Live export cattle yarded at Berrimah in the NT. Picture: NTLEA

Australia exported 59,958 cattle in November, the second highest monthly total of the year so far, behind only the 65,076 shipped the previous month in October.

Latest monthly data from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry shows that the increase was due largely to a lift in export activity to China, Israel and Vietnam.

Dairy cattle exports from Portland to China rose to 15,458 head and exports of feeder cattle from Fremantle to Israel totalled 9597 head – respectively 158 percent and 35 percent higher than the five-year November average to both markets.

Exports to Indonesia fell away from a strong month in October when 43,446 were shipped to a November total of 26,619 .

The volume of total cattle exports from Australia and exports specifically to Indonesia was about 25 percent below the five-year rolling average for monthly exports in November.

Shipments to Vietnam experienced a slight lift from 2488 head in October to 5063 in November, which is 72 percent below the five-year average for November exports to Vietnam.

Exports from Darwin in November totalled 21,390 head, only 4pc below the rolling five-year average for the month. December is again proving to be a busier period for Darwin shipments, with ongoing deliveries of floodplain cattle destined for Indonesia and a higher rotation of livestock vessel arrivals expected to push the monthly total towards 30,000 head.

Townsville exports totalled just 3503 head, down by 82pc on average November volumes.

The 15,458 cattle shipped from Portland represented a 96pc increase compared to the November average, while Fremantle shipped 16,690 head, 11pc below the five-year average.

A total of 182,411 cattle has been exported from Australia for the year to date, which is about half the five-year average for the first 11 months of the year of 356,549 head.