11 September 2015

Six beef producers stepped away from their properties and into the live export market this month, for an MLA/LiveCorp-funded tour to Indonesia.

Northern Territory producers Allison and Greg Dakin, Queensland’s Ross and Natalie Olive, and Ben Mills and Caitlin U’Ren from WA saw all aspects of the beef supply chain, including:

11 September 2015

Goat prices have continued to rise in recent weeks and are now at record levels – averaging 463¢/kg cwt, with highs of 500¢/kg cwt for 8kg + carcases, according to MLA’s latest over-the-hooks report.

Supply has remained tight over the past few months following processing highs in March and April 2015 when more than 40,000 head were processed each week. Weather also played a part in the supply shortages with patchy rain across parts of the NSW western division affecting transport, access on properties and the ability to harvest goats, however, these impacts are now easing.

Hurry... Sire nominations for Resource Flock close 18th October!

Nominations are now being accepted by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) for the 2016 Resource Flock joining.  While the focus will be on Merinos, Poll Dorsets, Border Leicesters, White Suffolks and Dohnes, all breeds are encouraged to nominate.

The selection criteria will be based on relationships to sires already used in the Resource Flock, genetic diversity, and index values. We will require a minimum of 16 doses + 1 for genotyping of each ram (numbers to be finalised).

Numbers decrease

Cattle consignments in NSW slipped by 2%, week-on-week, for a total of 19,148 head.

Prices firm to dearer

The medium weight vealer steers returning to the paddock averaged 11¢ dearer, with the bulk at 328¢ and the best reaching 354¢/kg. The vealer heifers remained firm to 5¢ dearer, to sell from 269¢ to 311¢/kg.

The medium weight yearling steers to the lotfeeder orders sold 2¢ to 10¢ dearer, to mostly make from 325¢ to 334¢, with the best reaching 346¢/kg. The heavier end the same orders slipped 2¢ to 3¢/kg. The bulk of the unfinished yearling heifers trended 2¢ to 4¢ dearer, making around the 301¢ to 310¢ range, and the best reached 339¢/kg. The prime conditioned younger cattle to the butchers sold firm, with the best reaching 384¢/kg.

Lambs

Lamb consignments throughout NSW slipped by 4% week-on-week, for a total of 112,806 head.

New season trade weight lambs trended $2 to $5 cheaper, making from $106 to $146/head, or an average price of 582¢ to 584¢/kg cwt.

Trade weight older lambs slipped $3 to $4, ranging from $90 to $140/head, and attained an average price from 550¢ to 552¢/kg cwt.

Yardings rise

Consignments lifted in Queensland this week, with 18,694 yarded by the conclusion of Thursdays markets, with a further 2,600 head expected to sell at CQLX Gracemere tomorrow.

Dalby and Roma Store yarded 5,863 head and 7,831 head, respectively, while supply at Emerald lifted to 2,000 head. Roma Prime yarded 828 head, up around 200 head week-on-week, while Warwick consigned 1,055 head. Both Toowoomba markets yarded similar supplies week-on-week.

Grown cattle prices rise

Most C2 calves to restockers were 21¢ lower, averaging 317¢, while D2 lines were 4¢ cheaper, on 285¢/kg. Light weight D2 vealer steers to restockers were unchanged, on 289¢, while C2 vealer heifers of the same weight to slaughter eased 2¢, to 289¢/kg.

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.