As outlined in MLA’s monthly Co-product Market Report, most offal prices eased during September, however items destined for the Japanese market bucked the trend.

Japanese demand was supported by a lower A$ against the Yen, reduced tariffs under the Japan Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA), and ongoing sales growth in the Yakiniku restaurant sector. The US – Australia’s largest competitor in the market – has also had reduced presence in Japan, with a much stronger currency and tight slaughter cattle supplies.

While total Australian beef and veal offal exports declined 2% year-on-year in September, shipments destined for Japan lifted 19% and were close to double on August levels, at 2,881 tonnes swt (DA).

Dubbo lamb consignments lifted 22% on fortnight-ago levels, to 30,756 head, with no sale the previous week boosting numbers. Quality across the yarding was fair to good, although some new season lambs were dry in the skin and carrying some burr. Trade weights and heavy lambs were well supplied, while store lambs were limited. Regular buyers were in attendance.

Sheep numbers increased 20% on the previous fortnight, to 9,561 head.

Lamb numbers at Bendigo dropped 12% week-on-week, to 24,364 head. The majority of the new season lambs showed dryness and were in store condition. Demand for heavy new season lambs was subdued, and the regular buyers in attendance did not operate at their usual capacity.

Throughput at Toowoomba Elders doubled, to 1,279 head, following last week’s public holiday and deteriorating seasonal conditions. Most of the usual buyers were present but some were not operating, and restockers and feeder buyers were more selective. Prices eased across the board but some local trade lines held firm.

Consignments at TRLX Tamworth also doubled on numbers two weeks ago, with 2,830 head offered. Quality was very mixed but there were a few well finished good quality cattle available. Some feeder and trade buyers did not operate, in what was a softer market.

Hot spring conditions and no sale last week saw throughput at Wagga lift 31%, to 5,305 head. Quality was very mixed, with larger numbers of plainer conditioned cattle of all ages brought forward. The bulk of the trade cattle were grass finished and there were some crop finished grown steers and bullocks. One Queensland export processor, operating in the cow market, joined the usual panel of buyers in a cheaper market.

Wagga lamb numbers decreased 11% week-on-week, to 26,800 head, with increased numbers showing signs of dryness. Quality of new season lambs dropped from the standard of previous markets, with a large percentage of the yarding showing seed contamination. New season trade lambs were well supplied and competition was steady across all trade categories. Regular NSW buyers were in attendance, with limited southern processors operating.

Sheep consignments dropped 20% to 8,000 head, and light weight lines were in shorter supply.

New season light weight 3 score lambs dropped 20¢, averaging 505¢/kg cwt New season trade weight 3 score lambs  gained 1¢, to average 500¢/kg cwt New season heavy weight 3 score lambs increased 8¢, averaging 489¢kg cwt New season extra heavy 4 score lambs lifted 8¢, to average 487¢/kg cwt Heavy 4 score Merino ewes slipped 27¢, averaging 249¢/kg cwt

At the close of Thursday’s markets:

09 October 2015

Being prepared and acting early were the key messages delivered at the recent ‘Tackling Tough Seasons’ events held in Tasmania.  The sessions were delivered through MLA’s More Beef from Pastures (MBfP) and Making More from Sheep (MMfS) programs.

Agricultural climate specialist Graeme Anderson, beef and sheep producer Ed Archer, agronomic advisor Terry Horan and agribusiness consultant Basil Doonan shared their top tips on how to be prepared for any season:

09 October 2015

Accessing MSA grading results is now quicker and easier with enhancements made to the myMSA website, making it a ‘one stop shop’ for MSA producers.

A new function allows processors to alert producers via an automatic email of when MSA grading data is available on myMSA, allowing producers to view results within minutes of graders uploading data. The alert will also provide producers with a snapshot of compliance rates and eating quality performance via MSA Index results for that consignment.

Dubbo numbers lifted 4% week-on-week, to 7,600 head. The good quality yarding saw yearlings well-supplied and a large run of grown steers penned. The buying group was smaller with many not operating fully, in a generally cheaper market.

Light C2 yearling steers to feed declined 17¢, to average 302¢/kg Medium C2 yearling steers to feed dropped 23¢, averaging 307¢/kg Heavy C3 yearling steers to feed fell 33¢, averaging 299¢/kg Medium C2 yearling heifers to feed dropped 33¢, averaging 279¢/kg Heavy C3 grown steers dipped 25¢, to average 290¢/kg Heavy D4 cows declined 27¢ averaging 231¢/kg

Consignments at Roma Prime dropped 14% week-on-week with 1,030 head yarded. There were good quality prime cattle on offer, with grown steers and bullocks well-supplied. A full panel of processors were in attendance and were operating in the cheaper market.

Heavy C4 grown steers to slaughter declined 26¢, averaging 288¢/kg Light D4 grown heifers to slaughter decreased 24¢, to average 264¢/kg Medium D3 cows declined 11¢, averaging 230¢/kg

Bairnsdale saw a 17% rise in yardings, to 580 head. Quality was plain to average, with a limited supply of finished stock. The regular buying group was in attendance but not all were active.

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.