Major turnoff is store cattle to company-associated properties in Queensland or elsewhere for growing and fattening. The live cattle export trade is increasing. The Alice Springs district is arid, rainfall is variable and long dry periods are common. There is a heavy reliance on underground sub-artesian water. The region is predominantly stocked with Hereford and Shorthorn cattle, although some properties have Bos indicus cattle to supply the South East Asian live export trade.
Grazing is based on perennial grasses, ephemeral annual grasses, shrubs and 'top feed'.
Cattle enterprises include breeding and fattening stock to slaughter weights or, depending on the run of seasonal conditions, breeding stores for sale. Turn-off is predominantly to southern Australia, although growing numbers of cattle are exported live to the Middle East and Indonesia.