I
am currently “on the road” with the team delivering BREEDPLAN workshops in
South Australia and Victoria. In
between workshops we are able to visit breeders of a range of breeds to help
them improve the quality of data they provide to BREEDPLAN, help them with
electronic methods of submitting data and in some cases help them make
decisions on whether they should start recording their herd in BREEDPLAN.
It
also provides opportunities to check out the breeding programs of some breeders
of other breeds. One interesting visit was to a new black Simmental herd which
has been added to a 500 cow rotational cross breeding herd based on Angus,
Shorthorn and Simmental in South Australia.
The commercial cow herd which targets the EU market was remarkably
uniform in type although there was the inevitable mix of colours. The black Simmental stud established from
imported embryos from the US is clearly directed at commercial Angus herds
looking for a bit more growth and yield.
These breeders held their first bull sale earlier this year which
consisted of only Simmental X Angus bulls averaged just under $3800. These crossbred bulls were offered with EBVs
and a range of other information including structural soundness scores and
Genestar DNA marker results.
Next
year's sale will include the first black and solid red Simmentals along with
another batch of Simmental X Angus bulls.
These breeders are targeting the same market that breeders of Lim-Flex
(Limousin X Angus) are aiming at.
I also caught up with Lance
Chaplin who with his two sons runs about 1000 Holstein cross females joined to
Limousin bulls on his Patchewarra property, a couple of hours south east of
Adelaide. Lance told me of the success
of his branded beef product “Patchewarra Natural Beef”. All product is from milk vealers produced at
Patchewarra and it is highly sort after by high end hotels and restaurants in
Adelaide. As Lance put it “the restaurants
I can’t afford to eat at”. He told me demand is exceeding supply.
The next BREEDPLAN workshop
will be at the DPI offices in Hamilton, Vic on Monday commencing at 9.30
am. Future workshop venues and dates
are:
31 July: Seymour, Vic
3 August: Sale, Vic
7 August: Launceston, Tas
10 August, Burnie, Tas
21 August: Northam, WA
24 August: Bridgetown, WA
28 August: Albany, WA
11 September; Forbes, NSW
14 September; Wagga Wagga, NSW
These workshops are
recommended for both the experienced and inexperienced in the use of BREEDPLAN
technology.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed
Tuesday that country's sixth case of BSE and is currently investigating where
the cow was born and if any other animals may have eaten the same feed. The animal was at least 15 years of age and
was born before Canada implemented restrictions on potentially dangerous feed
in 1997. The agency says Canada's food
supply is safe and the level of BSE in the national cattle herd is very
low. For more information go to
Drovers.com
Canadian officials know the cow came
from a farm near Gimli, Manitoba, but also admit their investigation may be
hampered by the anima's age and the number of detailed records available. Canada broadened feed restrictions last
month, to be phased in over the next year, aimed at keeping potentially risky
cattle materials out of all animal feed, not just cattle feed. Canada tested 60,000 cattle for BSE last
year and has tested over 155,000 animals since its first BSE case in 2003. –
Greg Henderson, Drovers editor.
THE US ALSO HAS DROUGHTS (FROM DROVERS ALERT)
Hot and
mostly dry conditions continue over the drought-stricken areas of the Southwest
and western Plains. A frontal system moved through areas of Kansas and Nebraska
over the holiday weekend, providing some beneficial moisture, but it was not
widespread. To view the National Drought Monitor, follow this link. USDA’s Pasture and Range
Conditions report issued this week showed 34 percent of pastures were rated
poor or very poor, with 30 percent rated fair. Just 36 percent of pastures were
rated good to excellent. To view the report, go to Drovers.com.
The front that moved through the Kansas City area
produced nearly 2 inches of rain and much cooler temperatures. Still, Kansas
City has only recorded about 55 percent of normal rainfall during 2006. — G.H.
The
last of the run of female sales, The Donna Valley Christmas in July sale is on
today commencing at 2.00 pm. This
morning Junior members have the opportunity to win $3000 of credits for the
sale in an innovative Junior Handler Competition.
The catalogue for the Birubi On-Property Production Sale to
be held at Borambola via Wagga Wagga on 29 August featuring Limousin, Lim-Flex
and Angus lots is now on the web.
7th July: Donna Valley Christmas in July Female Sale, Holbrook, NSW
(catalogue on the web).
14th July: Greenacres Limousin Bull Sale, Gunnedah, NSW (catalogue on the
web).
5th August: Tanholm On-line Bull Sale, Qld.
11th August: Northern Limousin Breeders' Sale, Scone, NSW (catalogue on the
web).
29th August: Birubi On Property Production Sale, Borambola, Via Wagga Wagga, NSW.
1st September: Glenview Western Bull Sale, Roma, Qld (catalogue on the web).
2nd September: 16th Annual
Hunter Valley Limousin Sale, Singleton, NSW (catalogue on the web).
9th September: Southern NSW Limousin
Breeders' Sale, Moss Vale, NSW.
26th September: QTL Tramahler Bull Sale, Rockhampton, Qld.
29th
September: Stevens Limousins Female and
Bull Sale, Birriwa, NSW
Yours in Limousin
Alex McDonald