Andy Murray, Kindee Pastoral Company, Muya, Injune, advised me they set a record pace with the purchase of 14-17 month old heifers from Joyce Hodgkinson’s Wallangra Station, just west of Wandoan at the weekly Dalby sale last Wednesday.
Sold as last pens of the day with Elders, Ian Murray travelled to the Dalby yards to buy Angus heifers for the Kindee Pastoral Company’s breeding herd.
The newly purchased Angus heifers will be joined with the companies Angus/Santa bloodlines purchased from Booroomooka Stud at Keera, Bingara, NSW, and Yarrawonga Waco, Wallumbilla.
Fierce bidding flew thick and fast which saw the Wallangra heifers sell to Kindee with an average weight of 322.1kg and average sale price of 495c/kg, realising an average of $1595 per heifer.
As one local identity said, “it was pretty intense bidding”.
“This would be a Dalby saleyard and industry record topping at $5.10c/kg for an in-the-yards live purchase, a very good result,” another local source said
Selling agent Brad Neven, Watkins & Co, Roma said it was a consistent practice of Kindee to sell quality one brand lines of weaners and in doing so purchase high quality livestock, some at record prices as seen with the purchase of Wallangra heifers this week.
“In fact Kindee has not bought females in the yards before, rather they stock their country at conservative rates and organically build numbers within their own herd,” he said.
Ian Murray said he came to Dalby after identifying a line of quality females to integrate with his existing herd.
“I found these black heifers to be just what we were looking for so I bought the lot.
“We paid more than we had budgeted for but we have faith in the long term values of our business and the cattle market in general.”
Alice Springs update
Neville Chalmers, Alice Springs, reported that conditions in the Centre are looking good at the moment, after an ordinary 2015 in quite a few areas, mainly south. Neville said Paul Smith, Tieyon Station, told him that on the SA/NT border their season is very favourable. They received handy rain during June/July, giving them a good feed supply, and cattle were in forward to prime condition.
Dick Cadzow, Mt. Riddock Station, north east of Alice Springs, said the bulk of their country is in very good shape, with cattle in predominantly prime condition. They have received 25 - 30mm rain over past few weeks, and more is forecast. Lucy Creek and Tarlton Downs Stations, further to the east and north east are also enjoying a favourable season.
Alistair Bayly, Hamilton Downs Station, north west of Alice Springs, said after an ordinary start to 2016, conditions are on the improve with similar rainfall recorded in the area over the past few weeks..
With cattle prices as good as they have been over the past couple of years, most areas are in good heart going into the wet season.
Combined Agents held a sale at the Bohning Yards last month where they yarded about 1400 head. Prices were generally quoted as being 15-20c/kg down on previous show sales, held in July, principally due to smaller numbers, and therefore lack of trade buyers.
Some quotations: Organic Certified steers from Bond Springs Station, 380kg made 3.76 c/kg; 600kg bullocks from same vendor and Henbury Station made from 2.70 to 2.75 c/kg; Store weaners from Pine Hill Station, 200-220kg made from 2.60 to 3kg.
Neville added “Here in Alice we have had 40-45mm rain recently – the golf course is a picture! Growing conditions have been favourable, with good feed and prime cattle.”
Warwick Hoof & Hook
David McIvor, McDougall and Sons Warwick, advised me that the Warwick 2016 Hoof & Hook has been pushed back a month, and the new date now is November 10 – 12.
There will be seven classes, covering domestic and export weights, with live show Thursday 10th, carcase judging Saturday November 12. There is $10,000 prize money plus trophies. Entries close Monday October 31, enquiries to any Warwick agent or Show & Rodeo office.
David also advised me that the spring season on the Downs is one of the best in memory. September rainfall was generally 60 to 100mm, with isolated heavier falls. The Upper Condamine River and all creeks have good flows without any flood damage. Both Coolmunda and Connelly dams are full, Leslie dam is at 35pc, a big increase on early winter levels.
Cropping country is looking a picture and on track for good yields. Grass country is away to a great start, with late oats carrying limited numbers of stock. Cattle numbers through Warwick Saleyards have declined in line with most selling centres, while good yardings of lambs continue to come forward for weekly sales.
Aussie beef exports continue to slow with production
During September, Australian beef and veal exports were 75,405 tonnes swt – the first time a monthly shipment was sub-80,000 tonnes swt since February 2012 (excluding Januaries), according to the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
Exacerbating the decline has been the ongoing decay in Australian cattle slaughter with deluges across many regions in the eastern states and the herd sitting at a 20-year low of 26.2 million head. To place the drop in slaughter in perspective, the average weekly eastern states kill in September was 112,802 head this year, down 26pc from the same time last year.
Australian beef shipments to the US continued to retract with production, but also felt pressure from rising US beef production and the A$, which for September this year was 7pc above year-ago levels, at 76USc. September shipments to the US were 13,942 tonnes swt – less than half what they were last year. The same three pressures for the duration of 2016 have led to Australian shipments to the market for the year-to-date declining 42pc year-on-year, to 196,194 tonnes swt. However, of the lower volume shipped to the US this year, the breakdown of chilled to frozen continues to illustrate growing demand for chilled beef, with chilled accounting for 25pc of exports, compared to 21pc in 2015 and 18pc in 2014 – most of which was grassfed.
During September, Japan remained the largest destination for Australian beef, with 20,475 tonnes swt destined to the market. While the depreciation of the A$ versus the yen was of some assistance, pressure continues to build from greater US volumes in the market, with Japanese imports of US beef up 20pc, at almost 125,000 tonnes swt for the year-to-August (latest data). Like Australian shipments to the US though, the proportion of higher quality chilled beef compared to frozen is above previous years, with 45pc of Australian shipments chilled.
Australian beef exports to Korea for the year-to-date continue to track 8pc above year-ago levels, and are now at 128,633 tonnes swt. The value of the Korean won relative to the A$ has remained stable, but despite rising US presence, short domestic beef supplies and consequent high prices continue to favour the Australian beef in the market.
The lower Australian production combined with growing presence of Brazilian beef in China has caused Australian exports to decline 33pc for the year-to-September, at 71,402 tonnes swt. Similarly, shipments to the Middle East remain subdued since Brazil’s reinstatement to Saudi Arabia, with Australian volumes down 41pc year-on-year, at 24,331 tonnes swt.