10 September 2015

The Meat Industry Strategic Plan (MISP 2020) – released on 9 September by Minister for Agriculture, Barnaby Joyce – is a key document in setting the direction of the red meat industry.

MISP 2020 was created in conjunction with industry; including producers, processors, exporters and service providers such as MLA, LiveCorp and the Australian Meat Processor Corporation.

Lamb numbers at Forbes decreased 5%, to 31,269 head week-on-week. Quality was fair across the yarding, and with a strong offering of new season lambs penned, demand held steady. The usual buyers we in attendance and operated in what was a cheaper market.

Mutton throughput increased 7%, to 8,323. Quality was strong, with Merinos making up the majority of the yarding and selling to a dearer trend.

Supply at Ballarat dropped 30%, to 3,004 head. With a stronger presence of young lambs yarded this week, the regular buying group were in attendance, however not all operated. Heavy weight numbers were scarce, and much the same as last week, sold a few dollars easier on quality.

Roma Store numbers increased 55%, to 7,831 head, with a large amount drawn from western districts. The usual buyers were in attendance and operated across all classes. Feeder operators and export processors competed directly on medium and heavy grown steers, resulting in a dearer price trend.

Throughput at CTLX increased 9%, to 1,525 head, with a mixed level of quality offered. Not all the usual buyers competed. Prime trade cattle, grown steers and bullocks were in limited supply. A reasonable offering of cows were seen and most young cattle sold to similar rates.

NVLX Wodonga consignments decreased 20%, to 1,200 head. Quality improved week-on-week across all categories, with a better selection of supplementary fed and crop finished yearlings on offer. The usual combination of domestic and export buyers were in operation, but demand noticeably weakened for the limited supply of grown steers and bullocks.

04 September 2015

Managing a grazing business through drought is tough – and building it back up once the drought breaks also takes preparation and skill.

The recently launched Pastoral Profit program is presenting a series of ‘Focusing on the Future’ workshops in western Queensland during September and October to help producers prepare for recovery when the season breaks.

Throughput at Roma Prime remained low, at 658 head, following scattered rainfall across the supply area. Quality was mixed and competition was solid.

Supply at Dubbo lifted 41%, to 5,150 head, with good numbers of prime conditioned cattle on offer, in addition to some consignments from the far west.

Consignments at Bairnsdale increased slightly, to 559 head, but not all buyers operated fully in what was a cheaper market. Quality was plainer, with most prime drafts lacking finish, and this impacted prices.

Numbers at Wagga lifted, with 32,000 lambs and 9,000 sheep yarded. There were around 20,000 young lambs penned and quality was outstanding.

At the conclusion of Thursday’s markets:

Note: All yardings and prices referenced are from MLA’s National Livestock Reporting Service (NLRS) reported saleyards.

04 September 2015

Lamb mortality – not lamb weaning – rates are the real indicator of a successful lambing, according to NSW DPI Livestock Research Officer Dr Gordon Refshauge, who said ewe management is a vital factor in delivering healthy lambs.

Gordon will show producers at the MLA-supported Mandurama Pasture Update on 15 September how performing a lamb autopsy can identify the most likely cause of death.

04 September 2015

MLA’s ‘You’re Better on Beef’ promotion, launched in March, aims to give consumers ‘permission to eat’ beef more often. The campaign highlights beef’s nutrients and how it helps people get the most out of their day.  

To extend the campaign to regional Australia, ‘The Beef Brigade’ was developed - a community engagement program that shows the benefits of beef to the health and wellbeing of communities. The Beef Brigade, headed up by former Wallabies legend Nathan Sharpe, encouraged regions to tell MLA why their community is Better on Beef and what local project they need completed to make their community the best it can be.

04 September 2015

Georgetown beef producers Greg and Carol Ryan have lifted their carrying capacity by 250 animal equivalents in four years by investing in more watering points and single-strand electric fencing to enable rotational grazing.

Prior to the new infrastructure being installed, the continuous grazing system on Green Hills station had resulted in patch grazing and a decline in desirable pasture species, despite a conservative stocking rate.

04 September 2015

SAFEMEAT, the body responsible for safety and hygiene standards in Australia’s red meat industry has announced that from November 16 2015, producers will need to ensure they are using the most current version of the Livestock Production Assurance National Vendor Declaration (LPA NVD) form.

The decision has the approval of peak industry councils such as the Cattle Council of Australia and the Sheepmeat Council of Australia, and is in line with the expectations of international markets.