Matt Beard, Landmark branch manager at Emerald, has forwarded an interesting run-down of his recent tour to the US.
“I was lucky enough to get the opportunity given a tour through the Midwestern part of the US with Landmark in late June,” Matt said.
“Led by National Livestock Manager Leon Giglia, we got a fantastic insight to their commercial cattle industry and it seems that the Australian cattle industry isn’t alone in the challenges we see at home.
“Our tour started in Amarillo, Texas and from there we drove through the Texas Panhandle into Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, to finish in Denver, Colorado. We had the chance to see commercial breeder/backgrounders, feed yards, dairies, sale barns, abattoirs, and stud breeders. Our hosts were very giving with their time and details of their operations.
“Due to its large population, the US absorbs the majority of their domestic cattle production. Great emphasis is placed on the type of cattle they breed and how they are finished. Over 80 per cent of the cattle we saw were Angus or Angus cross and processors had premiums for black hides even before you get into any form of grading.
“With plenty of underground water and in their summer we saw irrigated corn growing anywhere a centre pivot could spin, which was the grain of choice for their feed yards. All in all, it was a real privilege to get an in-depth insight into the US cattle industry.”
On local matters, most of the Central Highlands is still living on the moisture delivered by Cyclone Debbie back in March. While there is still a reasonable body of feed, the colour is starting to disappear along with the nutritional value.
Most producers in this part of Queensland are still happy with the performance of their cattle to date and after most have completed their preg-testing, many are reporting average to above average conception rates after a wet winter last year.
Numbers offered through Emerald and Gracemere saleyards look well down on average, due to a herd rebuilding phase after the large numbers unloaded in 2015, which is certainly reflective in the low numbers of cull heifers offered for sale. Emerald will host a feature Feeder and Weaner Sale on Tuesday August 1, starting at 8.30am with 3000 head of some of the area’s best bred store cattle.
Congratulations to Lincoln McKinlay, TopX Rockhampton, formerly of Roma, on taking out the Rookie of the Year at the Calgary Stampede Auctioneering Competition in Canada. Lincoln has progressed extremely well over the past two years under the guidance of TopX principal Cyril Close. To be able to represent Australia at Calgary, Lincoln won the Young Auctioneers Competition at last year’s Ekka, then went on to win at this year’s Sydney Royal.
Des Cuffe, Elders Branch Manager, Blackall, tells me that as a result of the disappointment of the cyclone and better prices on offer, most producers in the district unloaded a significant number of livestock earlier in the year. This in turn has resulted in a number of Blackall sales being cancelled due to limited numbers.
However the first sale for the financial year will be held on Thursday July 27 with some 5000 head booked for the weaner and store sale. Worth noting is the Blackall saleyards are now organic accredited and about 1000 head of organic certified mixed sex weaners will be on offer.
Unfortunately the season continues to steadily deteriorate. The mild weather this winter has allowed stock to maintain reasonable condition but with a couple of recent cold days this may change. Some showers fell about a fortnight ago with little effect on the western side of town but out further on the Adavale Road the burr has freshened on the back of earlier rain in the buffel country. To the east, the country has responded with fresh shoots showing but is susceptible to cold weather. All are looking to the skies and weather sites but there is not much joy showing at this point.