Newsletter for the week ending 16 January

Rain, Beautiful Rain

As I write this newsletter in Armidale NSW, we are getting our seventh consecutive wet day after a month of very hot summer weather. In total we have had about 100mm of steady soaking rain.

The rain is a result of a deep monsoon low over most of Queensland and the Northern Territory which has also brought excellent rains to these parts of Australia.

When I last spoke to one of our members Barry Rose at Blackall, his herd had been on the road for almost two years due to drought. Blackall is reported to have had 400mm of rain so far this week which is probably twice the average annual rainfal. We do live in a country of "drought and flood".

BSE and Cattle Prices

Cattle prices in Australia have remained remarkably stable since the BSE case in the USA, even though the wholesale price for chilled Australian short fed or grass fed fullsets has risen by 45% in Japan. Prices for Australian cuts into Korea have also increased by 20%. Heavy grass fed steers 600-750kg liveweight suitable for Japan and Korean steers 400-500kg liveweight lifted by around 7 c/kg, but domestic milk vealers and yearlings have remained stable.

Cow prices are also stable as the US price for 90% chemical lean manufacturing beef is stable.

There has been very strong demand for feeder steers with prices lifting 7 to 10 c/kg liveweight.

This is probably in response to expectations of increased demand for 100 day fed cattle from Japan.

Weaner Sales

Prices in the large weaner sales in Western Victoria have been very strong. These sales market about 20,000 8-10 month old calves which are bought by grass finishers, feedlots and some for slaughter for the domestic market.

They are predominately pure Hereford and pure Angus steers but there is a sprinkling of European cross calves. Prices were quoted only for Charolais and Simmental cross calves which were near the top of the market. At Casterton, Simmental cross calves sold from $668 to $698 with Herefords from the same property selling for $572 to $635.

At Hamilton, Charolais cross steers sold to $767 or 184c/kg. Most sales were betwen $570 and $650.

One buyer, Lachlan McKenzie of Ballarat, specifically bought European cross steers including Limousin crosses to lot feed for Geelong abattoir MC Herd.

Why are there not more European cross calves in these traditional weaner cattle producing areas?

Limousin Bull Sale

I understand the order for 20 Limousin bulls I mentioned in an earlier newsletter has been filled by the purchase of 25 Limousin bulls from South Ausrtalian breeders. These bulls will go into a 1,000 cow Braford herd in NSW to breed calves for lot feeding for the domestic market. The purchaser runs his own feedlot and his reason for buying Limousins was "to put some shape in the calves".

For a butcher or supermarket that means more muscle and higher retail yields.

Limousins are Champions Again and Again!

In the Stud cattle section of the 2004 Albion Park (NSW) show held on the 10th of January, Limousin cattle dominated the interbreed classes once again. In fact all four individual championships were won by Limousin exhibits.

Interbreed classes;

Junior Champion Bull: Premier Dodge Ram (Premier Limousins)
Junior Chamion Female: Raystine Yellow Rose (Raystine Limousins)
Senior Champion Bull: Birubi Power XPO (Birubi Limousin Stud)
Senior Champion Female: Birubi Power Lovesick (Birubi Limousin Stud)
Supreme Beef Exhibit: Premier Dodge Ram
Best Two Females: Raystine Limousins
Show Team (3 head): Birubi Limousin Stud

A new class in the commercial section of the show was introduced this year; A commercial cow and calf class to be judged on the economic potential of the unit. The winner was again Limousin. A Limousin X Hereford/Friesian cow with a fantastic Limousin calf at foot.

In the hoof and hook section, the prizemoney was again taken by Limousin calves. Most entries are sired by Limousin bulls because exhibitors have realised that to be competitive in this class it is essential that the calves are sired by Limousin bulls and preferably out of milky Limousin cross cows.

The champion carcase scoring 92.5 points was a Limousin sired out of an Angus X Friesian dam. All place getters on the hoof and hook were by Limousin bulls.

The reserve champion in the live section was a 3/4 Limousin calf that subsequently dressed at 64.2%.

Thus Limo's continued to dominate in the ring, on the hoof and on the rail at Albion Park!!

Thanks to Ray Vlietstra of Raystine Limousin Stud for sending in these details.

Sale Catalogues

The first of this years bull sale catalogues is on the web. The WA Premier Bull Sale at Boyanup on 5th March with 43 lots is available for viewing.

Also on the web for sale is Tuerong Park Windmill, the 2004 Melbourne Show Senior Champion bull who will be offered in the Auctions Plus Victorian Beef Week Internet Sale.

The White Lakes sale catalogue for their 27 February sale can be viewed on the White Lakes web page.

2004 National Show & Sale

Entries for the National Show and Sale close on Friday 13th February. Entry forms are available form the ALBS office.

Yours in Limousin
Alex McDonald