Newsletter for the Week Ending 1 October 2004

QTL Sale Tops

The QTL bull sale at Rockhampton Qld topped at $12,000 and an average of $5,014 in a complete clearance of 34 Limousin bulls from the Tramahler, Beabula, Ulster and Oakwood Studs.

Top priced bull was Beabula Xan offered by Ian and Sharon Brown who averaged $5,583 for six bulls.

Trevor and Sheresse Tramacchi topped at $7,500 and averaged $5,090 for 21 bulls in a very strong sale.

Stud and Commercials at Mudgee

A yarding of 27 registered and commercial Limousin females offered on behalf of commercial breeder John Walker "sold like hot cakes" at Mudgee NSW on Wednesday.

Top priced registered cow Moortangi Samantha sold for $3,000 to Lorraine Smith of Misty Hill Limousins at Mudgee. The same buyer paid $2,900 for Moortangi Violet and $2,500 for Moortangi Sofia. The 10 registered females averaged $1,735.

The top priced pen of commercial Limousin cows with their third calves at foot made $1,950. The second calvers made $1,650 and the first calvers made $1,575 with 18 month heifers selling for $1,125 in a very strong sale.

The sale was conducted by Mudgee agents Lawson and McDonald.

Supreme Exhibit at Melbourne Royal

In last week's newsletter I reported that Premier Mimi Y48 was Supreme Limousin Exhibit at Melbourne. The 15-month old black heifer by Premier Guardian V77 then went three steps better. First she was judged the European interbreed Champion heifer, then the all breeds champion heifer and finally the Supreme beef breeds animal.

This is the second year in a row that Fred and Michelle Geard have taken out the supreme exhibit at Melbourne Royal having won with Premier Cauliflower S3 last year.

Congratulations to Fred and Michelle Geard and stud groom Peter Kylstra who prepared the heifer.

Carcase Placings in Melbourne

Limousin cross steers placed well in the Melbourne Royal Carcase competition. In the heavyweight classes Yanco Agricultural High School took out two seconds and a third with Limousin X Murray Grey steers and St Pauls College at Walla Walla NSW placed second in a mediumweight class with a Limousin X Shorthorn steer.

Any Bulls for Sale?

Live exporter Tony Struss of Austock emailed this week to say he had just spent a week with an Israeli importer looking for cattle to import into Palestine and Israel. They require 3000 cattle per month with their first shipment being loaded out of Fremantle this week.

This shipment is mainly "mickey" bulls from northern Western Australia but they would very much like to include some Limousin or Limousin cross bull calves in future shipments.

If you have any cull bull calves in the weight range 250 to 500kg liveweight you are prepared to sell for meat prices please let me know.

Visit to WA

I will be in Western Australia next week talking to as many commercial breeders, agents, lot feeders and processors/wholesalers as I can about how we can increase the market share of the Limousin breed in Western Australia. I will be meeting with WA members at Geoff and Dianne Lysters property at Boddington on Sunday 9th October to discuss my findings and also to discuss the WA pretour for the 2006 International Limousin Conference.

My visit to WA is part of the ongoing development of the WA Region Marketing and Promotion Program. I will also be at the Perth Royal Show Limousin judging on Tuesday 5th October.

Workshops in Victoria

I will be participating in a members' workshop at Hans and Rosemary Bauer's The Pines Limousin Stud at Dederang in north east Victoria on Saturday 23 October and another workshop at Bruce and Anne Gill's Bruangil Park at Kernot in West Gippsland on Saturday 30th October.

The programs for each workshop are currently being finalised and will be mailed to members in each region.

Field Day in SA

On Thursday 28th October I will be participating in a large beef cattle field day in the pastoral zone of South Australia along with some SA members to promote the Limousin breed in that area.

Ballarat Feature Show

There will be a Limousin feature show at Ballarat on Saturday 13th November. James O'Brien from Bonian Limousins has informed me that entries close on 22 October and entry forms are available on the website www.ballarat.com/baps or by contacting Gerard Ballinger PO Box 401 Ballarat 3353, Ph 5338 1877, Email baps@netconnect.com.au or by contacting James himself.

Warragul Sale Toppers 15 September

1 Limousin X steer vealer 392kg @ 248.6 c/kg = $975

Acc N Renshaw, Lillico Vic

A record price for Warragul saleyards.

Korumburra Sale Toppers 17 September

1 Limousin X steer vealer 360kg @ 227.6 c/kg = $819

Acc J Geary, Leongatha

Warragul 22 September

1 Limousin X vealer 410kg @ 230 c/kg = $943

Acc Trafalgar

5 Limousin X vealers 393kg @ 222 c/kg = $872

Acc N Rensaw, Lillico

1 Limousin X yearling steer 420kg @ 215.6 c/kg = $905

Acc Moe

3 Limousin X yearling heifers 362kg @ 215.6 c/kg = $795

Acc L Germano, Delburn

1 Limousin X bull 865kg @ 215.6 c/kg = $1864

Acc R Giles, Trafalgar

1 Limousin X bull 985kg @ 202 c/kg = $1989

Acc M Bostedt, Driffield

1 Limousin X bull 950kg @ 200 c/kg = $1900

Acc A Morrison, Glengarry

Yours in Limousin

Alex McDonald