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.
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.
New season light weight 2 score lambs to restockers dropped 20¢, averaging 546¢/kg cwt
New season trade weight 3 score lambs to slaughter gained 7¢, averaging 493¢/kg cwt
New season heavy weight score 3 lambs rose 12¢, averaging 501¢/kg cwt
New season extra heavy weight score 4 lambs slipped 2¢, averaging 485¢/kg cwt
Medium weight score 2 Merino ewes jumped 47¢, averaging 293¢/kg cwt
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:
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.
Heavy D3 yearling heifers to feed averaged 249¢/kg
Heavy C4 grown steers & bullocks slipped 13¢ and 17¢, respectively, averaging 275¢ and 272¢/kg
Light D4 grown heifers to processors dropped 21¢, averaging 243¢/kg
Medium D3 cows fell 46¢, averaging 184¢/kg
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.
Light C2 vealer steers to restockers eased 27¢, to average 270¢/kg
Heavy C3 yearling steers to feed were down 20¢, averaging 280¢/kg
Heavy C3 yearling heifers averaged 250¢, back 32¢/kg
Heavy C4 grown steers to slaughter slipped 18¢, averaging 267¢/kg
Light C3 grown heifers to processors were back 40¢, averaging 219¢/kg
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.
Central West NSW cattle supplies declined in September, compared to the same time last year, following the large numbers that were consigned in earlier months, across most NLRS reported saleyards. However, throughput has since increased in October to be similar to year-ago levels, while supplies remain slightly higher in selling centres in the north of the state. Sheep throughput has lifted over recent weeks as a result of the drier spring.
The hot and dry weather across NSW and Victoria has had some effect on the number of restocking weaners and lambs coming through the saleyards, with some producers concerned about having enough feed to carry stock through the forecast drier months ahead. Surface water in dams also remains a concern, with reports of shortages in western Victoria, NSW and the Gippsland area.
Good numbers of western bred cattle are still being consigned at Dubbo saleyards, with prime cattle well supplied. Quality is starting to slip in the central west and southern NSW saleyards, although is still reasonable across the northern Victorian centres. Feedlots have been very active on all weights and grades over the past month.
Lamb consignments throughout NSW increased by 30%, week-on-week, for a total of 104,401 head. This was due to some major markets resuming selling after the previous Monday public holiday.
Dubbo penned 30,756 lambs, as Tamworth offered 4,000 head in total.
Forbes decreased by 37% and penned 16,768 head.
CTLX lifted by 6% for a total of 6,700 lambs.
Wagga remained similar at 27,000 head, with Corowa yarding 16,800 lambs.
Inverell continued its fortnightly market and penned 2,377 head.
New season trade weight lambs trended $3 cheaper, making from $90 to $128/head, or an average price from 487¢ to 488¢/kg cwt. New season heavy weight lambs sold close to firm ranging from $106 to $152/head and averaged from 481¢ to 497¢/kg cwt.
The return to a full trading week saw lamb supply, reported by MLA, increase 25% week-on-week, to 191,981 head. With hot and dry conditions forecast to continue across the eastern states, and direct-to-works supplies reportedly sufficient, prices headed south this week, with some categories falling below year-ago levels.
Restockers were able to capitalise on the lower saleyard prices – mainly at NSW centres where some good feed can be found. While in Victoria, restocker demand remains limited as the season continues to deteriorate.
Last week, eastern states weekly lamb slaughter was the highest it’s been since the beginning of May, at 376,758 head, despite the public holiday in some states. This was attributed to Victorian kill levels lifting to 19,733 head – the highest level since mid-April.
