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.

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.