Graziers say donate cattle to Indonesia North Queensland graziers wants the federal government to buy 100,000 cattle as a gift to Indonesia. AUSTRALIAN graziers struggling to sell their livestock abroad have called on the federal government to buy 100,000 cattle and donate them to Indonesia. The unusual idea was proposed by graziers at crisis talks in north Queensland on Tuesday as a goodwill gesture to Indonesia that would also bolster the flagging industry. Meeting with federal and state agriculture ministers in Richmond, graziers warned they might have to start shooting cattle they can't feed or sell as drought takes hold across parts of the state. An oversupply of livestock, caused by the high dollar and a downturn in Indonesian import quotas, has seen cattle prices plummet to levels not seen in decades. Many in the industry blame a dive in Australia's trade relationship with Indonesia - triggered by the government's decision to ban live cattle exports in 2011 - for the price slump. Graziers at the talks supported the unorthodox call to donate 100,000 cattle to Indonesia, one of many ideas floated about how to save the ailing industry. Federal MP Bob Katter called on state and federal governments to invest in a cannery in north Queensland to produce tinned beef products and soups from the excess stock for supermarkets. Federal Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig said the government was assisting farmers in a number of ways to alleviate the stress of "unmanageable debt." Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said the coalition wanted to get live cattle exports to Indonesia "booming again" after the federal government's "catastrophic" handling of the issue. But the Australian Greens said it was time to end live exports and move to a trade focusing on chilled and frozen meat. Greens animal welfare spokesperson Lee Rhiannon said it was a simple solution that would create regional jobs and boost profits for beef producers. It would also reduce the risk of animal cruelty, which the industry was yet again left to explain after footage emerged showing Australian cattle being mistreated in Egypt. "That's why we can have a win-win here," she said. Countries in the Middle East were already importing far more packaged meat, while Indonesia was pursuing a goal of meat self-sufficiency by 2014, she said. Australian Livestock Exporters' Council CEO Alison Penfold said there was room for both live exports and boxed meat but warned of the consequences of suspending trade again. The Animal Justice Party on Tuesday said it would field 10 senate candidates in the federal election in a bid to end live exports.