We are just implementing a batch entry system for web submission of registrations and performance data.

The batch entry system is an alternative to the manual web entry system. When you wish to submit registrations you will be able to call up all active cows and then select those you wish to register calves from. If you have previously entered the joining date and sire these will pre-fill.

For submission of weights and scores you will be able to call up a batch of calves e.g. autumn drop bulls or heifers and you will only have to enter the date of weighing or scoring once for the group.

Most importantly if you choose to use the batch entry system you will not be sent L1 registration forms or performance input forms to clutter your desk. You will simply receive an email to say that the batch of cows or calves is now available and can be accessed via your current web login system.

These facilities do not provide any real advantage for members who already have an on farm PC recording package such as Herd Magic or Cattle Plus; You can already submit your registrations and performance data electronically.

If you do not have a current on farm recording package and would like to utilise the batch recording system you must notify the ALBS office so that we can set your herd to batch registrations (and no more paper).

Please email, fax or phone us by next Wednesday if you want to switch as we are about to run the annual cow inventory lists and invoices.

There will be facility to switch to batch entry later in the year but it requires a rerun of your inventory.

If you have any questions about the batch entry system please email or call.

Prices for heavy steers (550-650kg liveweight) suitable for export as chilled grass fed beef to Japan lifted 10-15 c/kg liveweight at early sales this week at Tamworth NSW and Warwick QLD to around 180 c/kg or 330 c/kg carcase weight. The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator price lifted 14 cents to 332 c/kg carcase weight due to strong competition from lot feeders. Vealer steers at Wodonga topped at 210.2 c/kg liveweight.

This would appear to be due to the widespread rain in Queensland and Northern NSW.

Cow prices have remained firm.

A pen of Limousin X bullocks topped the sale at Warwick QLD on Monday 20th Jan. Sold account Terry & Brian Bourke, crop & pasture of Yangan, QLD who finish steers on crop and pasture sold by George & Fuhrman they made 200.2cents per kg and with an average weight of 611 kg they return $1224 per head. They were purchased by major export processor, Teys Bros.

The second top price was also for Limousin X bullocks selling for 192.6 cents per kg with an average weight of 536kg to return $1032 per head. These were purchased by JC Meats.

Two large sales of heifer weaners were held at Casterton and Hamilton in Western Victoria last week following the steer vealer sales. The top priced heifers were 48 high content Limousin heifers weighing 241kg which sold for 196 c/kg. They were sold by Pat Neeson of Nareen and made 5 c/kg more than the steer portion he sold the previous week. Most sales of Angus and Hereford heifers were in the range 154 to 175 c/kg.

Charolais X heifers made 177 c/kg and Simmental X heifers made 178 c/kg. Most of these heifers were purchased by lot feeders who will feed them for the winter domestic market.

Angus X Friesian cows with Limousin calves from two to eight weeks toppped the F1 section of the 3,000 head Wodonga Female Sale last week at $1,290.

Similar heifers from RJ Pyle & Sons of Eldorado made $1,270 and one pen of Murray Grey X Friesian cows with young Limousin calves at foot made $1,250.

One buyer at the sale, Roy Leach of Longwood Vic, was adamant that he can make more money joining Limousin bulls to Friesian X cows that breeding weaner calves even through the tops of these weaner steer calves made over $700 in recent sales.

Mr Leach sold eight to nine month old Limousin X vealers for $800 prior to Christmas so could easily justify paying $900 for 10 Angus X Friesian heifers due to start calving to Limousin bulls in early February.

There are 135 Limousin entries for Sydney Royal which I think would be a record for Limousin in Sydney. Only the feature breeds Hereford and Poll Hereford and also Angus have more entries than Limousin this year. The entry of 550 Hereford and Poll Herefords for their World Conference Feature Show will really stretch the facilities and may result in a forced cut back on entries for all breeds.

Following is a report of the Limousin Sale at the National Western Stock Show at Denver USA.

8.25 bulls averaged $20,200
12.5 bred females averaged $12,533
11 open females averaged $6,186
23.75 lots averaged $12,257
Sale gross: $291,100
The first lot in the ring generated a flurry of bidding at the National Limousin Sale as the New Generation Group, including many of the most recognizable names in the Limousin business, purchased EXLR New Generation 071M for $130,000 for 25 percent semen interest. The bull is a black, double-polled son of AUTO Black Dakota 129J. New Generation was the 2003 Medal Of Excellence season bronze medalist bull, and the People's Choice champion in the sale show-and was also named grand champion bull at the Level I MOE shows in Denver, Kansas City and Louisville.

Express Ranches, Yukon, OK, Magness Land & Cattle, Platteville, CO, Deer Valley Farm, Fayetteville, TN and Oak Knoll Farm, Clinton, SC consigned New Generation to the sale.

When auctioneer Sonny Booth's gavel came down for the final time on ANLC Mandy Ray 2141M, she was the second-high seller of the night. Meadow Rose Farms, Wellsville, KS paid $25,000 for the red, double-polled purebred, AI'd to TUBB Lucky Strike 1120L. Mandy, previously named the People's Choice grand champion in the sale show, was consigned by Magness Land & Cattle and DJ Limousin, Port Orchard, WA.

Selling third high was AUTO Mekelle 284M, a red, double-polled daughter of AUTO Hackett 702H. Mekelle, consigned by Pinegar Limousin, Springfield, MO, sold for $15,000 for half interest and half possession to Meadow Rose Farms. Also selling for $15,000 was DVFC I Luv Cookies 1101M, a red, polled daughter of DVFC Cookie Monster 108H. Consigned by Deer Valley Farm, Fayetteville, TN, Cookies sold to Express Ranches.
OPUS Winchester 021N, a double-black, double-polled son of AUTO Black Dakota 129J, sold for $10,000. Brady Farm and Ranch took Winchester home to Wilson, TX. Double Creek Limousin, Springtown, TX consigned the bull to the National Limousin Sale.

The article below from the Drovers Journal in the USA gives some insight into the difficulty of tracing animals without a robust traceability system such as the NLIS system now being implemented in Australia. I cannot understand those in the industry who continue to oppose the introduction of the NLIS.

Todays news is that the USA plan to introduce a full traceability system for cattle by 2005.

Yours in Limousin
Alex McDonald