The introduction of the National Livestock Identification System served to provide a record of cattle movements by using an effective, electronic animal tracking system across Australia. The availability of an algorithm to simulate real-time and accurate movements of cattle is critical in the event of a major exotic disease outbreak. Such an algorithm could also be used for forecasting and formulation of policies to manage emerging disease threats. The National Livestock Identification System database will provide the basis for testing and verifying real-time and forecast cattle livestock turn-off patterns as a precursor to developing a real-time cattle movement simulation algorithm. The study demonstrated the major drivers and that real-time pasture information clearly needed to be incorporated into a movement model.