Newsletter for the week ending 3 December 2004

The following stories from today's issue of Drovers Magazine demonstrate the huge impact of BSE on beef trading around the world and just how critical it is for Australia to get a robust National Livestock Identification System in place.

Japan testing young animal for BSE
Japan is conducting follow-up tests on a 20-month-old steer from the northern island Hokkaido after an initial test Monday detected bovine spongiform encephalopathy. If confirmed, it would be the youngest BSE-infected animal in Japan and may slow down domestic discussions on whether to end testing of all Japanese cattle before being processed into food, said Kazuhiro Yoshida, a food safety official with the agriculture ministry. The United States and Japan have not yet decided when to restart U.S. beef imports from cattle 20 months or younger because Japan's Food Safety Commission must first endorse a plan from the health and agriculture ministries to end Japan's own universal testing. Test results are expected the end of this week and will be posted on drovers.com
     Verification of BSE in an animal this young would throw a big wrench into our trade negotiations and, potentially, domestic policy. Much of our surveillance strategy has hinged on the idea that BSE is undetectable in young cattle. Hopefully, further testing will produce a negative result. Otherwise, it seems a safe bet that Japan will return to its insistence on 100-percent testing. — John Maday, Drovers' associate editor

Study documents BSE-related losses in Canada
Canadian cattle producers have lost about $5 billion (Canadian) since the discovery of an animal with BSE in May 2003, according to a report from the Bank of Montreal's economics department. Cash receipts for cattle through the first six months of this year were close to 30 percent lower than the average for the five years ending in 2002, according to the report. The Canadian packing segment has recovered more quickly than producers, the report notes, and further processors were least affected by the discovery of BSE. For the complete report, follow this link.

Bush pushes for Canadian border opening to live cattle
Earlier this week at a news conference, President George Bush said he wanted his administration's budget office to quickly handle a proposal by the USDA to restart imports of live young Canadian cattle. Last week, the USDA’s proposal to lift remaining sanctions moved on to the budget office. The budget office has up to 90 days to make a decision and, if it approves the proposal, to open up the border. The new regulations would come into force 60 days after publication.

Hong Kong lifts ban on Canadian beef
The Hong Kong government announced this week that it will begin allowing imports of Canadian beef. A ban on imports had been in place since Canada’s case of BSE was discovered in May 2003. Initially, Hong Kong will allow imports of boneless beef from cattle less than 30 months old, with high-risk materials removed at slaughter. John Reddington, vice president of international trade with the American Meat Institute, expresses hope that Asian markets soon will restore imports of U.S. beef as well. “Since U.S. beef is every bit as safe as Canadian beef, this bodes well for producers on this side of the border,” he says. For more information, follow this link.

Interbreed Success at Devonport Tas

I had the pleasure of attending the Limousin Feature Show at Devonport last Friday but could not stay for the interbreed judging on the Saturday.

I missed seeing the Limousin breed and Hayley Sheehan's Waterford stud triumph in a show of over 200 head.

The Junior Limousin Bull, Champion Badger View Yahoo placed third in the interbreed competition.

The Junior Champion Female, Waterford Yasmin, placed first over a Poll Shorthorn and the Senior Champion Limousin Female, Premier Wolfette W60 exhibited by Waterford Limousins was the unanimous choice for Interbreed Senior Champion Female.

This black three year old grand daughter of Miss Wolfette 1162N with a calf at foot then went on to be judged the Grand Champion Interbreed Female and Supreme Exhibit of the Show to make it a very successful showing for Waterford and Limousin.

Colac Sale Entry Forms

Entry forms for next year's Colac Bull and Female Sale are now available fro the ALBS office.  Entry forms have been sent to all full and junior Victorian members.

Entries close on 27th January 2005.

Cows Top at Warrnambool (Vic)

Two Limousin cows with young calves at foot sold by Eleanor Stewart of Ararat topped the Warrnambool Female Sale at $1,580 last week.

Heifer Tops at Moss Vale (NSW)

A 13 month pure Limousin heifer weighing 430kg made 233 c/kg or $1,002 at Moss Vale last week.  The heifers were sold by Ray and Christine Vlietstra through John Hindmarsh & Co.

Cows and Heifers Top Tamworth (NSW)

Phil and Barbara Bricknell of Currububula recently sold a cull cow 650kg @ 192.6 c/kg or $1,252 along with 11 culled yearling heifers weighing 359.5kg @ 223.2 c/kg or $802.51.

Prices like these for culled animals certainly help underpin the profitability of Limousin studs.

Last Call for Registrations

As indicated in the last newsletter, paper based registrations of animals to be included in the next genetic analyses need to be in by Monday (fax is acceptable).

Registrations and weights submitted via the web will be accepted until 10 December.

Don't forget that to get docility EBVs for 2004 spring born calves in the June 2005 analysis, the calves need to be registered or recorded by 10 December.

Web Hints

Quite a few members are now using the web registration and performance input system.  You need a password if you don't have one - passwords are allocated from this office.

When you have created a batch you can add to it over time until you submit it.

The batch does not come automatically.  You must submit each batch using the batch submission screen.  If you are comfortable submitting all of your performance data via the web we will make you a "batch entry" herd which is simpler than entering each animal and the date of weighing individually.

Above all - don't be daunted - call the office and we can walk you through the first few entries.  Then it is easy!

Yours in Limousin

Alex McDonald