This week’s rainfall was mainly along the eastern coastlines, with falls of 1-15mm recorded in Victoria’s Gippsland region and Tasmania, and up the NSW coast. The NSW central coast and south east Queensland received heavier falls of 10-25mm, while light showers were measured in isolated pockets across central Queensland and into the gulf region. The Top End received concentrated falls of up to 50mm.

New Zealand (NZ) lamb exports for the season-to-date (October 2014-July 2015) have reached 264,998 tonnes swt – slightly lower (3%) than the corresponding period the previous year (Statistics New Zealand).

The decline was largely attributed to easing demand in China and the UK during the 2014-15 season so far, while the growth registered in markets such as the US, Germany, Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands was not large enough to offset the overall fall.

For the 2014-15 season-to-date, NZ lamb shipments to:

25 September 2015

The Wambiana grazing trial has a clear message for northern pastoralists – when it comes to stocking rates, flexibility is the key to profitable and sustainable management.

The 18-year-long, MLA-funded trial, conducted on the Lyons cattle property ‘Wambiana’, 70km south of Charters Towers, was established to find out which stocking rate and pasture management strategies were most profitable and sustainable long term.

Lamb throughput at Wagga was 13% lower, at 20,000 head. New season lambs made up the majority of the yarding and quality overall was excellent, with trade weights attracting stronger competition. There was a reduced number of buyers in attendance, and not all export buyers operated.

Sheep consignments were back 33%, to 5,000 head, and quality was fairly good, with plenty of weight in the offering.

At the close of Thursday’s markets:

Roma numbers were down 16% week-on-week, to 1,299 head. It was a mixed quality yarding, with a number of fair to good cows dominating the pens. All the usual processors were in attendance and operated in a generally mixed market.

Consignments at Dubbo slipped 10%, with 6,400 head yarded. It was a good quality yarding, with a strong selection of prime cattle in across all categories, along with the odd pen presenting in store condition. Young cattle to the trade sold to a cheaper trend as all regular buyers attended and operated in a solid market.

Bairnsdale throughput increased 6%, yarding 484 head. Quality was mixed throughout the offering with and usual buying group operated in a stronger market in most sections. Cattle suited to the trade sold to solid competition and with prime cattle in short supply, demand fluctuated across the sale.

25 September 2015

The Southern Australia Meat Research Council (SAMRC) this week announced seven livestock producers who will drive the collection of research and development needs from their local regions.

The announcement is the first important step in the creation of local committees that will operate under SAMRC.

25 September 2015

South Australian livestock consultant Hamish Dickson delivered strategies to optimise livestock nutrition when he presented a session at a Making More From Sheep (MMFS) event, supported by MLA, at an Upper North Farming Systems workshop in August.

Here are his top six questions for conducting a livestock nutrition ‘health check’:

25 September 2015

By Dr Christine Pitt, General Manager MLA, Value Chain Innovation

Historically, each segment of the red meat sector, be it producer, transporter, processor, wholesaler, retailer or service provider, has considered itself a link in the industry supply chain. Each link has been a discrete component of the greater process of taking food from the paddock to the dinner table.

Cattle

There was another very small yarding of trade and export cattle at Powranna and Killafaddy on Tuesday, with fewer export types and a better selection of trade yearlings.

Competition was not as strong for yearlings, with most making 280¢ to 324¢ and most averages were 10¢ to 15¢/kg cheaper.

There were 43 cows yarded and all were dairy cows, with a couple of big lines that sold to strong export competition making 210¢ to 222¢/kg.