Industry News

The sluggish cattle markets weakened a little further this week, due to the rising A$ and high supplies. Despite coastal flooding in NSW, the southern drought and poor immediate seasonal prospects are pushing young cattle onto the market. At the same time, northern Queensland is drying after the end of the monsoon, allowing producers to start marketing export stock, boosting overall national cattle yardings 16% above a year ago. The higher A$, combined with surprisingly weak prices from Japan, has also weakened demand for export cattle, with the national Japan ox indicator falling 5A¢/ kg cwt this week, to be 6% lower than a year earlier. Export prices for grassfed fullsets to Japan fell further this week. Grassfed fullset prices (in A$ terms) are 1.7 % below a year ago and shortfed fullsets are down 11% – implying that all the benefit of the A$ fall (and more) has gone to Japanese importers, and none has flowed back to Australia. The opposite remains the case with lambs and sheep, with a tight global demand/ supply balance ensuring that most of the A$ benefit has been returned to Australia. This week, lamb prices consolidated last week’s gains, to be 25%-35% higher than a year ago. Similarly, strong Middle East and Asia demand helped lift the mutton sheep indicator a further 13¢/kg cwt, to be 20% higher than a year earlier.

Source: MLA

Total throughput of cattle at MLA’s NLRS reported saleyards this week was around 28% higher than last week. This has predominately been a result of the improved prices over recent weeks and the subsidence of waters in areas that received large falls a couple of weeks ago, allowing cattle to be moved. However, compared to the corresponding week last year, all states have recorded smaller yardings with supply approximately 14% less. Even though the sale at Mareeba was unable go ahead due to the ongoing wet season in the far north of the state and a couple of other yardings in Queensland eased, Queensland was still able to record a larger throughput this week, increasing 34% on last week. Dalby continues to dominate and accounted for almost 60% of the state’s throughput, compared to 50% last week. In NSW, all centres yarded greater numbers, with a 54% increase realised. The largest gains occurred in the north west where Gunnedah and Inverell almost doubled. Victoria followed the trend of the nor thern states as the majority of markets realised larger supplies. This resulted in the state’s throughput lifting almost 23% on last week. Yardings increased just 6% across SA and this was despite a reduction witnessed at SA LE where supply more than halved. A much smaller yarding in Tasmania was the result of less trade cattle being penned. In the first two months of the year, Tasmania’s state cattle yardings were 33% below the same time last year. WA yardings remained similar to a week ago as the vealer selling season in the south of the state shows signs of winding down.

Source: MLA NLRS

Reports from retailers indicate that the 2009 Australia day lamb campaign, featuring Sam Kekovich, has again generated a great deal of public interest and created an even higher sales impact than last year. Sales feedback collected by MLA from retailers indicated that many stores reported record sales of lamb leading up to Australia day this year, with many noting that they sold out of all lamb products or certain lamb cuts. About 48% of respondents to MLA’s butcher survey carried out by Millward Brown reported a ‘very good to excellent’ sales impact on lamb for this year’s Australia day campaign. This was up from 40% for the 2008 Australia Day campaign that also featured Sam Kekovich.

Source: MLA

National agents association initiates Auction Week in the face of fire and flood tragedies!The Australian Livestock & Property Agents Association (ALPA) is promoting a National Livestock Auction Week right across the country where producers can donate any livestock at a regular auction sale day and have their agents sell them free of charge. All proceeds will go to the RED CROSS appeal for the Flood & Fire VictimsAndy Madigan, CEO of ALPA says ‘Now is the time to band together, the fall out of these two tragedies should not only be endured by the communities that have been immediately affected.’ He says ‘Stock & Station Agents’ are a major part of the fabric in rural communities’ right across the country, and this is just one of the things we can do to help’. Mr Madigan says the Association is currently working towards getting the levy dropped on these donated stock. He said saleyards have already agreed to drop their charges.

The sale week starts on Monday the 23rd of February. Despite some centres already running various aid programs for the cause, ALPA is calling for everyone to unite in support of ‘The ALPA National Livestock Auction Week’ so that maximum impact can be made. Agents implore producers across the country to make donations, Mr Madigan says ‘every donation counts!’.

For more information please contact Andy Madigan on (02) 9262 6633

Regards

Andy Madigan. Chief Executive Officer Australian Livestock & Property Agents Assoc. Ltd (ALPA).

Source: ALPA

SALE REPORT FRIDAY 30TH JANUARY 2009 Casino saleyard saw its biggest single vendor sale on Friday with the dispersal of the Charbray herd from New Koreelah Account SCENIC RIM HOLDINGS P/L.The quality of the herd was outstanding, shown by the temperament of the cattle along with their frame and milk evident in the quality of their calves.The yarding cromprised 1000 females offered along with 400 calves as well as 30 bulls.Local demand was very strong with 80% of the offering purchased by local producers for both veal and steer production.280 Cows & Calves topped at $1400 to average $1210 while 120 Heifers and Calves topped at $1200 to average $1120.60 PTIC Cows joined to Charbray bulls topped at $960.40 PTIC Heifers joined to Charbray bulls topped at $780.230 Heifers 20-30 months old joined to Red Brahman bulls were keenly sought after by locals as replacement heifers topped at $790. These heifers will commence calving at the end of June which suits local conditions for veal production.270 Unjoined heifers 12 to 18 months old probably met the strongest market for producers to replace cull cows and improve their herds. They topped at $750 with the bulk of the offering making over $600.The total yarding of 500 heifers went to average $650The bull offering was highlighted by 6 bulls “Palgrove” bred aged from 3 to 6 years old topped at $5000. Younger Red Brahman and Charbray bulls went into local herds as replacements to improve the Brahman content in their herds.This sale will be followed by an offering of 150 Grey Brahman Cows & Calves, 150 Red Brahman Cows & Calves and 100 PTIC Brahman Cows all joined to “Palgrove” Bulls to be sold on 20th February, 2009 at Casino Saleyards.

The sale was conducted by Ramsey & Bulmer represented by Allen Ramsey and Wayne Bulmer with co-agent Tony White of Dubbo.  

Source: soa

SOA opposes Mob Based Movement recording for saleyards only , however if it becomes mandatory saleyards and agents will have no choice.SOA has pushed for full funding on this issue and are pleased to report that funding has been now doubled to $4,000 maximum or up to 50% of the spend. Funding has been allocated from the Federal Government for the purpose of assisting sheep saleyards/agents to acquire equipment and software to meet the requirements of mandatory mob based movement recording for sheep and goat saleyard transactions.NVD scanning and storage will be optional under the current proposal. We recomend saleyards/Agents contact their and software suppliers for a quote. SOA are seeking further debate on this matter.See the attatched circular from MLA for your information.