THE WA Lot Feeders Association (WALFA) has a new executive officer to restart the association and help chart a profitable course for the sector.
WALFA president Trevor Hinck told Farm Weekly the association was optimistic about its future.
"WALFA has been in a bit of a recess in terms of events, so we made a decision to reassess our executive officer position and called for nominations," Mr Hinck said.
"Felicity Taylor, who worked with grower group the Facey Group, nominated and was chosen.
"From there we hope to kick-start WALFA again.
"Felicity will be an asset to the association and will sit down with the executive board this month and discuss WALFA's direction."
With the WA feedlot sector experiencing tighter margins, Mr Hinck said WALFA would spend the next 12 months looking at a range of issues and finding ways to keep it viable.
"This includes events - we will discuss this at the meeting this month," Mr Hinck said.
"We are hoping to host an event next autumn."
Mr Hinck said tight cattle supply and dwindling markets had influenced tight margins.
"There is a lot said about our export markets, but the fact of the matter is the rest of the world has cheaper beef," he said.
"So exporting boxed beef is difficult, nationally as well.
"Domestically there is tight supply and some resistance to buy beef at the current price, which is affecting consumption."
While this was good news for building the WA herd, Mr Hinck hoped prices would not fall on the back of that.
"We don't need bursts and busts all the time," he said.
"We need a good even supply and a good viable price for the whole supply chain."
Mr Hinck said Ms Taylor would be tasked with finding that balance of supply and price.
"We will be focusing on this and speaking to all of industry," he said.
"We need to achieve this balance so we don't get the boom and bust."
WALFA will meet in Narrogin to discuss its direction of the sector on November 20.