worried about what it will do to struggling pastoralists.
Pastoralists and Graziers Association (PGA) president Rob Gillam said he was devastated by the news.
"There were people who were starting to get back on track following the suspension and have a positive outlook but now they will be really shot in the gut after this," Mr Gillam said.
He said he wasn't sure where the cattle which were set for Indonesia would now go.
"This is going to mean there is just going to be a lot of cattle which are going to need to find another home," he said.
"And the cattle cannot just go south because the cattle are not suited to the southern market, so you don't get as much money and you have the freight bill to go with it.
"You just can't make a living by sending your cattle down south."
He said other markets such as the Middle East were not likely to take Bos Indicus cattle and it would force pastoralists to send the cattle south for a low price.
"I honestly believe the cattle which are north and ready to be sent to Indonesia will have to be sent to the southern markets," he said.
"On the east side of the Northern Territory and Queensland they will send them down and grow them into big bullocks which are perfect for the boxed beef market, but it is the northern side of the territory and the Kimberleys, the Gascoyne and the Pilbara who breed specifically for the Indonesian market that will be the most affected."
He said WA pastoralists have a lot of Bos Indicus cattle which would mean it would take time before they bred new stock.
"Pastoralists will be left in no man's land," he said.
Mr Gillam didn't think Indonesia would be able to reach self-sufficiency and it would always need some cattle from Australia.
"The biggest thing will be the supply and demand in Indonesia because regardless of the aims of the Indonesian Government if the red meat price climbs too high because they restrict the imports, then I believe there is an opportunity the government will increase the quota," he said.
"I don't think they have the land mass to be able to breed enough cattle for their population."
Mr Gillam admitted the industry knew Indonesia was heading towards being self-sufficientcy but said he didn't expect such a massive restriction so soon.
WAFarmers president Mike Norton said Indonesia had fast-tracked its plans for self sufficiency to the detriment of the Australian farmers.
"But it appears the Labor Government's decision to suspend the live cattle trade earlier this year is continuing to have a significant effect," Mr Norton said.
"Only last week, the Minister for Agriculture Joe Ludwig, was announcing that the value of farm exports would increase by around six per cent in 2011-12.
"WAFarmers calls on the Federal Government to explain whether it had any indication of the Indonesian Ministry for Trade's decision and if so for how long.
"This decision will be a devastating Christmas present for northern cattle producers."
WA Farmers meat section president Jeff Murray said Federal Government's decision to ban live cattle exports earlier this year would have played a part in the Indonesian Agriculture Minister's decision.
"I do believe there is fair bit of payback in this because they are not going to take what happened earlier this year lying down," Mr Murray said.
"The decision to ban live cattle exports earlier this year would have had to contribute to the Indonesian decision.
"It has proved that Australia is an unreliable supplier and for obvious reasons they need to become self-sufficient."
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