Heavy cattle shipment to dock in Jakarta

Indonesia looks set to unload its first livestock ship carrying heavy cattle in three years.

The Northern Territory shipment of cattle over 350kg is expected to arrive in Jakarta today.

Indonesia introduced a weight restriction in 2010 and the exception was granted to help prices during Ramadan.

NT Livestock Exporters Association Bernie Brosnan told ABC Radio today that consignment marked the start of Indonesia's plan to import an extra 25,000 head of ready-to-slaughter cattle from Australia.

"The slaughter steers are getting an equivalent price, maybe even a bit better than the feeder steer price, so that's certainly a welcome move for producers with cattle in that weight range and being able to turn those non-productive cows out the door is a real boost," Mr Brosnan said.