Ryan Dellit, manager Graham Henderson & Co Dalby advised me that Dalby and the surrounding areas are continuing to experience very dry conditions like most parts of Queensland. Winter crops are marginal with some decent rain needed in the coming weeks. The continuing dry weather has seen Dalby combined agents yarding large numbers of cattle drawn from a wide area. In the recent weeks the cattle market has remained firm with restockers being active with purchasing. The oats crops have turned quickly with cattle producers now weighing up options moving forward with current climate conditions pushing cattle onto the market.
Finished cattle within the Darling Downs are in short supply and may only run for the coming weeks. Feeder operators have remained active in the market but at reduced rates due to the present high grain prices. Winter is now over and we can only hope that we receive good seasonal rain in the near future to relieve the current pressure on both the farming and cattle industries.
Hay district dry
Early in the week I caught up with old mate, Tony Coffey, Coffey Stock & Realty Hay. Tony said the country in the Hay district is in bad shape urgently needing rain and as he said, now also going into warmer spring and summer weather. However on the upside, Tony added “Thank goodness at least the livestock prices are very good!”
Dry July drives slaughter higher
Meat & Livestock Australia advised Australian adult cattle slaughter in July totalled just under 633,000 head – 16pc higher than the same time last year (ABS). This took the total for the year-to-date (January-July) to almost 4.14 million head, although remained 5pc below year-ago levels. The dry conditions experienced across much of the country over winter have seen producers turn off more stock leading up to spring.
With the herd rebuilding phase ongoing, cow and heifer retention has seen females continue to make up the majority of the decline in overall processing so far this year. Female slaughter totalled just under 1.9 million head for the year-to-date, down 10pc year-on-year – accounting for 46pc of the total adult kill. Deteriorating seasonal conditions during winter, however, has seen an increase in female slaughter compared to last year. In July, female cattle slaughter lifted 10pc year-on-year, to almost 300,000 head.
Male cattle slaughter in July increased 21pc from year-ago levels, to 336,000 head. Numbers processed for the year-to-date were firm year-on-year, totalling just over 2.2 million head.
Vale Bill Anderson
I was advised this week of the passing of Bill Anderson, Anco Meat Co. Bill was a well known figure in the meat processing industry. Bill’s family included wife Audrey (decd), and three daughters Michelle, Vicki, Jo-Ann and son Scott. Bill’s funeral will be held on Tuesday September 19 at 10am at Mt. Gravatt Chapel.