Commencing this week, MLA’s National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) will report Charters Towers (Dalrymple) cattle sale in Queensland. 

Cattle throughput lifted this week, to 1,726 head. Quality was plainer overall, with well-finished lines in short supply. Live export demand was strong, while a major processor did not operate on slaughter cattle.

To subscribe to this weekly report, email NLRS at nlrs@mla.com.au or phone (02) 9463 9372.

Cattle

Results from MLA’s Queensland cattle saleyard survey for the 2014-15 financial year saw Roma once again secure the top position, with a total throughput of 449,736 head. Cloncurry remained in second position with 475,612 head spelled in transit. Dalby also retained last year’s third position, consigning 236,159 head, while Dalrymple recorded a total throughput of 178,468 head, of which 138,086 head were transit and 40,382 head were sold. Gracemere (CQLX) placed fifth, with 152,690 head. Blackall and Emerald placed sixth and seventh, with total throughputs reaching 124,323 head and 98,205 head, respectively. Warwick and Gympie rounded out the top ten.

Sheep

MLA’s Queensland sheep saleyard survey for the 2014-15 fiscal year saw Warwick remain the largest selling centre with 94,816 head sold. Beaudesert consigned a total of 331 head, coming in at second position, while Gympie and Toowoomba Elders yarded 330 head and 159 head, respectively, for the year.

Numbers remain similar

Cattle consignments in NSW remained close to equal, week-on-week, for a total of 23,211 head.

Higher prices

Medium weight vealer steers returning to the paddock averaged 4¢ dearer, with the bulk at 334¢, as the best reached 373¢/kg. The vealer heifers sold 2¢ to 3¢ dearer to sell from 270¢ to 329¢/kg.

Medium and heavy weight yearling steers to the lot feeder orders sold firm to 3¢ dearer to range from 275¢ to 352¢/kg. The bulk of the unfinished yearling heifers trended close to firm, making from 266¢ to 330¢/kg. The prime conditioned younger cattle to the butchers sold firm to 4¢ dearer, with the best reaching 357¢/kg.

Numbers rise

Consignments increased 8% this week, with 21,859 head yarded in all MLA reported saleyards .

Prices mixed

Lamb

Lamb consignments throughout NSW slipped 19%, week-on-week, for a total of 91,131 head.

New season trade weight lambs trended $1 to $2 dearer, making from $95 to $140/head, or an average price from 545¢ to 553¢/kg cwt.

Trade weight older lambs slipped $3, ranging from $83 to $127/head and attained an average price from 468¢ to 482¢/kg cwt.

Over-the-hook export goat indicators have moved into uncharted territory, reaching 500¢/kg cwt this week (MLA’s NLRS). Goats, which, in the past, have tracked the price of mutton, are now edging closer to current lamb prices. The average September export over-the-hook indicator (12-16kg cwt) is 471¢/kg cwt, up 40% year-on-year.

Average weekly eastern states goat slaughter, reported by MLA’s National Livestock Reporting Service, eased 4% year-on-year in August, 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, slaughter lifted in Queensland and NSW, to 17,292 head and 3,121 head, respectively.

Although the average eastern states goat slaughter for the month was lower than year-ago levels, August goat slaughter was higher than the May, June and July averages.

According to the latest United States Department of Agriculture  (USDA) GAIN report, the Russian cattle herd is forecast to decline by 1.5% in 2016, to 18.4 million head – a reflection of the long-term reduction on cattle inventories. Difficulties in obtaining long-term credits, low raw milk prices, and a decline in consumption have compromised the investments in new beef and dairy production projects in 2015, which are also likely to constrain the herd growth in 2016.

Despite the overall low beef supplies and high cattle prices in the Russian market, producers are struggling to increase production due to limited cattle stocks and reduced access to long-term credits, with Russian beef production forecast to also decline in 2016, to total 1.3 million tonnes carcase weight equivalent (cwe).

The Russian government have recognized that import substitution for beef will require a longer period of time and significantly higher investments to replicate the success of local pork and poultry producers. Minister of Agriculture “Alexander Tkachyov” recently noted that self-sufficiency in beef and dairy can only take place with continued strong government support to the sector over the next decade.

Consignments at Roma Prime increased 28%, to 1,060 head. With a similar increase in numbers to the previous week, a strong mix of good quality bullocks and cows set the benchmark for competition between exporters. Processors looked to secure suitable prime cattle, with the plainer categories selling to the cheaper trend.

Dubbo numbers were up 29% week-on-week, reaching 7,100 head. It was a good quality yarding presented across all sections, with prime cattle and the odd pen from the far west making up the offering. After trending cheaper in the early stages, the market gained momentum as the sale progressed, with most categories setting a dearer platform at days end.  

Throughput at Bairnsdale increased 23%, to 455 head. The short supply of prime cattle, showing good finished conditions, were in hot demand. A strong outfit of the usual buying group were present however, due to the mixed market conditions, not all operated.

Lamb consignments at Wagga slipped 8%, to 23,000 head, and new season lamb quality was excellent. All the regular domestic buyers were in attendance, although there were very few export processors operating.

Sheep throughput edged 1% lower week-on-week, to 7,500 head, with a reasonable proportion of the yarding consisting of medium and heavy weight lines.

At the close of Thursday’s markets:

18 September 2015

Target 100 producers were in the spotlight at the recent Farmer of the Year 2015 awards, taking out three of the 10 awards – including the Farmer of the Year.

Farmer of the Year was awarded to Tasmania’s Matt Dunbabin. Matt also received the diversification award. Matt and his wife Vanessa run a livestock enterprise at Dunalley in south-east Tasmania, where they also produce wine, crops and wool while operating tourism enterprises. Matt was one of the producer faces in the Target 100 Bettertarian campaign . Read their Target 100 story here , where they talk about improving environmental outcomes while lifting productivity.