Newsletter
for the week ending 13th May 2005
The latest feedlot survey has revealed that there are
currently 856,025 cattle in feedlots. A
record level compared to the normal level of around 650,000.
Of the record number of animals 519,000 are destined for
Japan indicating the continued strong demand from that country. The number of cattle being finished for the
domestic market at 255,000 is also up on 242,000 head at the same time last
year.
On a state by state basis Queensland has 411,000 cattle on
feed with NSW at 300,000 and Victoria at 60,000.
There is no doubt that the lot feeding industry has played a
major role in keeping cattle prices strong when there is widespread drought
across much of Australia.
During the first four months of 2005 beef exports to Japan
were up by 19% on year earlier levels and on track to reach the 430,000 tonnes
forecast to be exported to Japan during 2005.
Exports to Japan of 37,981 tonnes in April were up 42% on
April 2004.
Beef exports to the US during April were the second highest
April shipment for more than a decade.
The 32,640 tonnes shipped was up by 20% on April 2004 levels. An increase in Australian beef production
and strong US import cow beef prices contributed to the high April figure.
Australia has been the world's largest exporter of beef for
many years with a cattle herd of around 27 million. Brazil with a herd of 165 million has been slowly catching
us. Despite our high export levels
Brazil has overtaken us by exporting 210,196 tonnes in the first three months
of the year compared to Australian exports of 199,944 tonnes for the same
period.
Korea has announced that from 2009 Korean beef consumers
will be able to trace the history of their domestic beef purchases by mobile
phone or computer. Consumers will be
able to check all processes of production such as the farm and type of feed on
which the animal was raised as well as information on where the beef was
processed and packed. It is only a
matter of time before Korea imposes the same requirements on beef exported from
Australia. Japan already has a Japanese
Agricultural Standard (JAS) which is a full traceability system, and there is
pressure on Australian exporters and processors to comply with this
requirement.
Don't forget the Tramahler Invitation Female Sale tomorrow
Saturday 14th May at the Gympie Saleyards.
A catalogue of 33 females has just gone onto the web for the
Farmfest Female Sale to be held at the Farmfest site west of Toowoomba on
Tuesday 7th June.
A successful bull buyer at the National Show and Sale is
keen to build a commercial Limousin herd.
He wants to buy 50%, 75% or purebred Limousin females (heifers or cows)
but they must be apricot in colour.
Contact Geoff Hartin on (02) 4456 4145 if you have some suitable females
for sale.
We will be running a mid year genetic analysis to calculate
updated docility EBVs. Make sure you
score your 2004 born calves and get their scores in by 15th June at
the latest.
I am pleased to report that Wodonga Stock Agents are again
reporting the breed of animals sold in their weekly sale reports. Not surprisingly Limousin topped the market
for yearling steers, yearling heifers and weaner heifers in the most recent
sale.
3 Limousin steers 656kg @ 172 c/kg $1,130 Acc: C J Killalea,
Bungowannah, NSW
6 Limousin x yearling steers 404kg@ 215 c/kg= $869Acc: CN,
JI & DS Kohlhagen, Walla Walla, NSW
9 Limousin yearling heifers 388kg @ 212.6 c/kg= $826 Acc: EJ & JM Hooper, Wangaratta Vic
4 Limousin vealer steers 392 kg @ 206 c/kg= $808 Acc: AM Salzke & Co, Jindera NSW
5 Limousin vealer heifers 337kg @ 207 c/kg= $669 Acc: EJ & JM Hooper, Wangaratta,
Vic
Gippsland Sale Toppers
No wonder it was easy to sell Limousin bulls at the recent
Lardner Bull Sale when you see the prices paid for Limousin and Limousin cross
calves in Gippsland sale yards last week.
2 vealers 387kg @ 240 c/kg= $930 Acc: A Grant, Korrine
3 vealers 406kg @ 225 c/kg= $915 Acc: A Grant, Korrine
2 vealers 380kg @ 223.6 c/kg= $849 Acc: K Eden, Bass
3 vealers 400kg @ 205 c/kg= $820 Acc: K Eden, Bass
6 vealers 428kg @ 235.2 c/kg= $1,007 Acc: J Britt, Lillico
2 vealers 412kg @ 230 c/kg= $948 Acc: N Renshaw,
Lillico
6 vealers 365kg @ 228.6 c/kg= $836 Acc: J McDougal, Vesper
1 vealer 415kg @ 228 c/kg= $946 Acc: C Kent,
Lillico
Steers
2 steers 510kg @ 184 c/kg= $938 Acc: J
McDougal, Vesper
Heifers
1 heifer 440kg @ 209.2 c/kg= $902 Acc: G Budge, Yallourn
1 heifer 560kg @ 169.2 c/kg= $947 Acc: L Treadwell, Warragul
Cows
1 cow 735kg @ 145 c/kg=
$1,065 Acc: N Renshaw, Lillico
Bulls
1 bull 1,060kg @ 164.6 c/kg= $1,744 Acc: F Lillie, Childers
Yours in Limousin,
Alex McDonald