PIGS and rainfall will dictate how cattle prices play out in Australia for 2020.
And Victoria's famed January weaner sales will be the first indication of the year just how much.
Prime returns have been outstripping store cattle prices all year thanks to strong export demand and herd numbers continuing to fall as much of the country battles continuing drought.
Meat & Livestock Australia reported the national heavy steer indicator operating at an average premium of 49 cents a kilogram to the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, with China's African swine fever epidemic and a low Australian dollar boosting finished prices.
"A key indicator of the strength of the international market, the US imported 90CL beef prices, are trading at record levels of 928c/kg (Australian), just below its November peak of 968c/kg," MLA said.
"National cattle slaughter for the year-to-October totalled 7.1 million head, an increase of 7 per cent year-on-year. Victoria and WA recorded the largest increases in slaughter, both increasing 12pc from the same period in 2018, while NSW increased 7pc."
Nutrien Ag Solutions south-east region livestock lead Adam Mountjoy said this pointed towards favourable trading conditions at this year's weaner offering.
"There is an opportunity for producers that have been turning off heavyweight bullocks for $1800 to $2000 (a head), to step back in (to the market) at half that rate at about $1100," Mr Mountjoy said. "The ability to trade has never been more favourable when comparing the higher prices achieved for heavy weight cattle over the past six to eight weeks with those weaners coming onto the market in January."
At the 2019 new year sale, black calves generally traded in the 300 to 330c/kg bracket, with the best lines making above that, with most pundits now saying all indications point towards prices remaining at the same level in 2020.
He said last year's spring-drop calves had been meeting solid demand because of their heavy weights.
"They have been making good money at feeder entry weights, at anywhere from 290 to 220c/kg, it has been very solid the past few weeks," he said.
"We tested the market for our autumn-drop calves in November, and the opening sales were quite pleasing, but as the season hasn't gone with us in places and the processing cattle have come back in rates, some 20 to 30c/kg liveweight in the past three weeks, there has been a reduction in demand for lighter weight weaners.
"Autumn-drop weaners are underpinned at the moment by live export orders, so we are in for an interesting time in the new year, given the condition of our northern trading partners."
With an obvious price gap having been seen between the early December weaner sales in South Australia's Naracoorte and Victoria's Euroa, Mr Mountjoy said weight would be a big factor in demand.
"A higher content of EU-accredited and heavier feeder weighted steers at Naracoorte certainly increases the cents a kilogram return seen in the south-east, as opposed to central and north-east Victoria," he said.
"Lotfeeders will absorb a majority of 380kg-plus cattle and live export the lighter weights, but it will be on local producers to take the rest.
"This year all the boxes need to be ticked to obtain the high-end prices, that being weaned, weight and accredited for various grass finished programs; I think if those are all ticked you will see a premium."
According to MLA, the EYCI has traded between 468 and 520c/kg since the end of August, with November prices almost on par with prices from the same time last year.
As of December 13, it was sitting at 495.75c/kg, about 30c/kg below the same time last year, and a dip of more than 20c/kg in the past month.
Angus Gidley-Baird, Rabobank, said in the Global Animal Protein Outlook 2020 that global demand fueled by falling pork production would be countered by season conditions stalling producers from restocking.
"There is considerable upside potential for prices, given livestock inventories for both sheep and cattle are at their lowest levels in over 20 years," he said. "And it is this low stock availability that will see the market remain highly sensitive to substantial rain events."