Australian goatmeat export values for August decreased 24% year-on-year, to $18.6 million FOB (Australian Bureau of Statistics) – driven by a 27% fall in the total volume shipped for the month (2,403 tonnes swt). This saw the year-to-August total at $1.4 billion FOB, down 1% on the corresponding period last year.

The lower export volume and value were underpinned by a decrease in goat slaughter during August, with NLRS average weekly eastern states goat kill down 4% year-on-year, to 31,660 head. This decline was attributed to slaughter levels in Victoria and SA halving year-on-year, to 5,962 head and 5,285 head, respectively. In contrast, goat slaughter in Queensland and NSW lifted, to 17,292 head and 3,121 head, respectively.

Returns from most of Australia’s major goatmeat export markets in August followed a similar trend, compared to the same time last year:

Eastern states indicative lamb slaughter increased in most states last week but was lower than the same time last year.

The rise was attributed to the return of a full processing week in most states, although lamb slaughter usually peaks in October as new season spring lambs continue to enter the market, as illustrated in the figure below.

Eastern states weekly cattle slaughter has been in steady decline since Easter, as illustrated in the figure below. However, with the onset of hot and dry conditions, particularly in the south-east, large numbers of cattle have been turned off and last week registered the first marked increase in the eastern states weekly kill since before the Easter period.

With almost 161,000 head processed throughout the eastern states, last week’s kill was the highest it had been since July but remains 8% below year-ago levels. While the 15% week-on-week lift is coming off a short processing week in many states, it is also 12% and 6% higher than the previous two weeks, respectively.

16 October 2015

Since July 2011, the livestock export industry has operated under the Australian Government’s Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS).

A research and development project, being undertaken by MLA and LiveCorp, aims to develop a more robust assurance system that will strengthen the principles of ESCAS, better ensure the welfare of exported animals and demonstrate the professionalism of the trade while protecting the long-term sustainability of the entire industry.

16 October 2015

Kangaroo Island sheep breeder Jamie Heinrich is both a stud owner and commercial wool and prime lamb producer. With a foot in each camp, he understands the full spectrum of industry demands - from sourcing the latest genetics and leading trends to the commercial reality of producing sheep that pay.

The Heinrichs’ ‘Ella Matta’ White Suffolk and Poll Merino studs are tucked away on Kangaroo Island, but in no way are they shielded from industry scrutiny.

Consumer demand for beef and chicken remains above last year’s levels, while pork demand is relatively steady, according to the Daily Livestock Report (DLR). The measures used by DLR are per capita disappearance of meat, and retail prices, published by the US Department of Agriculture. This gives a value for real per capita expenditure (RPCE) – in US$ per month.

By looking at the change in expenditure per person, rather than simply consumption figures, the DLR aim to show changes in demand based on the willingness to pay more or less for the product. The figures are quoted in 2014 terms, thus accounting for inflation from year to year.

The latest figures available are for August, which show total RPCE of $64.82 – of which beef accounts for around half, and chicken slightly ahead of pork, but around a quarter each.

Wagga lamb consignments were fairly steady, with a 1% increase week-on-week, to 27,000 head. Quality was good with new season lambs making up the bulk of the yarding. The usual buying group were in attendance and there were plenty of store buyers active.

Sheep numbers lifted 25%, to 10,000 head. Quality was very good with plenty of heavy pens on offer.

At the close of Thursday’s markets:

16 October 2015

South Australian livestock consultant Hamish Dickson delivered strategies to optimise livestock nutrition when he presented at an MLA/Australian Wool Innovation funded Making More from Sheep (MMFS) session at an Upper North Farming Systems workshop earlier this year.

Here are his top tips for managing sheep grazing on cereal stubbles:

16 October 2015

Ross and Natalie Olive operate a commercial and stud Brahman enterprise, Olive Brahmans, in central Queensland. They run 2,600 Brahman breeders on the 20,234 ha Clifton Station near Marlborough, and finish yearling heifers and steers on 1,011 ha at Gogango, west of Rockhampton, which is also home to their sale bulls and stud breeding program. Ross and Natalie recently joined four other beef producers on an MLA-LiveCorp funded tour to Indonesia.

Here, they share what’s happening on their property at the moment, the goals and challenges of their business and some of the big learnings from their trip to Indonesia.

Roma Prime numbers increased 33% on week-ago yardings, to 1,368 head. Quality remained fair to good and bullocks and grown steers were in strong supply. The usual buyers were operating but export processors were more selective on some plainer quality lines which sold to a cheaper trend.

Consignments at Dubbo declined 20%, yarding 6,100 head. It was a plainer yarding in quality, with a limited offering of prime cattle across all sections. Not all the regular buyers operated in what were notably tougher market conditions, with prices easing across all categories.

Throughput eased 15% at Bairnsdale, with 494 head offered. Export cattle dominated the yarding, with young cattle in limited selection. Most of the usual buying group attended, however not all fully operated in what was a cheaper market. Quality was fair and secondary lines were well represented. Most cattle sold firm to easier on week-ago prices, with vealers trending notably cheaper.