Oakey Beef Exports general manager Pat Gleeson says the company’s aim is to see more cattle from the channel country on trains.
“We need to source cattle from the west and it needs to be cost effective for all parties,” Mr Gleeson said.
“Oakey Beef Exports continues to be excited about increased opportunities in the red meat industry. We have been buoyed by support from all levels of government, in particular local governments of Southwest Queensland, who have a strong desire to see increased market choices for their product.
“We have met the Transport Minister and we are confident an announcement about rail access will be forthcoming.
“Also, we are working closely with Wagners and their Toowoomba airport. It is pretty exciting seeing good quality beef from paddock to plate in Asia all within a couple of days. There are incredible opportunities in this space.”
I can understand Mr Gleeson’s endeavours for transporting cattle from the west by rail as well as road. In my many years in the west, we sent cattle, sheep, wool as well as passengers by rail.
However driving west to Dalby, Roma and further west, generally the only trains I see are the occasional giant coal trains. It will be interesting to see the results from Pat Gleeson’s efforts.
Trading slows in US imported beef market
Meat & Livestock Australia reported there was less activity in the market for imported beef in the US last week, and generally slightly lower prices than the week before, according to the weekly report from the Steiner Consulting Group. This was particularly noticeable for Australian exporters, who are reportedly finding better offers for manufacturing beef (especially around 85CL) in some Asian markets. The expanding New Zealand cow kill is making their lean beef trimmings more competitive in the US.
The imported 90CL cow beef indicator slipped a further 1US¢ this week, to 186US¢/lb CIF (down 5.6A¢, to 540.4A¢/kg CIF). The ongoing rise in the A$ relative to the US$ is another inhibiting factor for the beef trade.
The US beef market appears to be in a similar (but opposite) situation to the large price increases of 2014, where the upward movements were self-perpetuating as end users tried to make sure they had enough product for the months ahead before the prices got even higher. At present, they appear to be well-covered for the coming months, and do not want to purchase more if prices appear to be moving lower. Cattle futures have also made sharp downward movements in the last couple of weeks, suggesting limited opportunity for the price of beef to rise over the course of the US summer.
Vale John Ford
I was saddened late last week when my old mate Bill Ford rang to inform me that h is twin brother John Ford had passed away in Toowoomba at age 78 years.. John Ford was late of Toowoomba and formerly on their south western property Uranilla, Goondiwindi. (Bill Ford and I were working colleagues and mates in our livestock agency days.)
Our deepest sympathy goes to John’s wife Maureen and John was also the father and father in law of Michelle and Tim; Graham and Kelley; John and Louise and loving Pop to Ben, James, Nick, Jessica, Matthew and Maggie and Harry. He was also brother to Shirley (dec’d) and Bill.
John’s funeral was held in Toowoomba last Monday.
Grahame Flynn’s send-off
As we reported last week, our dear friend and pastoral icon Grahame Flynn passed away at 88 years and his funeral was held last Friday at Lady of Lourdes Chaurch, Sunnybank. The size of the funeral was certainly a tribute to Grahame’s standing in the community with this large church filled to the bleachers. I estimate the number of mourners would be between 500/600 paying homage.
The eulogy from John Keir, another pastoral legend and working comrade of Grahame, was very eloquent and really summed up much of his talent at work and his great ethics at work and in his everyday life.
Also, the number of old friends and working colleagues that we caught up with, some from many moons ago was also a token of their admiration of Grahame and the influence he held in the community.
MLA Toowoomba market report
The supply of stock remained close to the level of two weeks ago with 1015 cattle penned at the Landmark and Elders Toowoomba combined sale on Monday. Young cattle were in the largest numbers along with a fair selection of heavy grown steers, bullocks and cows.
Most of the regular buyers were in attendance and most were operating in a generally cheaper market. Young light weight cattle were the least affected and medium weight yearling steers to feed also experienced fair demand. However heavy yearling steers to feed sold to a cheaper trend and heavy weight yearling heifers to feed fell in price by 20c/kg.
Heavy grown steers and bullocks were cheaper by 14c to 16c and cows lost 10c to 14c/kg compared to the previous sale. Vealer steers returning to the paddock made to 338.2c and averaged 331c/kg. Vealer heifers to slaughter mostly sold around 307c, with some to 324.2c/kg. Light weight yearling steers to feed and restockers averaged 315c and 319c respectively, with sales to 327.2c/kg.
Medium weight yearling steers to feed averaged close to 309c and made to 323.2c/kg. Heavy weights to feed averaged in the early 290c range with some to 299.2c/kg. A handful of local trade classes averaged 292c while a heavy weight charity steer made to 344.2c/kg. Light weight yearling heifers mostly sold in the 280c range with some well-bred lines making to the occasional 316.2c/kg. Medium weight yearling heifers to feed averaged 282c and local trade lines averaged 287c and made to 298.2c/kg, while heavy weights to feed averaged 254c/kg.
Heavy grown steers averaged 272c, with some to the wholesale meat trade reaching 284.2c/kg. Bullocks made to 272c to average 268c and full mouth bullocks were not far behind at 264c/kg. Medium weight 2 score cows average 193c and 3 scores averaged 206c/kg. Good heavy cows made to 228.2c, with most around 223c/kg. Heavy bulls made to 248.2c/kg.
