09 October 2015

Geoff Nicol’s commitment to educating his cattle is just one of the keys to producing more kilos of beef on the 4400-hectare property ‘Ninderra’, 25km west of Injune in southwest Queensland.

And quiet cattle have proven to be one of the contributing factors to his surprisingly high labour efficiency figures, when compared to the top 25% of beef producers in Queensland’s southern inland region.

A blast of hot weather for most of eastern Australia last week contributed to the drop in the cattle market, with all indicators losing ground.

After coming tantalisingly close to hitting the 600¢/kg cwt mark, the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) lost 28.75¢ this week, to finish Thursday’s markets at 566¢/kg cwt. While the decline was rapid and significant, it should be kept in context with where the market has been, as the EYCI is still more than 200¢ above where it was at this time last year.

Similarly, the eastern states heavy steer indicator declined 18¢ to finish at 296¢/kg lwt, while medium cows declined 11¢, closing at 232¢/kg lwt.

Numbers decline

Cattle consignments in NSW eased by 26%, week-on-week, for a total of 20,594 head, with the Monday public holiday the contributing factor.

Prices ease

Cheaper trends were evident throughout all categories, as the medium weight vealer steers returning to the paddock slipped 15¢, making from 260¢ to 360¢/kg. The vealer heifers sold 11¢ cheaper to sell from 250¢ to 331¢/kg.

The medium weight yearling steers to the lot feeder orders sold 18¢ lower to range from 260¢ to 336¢, with the heavier end trending as much as 25¢ cheaper to average 303¢/kg. The bulk of the unfinished yearling heifers slipped by 15¢ to 22¢/kg. The prime conditioned younger cattle to the butchers also trended cheaper by 20¢ in places; however the best still topped at 369¢/kg.

Yarding numbers swell

Throughput in Victorian MLA reported saleyards lifted 26% week-on-week, reaching 14,794 head.

Prices ease

Medium weight C2 vealer steers to feed were 8¢ cheaper on 305¢, heavier B2 vealer steers sold to slaughter at a top of 350¢ and averaged 339¢, down 9¢/kg. Medium B2 vealer heifers to slaughter fell 23¢, to average 314¢ while slightly heavier B2 vealer heifers also slipped 16¢, averaging 326¢/kg. Heavy C3 vealer heifers to slaughter sold between 260¢ and 338¢, settling at an average of 309¢, down18¢kg.

Light C2 yearling steers to feeders sold at a height of 312¢ and averaged 305¢, down 19¢, while heavier medium C2 yearling steers also sold to feeders eased 6¢, averaging 303¢/kg. Heavy C3 yearling steers to slaughter sold between 265¢ and 325¢, at an average of 304¢, down 24¢/kg.

Lamb

Lamb consignments throughout NSW slipped by 32% week-on-week, for a total of 72,814 head. This was due to some major markets being cancelled because of the Monday public holiday.

New season trade weight lambs trended $6 cheaper, making from $93 to $127/head, or an average price from 502¢ to 506c/kg cwt. New season heavy weight lambs sold close to firm ranging from $114 to $154/head and averaged from 482¢ to 500¢/kg cwt.

The older lambs trended $3 to $10 cheaper through most of the weight ranges, with the best heavy weight topping at $142/head.

Lamb consignments increased 50% at Ballarat with 14,516 head yarded. Quality was average to good; with reasonable numbers of trade weight and heavy lambs penned. The usual buying group were in attendance and operated in a generally cheaper market.

Sheep numbers leaped 98% to 9,088 head, and most grades sold to a cheaper trend.

Lamb throughput at Forbes lifted 5% to 26,633 head, with new season lambs in greater numbers. Quality was mixed with a number of lambs showing signs of dryness along with some well-conditioned pens. The usual buyers were present and active along with strong competition for restockers.

Roma Store numbers increased 5%, to 9,818 head. Quality was mixed with store cattle offerings showing more signs of dry conditions week-on-week. Softening demand from NSW restockers was felt throughout the sale, with the plainer lines selling to a cheaper trend. Feedlot buyer competition strengthened for good medium and heavy weight yearling lines, with the lighter weight heifers selling to an easier trend.

Throughput at CTLX jumped 33% on week-ago numbers, yarding 3,260 head. Quality was mixed, and with prime cattle in strong supply. The market was generally cheaper overall. A notable offering of yearling heifers were also penned, with the reasonable number of steers selling mainly to feedlot orders. All the usual buyers attended, however not all were in operation.

NVLX Wodonga consignments increased 34%, to 3,700 head. Quality of the yarding was solid across both trade and export categories, while secondary stock condition was mixed. There was a limited selection of supplementary fed yearlings, with grass fed cattle making up the bulk of the numbers. The usual group of buyers attended, with export buyers operating in particularly cheaper market conditions

07 October 2015

The Australian goat industry is set to take on-farm practices, production and exports to the next level with the release of a new five-year research and development plan.

Developed by the Goat Industry Council of Australia (GICA), with support from Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), the Goatmeat and Livestock Industry Strategic Plan 2020 details clear R&D targets for the industry and attributes responsibility to key service providers for achieving those goals.

06 October 2015

The Australian red meat and livestock sectors will benefit from improved market access arrangements following the conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations announced by Trade Ministers* in Atlanta on 5 October 2015.

Under the TPP, the tariffs levied on Australian beef entering Japan will be further reduced from those negotiated under the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA). The tariff on both frozen and chilled beef will fall to 9% over 15 years - as opposed to the end point of 19.5% for frozen beef and 23.5% for chilled beef secured under the JAEPA. All TPP member countries supplying beef to Japan will be similarly advantaged by these TPP tariff cuts. A global beef safeguard provision will apply to this trade.

Lamb consignments at Wagga lifted 50% week-on-week, to 30,000 head, with an outstanding offering of new season lambs making up a large portion of the yarding. There was a full panel of domestic and export buyers operating, and increased restocker enquiry.

Sheep numbers doubled, to 10,000 head, and most grades sold to a cheaper trend.

At the close of Thursday’s markets: