Newsletter for the week ending 26 May 2006

 

ORGANIC BEEF
HGPs and Organic Beef
I found the following article from US magazine, Drovers Journal of interest.  Much to the surprise of our European visitors to the International Limousin Conference, most of the cattle finished in US and Australian feedlots are treated with Hormone Growth Promotants (HGPs) which are banned in Europe. HGPs would definitely not be allowed in an organic product.  I expect most Australian consumers would be concerned if they new the beef they were buying from Coles and Woolworths came from animals that had been treated with HGPs.  Both the major supermarket chains stock organic beef to suit those consumers concerned about the use of chemicals and HGPs.  The lot feeding industry claims that the response they get from HGPs is about their profit margin and it also tends to stop heifers getting too fat.  Of course there is another way of achieving increased growth and reduced fat levels. Calves sired by a European breed bull such as a Limousin have additional growth and the heifer progeny do not get too fat in a 70 to 80 day feeding period.  However, lot feeders have trouble sourcing enough of them especially when they do not offer a premium.  It will be interesting to watch whether Australian consumers start to seek HGP free beef other than organic beef.

Most of Meat is fastest-growing organic food (from Drovers Journal)
Organic meat was the fastest-growing organic food category in 2005, growing by 55.4 percent, according to the Organic Trade Association's 2006 Manufacturer Survey.  Sales of organic dairy products grew by 23.5 percent.  Total organic food sales in the U.S. reached nearly $14 billion, or 2.5 percent of retail food sales. By the end of 2006, organic food sales are expected to near $16 billion.
    America’s booming trend toward organic food has forced every major food company to scramble to meet consumer demand.  TIME magazine recently published a supplement issue with the following headline: “Green Living: Is Sustainability the New Luxury?”  The issue included several articles appealing to more affluent Americans who are concerned about the environment and who are likely consumers of organic food products.  But mixed in with those warm, fuzzy articles about green living were advertisements for expensive perfume and Botox, a cosmetic treatment to reduce facial skin wrinkles. I guess it’s OK to have store-bought lips and plastic...er...other parts, but make sure the food is organic! — G.H.

 

CORRECTION

In last week's newsletter I included some results from Manning Valley Beef Week.  The Reserve Senior Interbreed Cow was in fact Kippax Valley Shesastar exhibited by Paul and Janelle Relf and family who established their Warrigal Limousin Stud at Wingham just last year.  Well done to the Relf family!

 

TANVIEW WINS AT BOONAH

Kenneth and Tanya Falkenhagen at Tanview Limousins won Supreme European Bull with Tanview Angus (a French Pure Limousin).  They also won Supreme Female and Supreme Exhibit of the show with Tanview Xtra Care.

 

ROSEHILL CLEANS UP AT GYMPIE

Rosehill Limousins had a big day in a large showing of 480 head at the Gympie (Qld) Show last weekend.

 

Rosehill Z451 was the Junior Champion Interbreed Bull and Supreme Exhibit of the show.  Senior Interbreed Bull was Rosehill Y389 and Senor Interbreed Female and Supreme Interbreed Female was prolific winner Rosehill Rosie 6.

 

Paul Forman of Oakwood Limousins just missed out on the Junior Interbreed Female losing on a count back to a Droughtmaster heifer. 

 

Rosehill Limousins also took out the Interbreed Breeders Group.

 

LIMOUSIN X STEER WINS AT BLACKBUTT, QLD

Queensland President Gerry Logan judged the steers at the Blackbutt Show last weekend and called in to say that the winning Limousin X Hereford steer was the same steer that won at Beef 2006 in Rockhampton.  Obviously two good steer judges!

 

BREEDPLAN CUT-OFF DATES

A final reminder that weights and docility scores must be in by 9th June if submitted on paper or 16th June if submitted electronically to be included in the June analysis.

 

DARYL DOYLE PHONE NUMBER

New phone numbers for Daryl Doyle who was looking for Limousin X weaners to feedlot for his butchery and wholesaling business in central Queensland are 07 4982 7037 or 0401 304974.

 

ARMIDALE SALE TOPPERS

Matt and Jenny Friend of Froghollow Limousins at Black Mountain got top money for two Limousin "heifers" and a couple of aged Limo cows.  The "X" heifer sold at Armidale, NSW this week weighed 630 kg and made 175 c/kg or $1106 and the "Y" heifer weighing 625 kg made 160.2 c/kg or $1001.  The two aged Limo cows weighed 597.5 kg and at 142 c/kg made $848.

 

Four British breed cows they sold on the same day averaging 572 kg made from 128.0 to 135.2 c/kg to average $744.  A huge premium for the young Limo cows and over $100 premium for the aged Limo cows.

 

LIMOUSIN SALES AND EVENTS

27th May:  Tramahler Female Sale, Gympie Qld. (catalogue on the web).

17th June:  Talana Heart of the Herd Female Sale, Kingaroy, Qld (catalogue on the web).

23rd June:  Homestation Breeding Female Dispersal Wangaratta, Vic.

7th July:  Donna Valley Christmas in July Female Sale, Holbrook, NSW.

14th July:  Greenacres Limousin Bull sale, Gunnedah, NSW.

11th August:  Northern Limousin Breeders' Sale, Scone, NSW.

29th August:  Birubi On Property Sale, Borambola, Via Wagga Wagga, NSW.

1st September:  Glenview Western Bull Sale, Roma, Qld.

2nd September: 16th Annual Hunter Valley Limousin Sale, Singleton, NSW.

26th September:  QTL Tramahler Bull Sale, Rockhampton, Qld.

29th September:  Stevens Limousins Female and Bull Sale, Birriwa, NSW.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yours in Limousin

Alex McDonald