NT live exporter calls for changes to reward producers

Operating Sturt Plains, 360km south of Katherine, Mr Inglis and Ms Dyer run a herd of 7000 grey Brahmans, including 2700 breeders, and have been exporting for several years.

"Lisa's parents, John and Val Dyer, have owned Hayfield since 1974, and through a succession plan we have subdivided off 1000 square kilometres which we run as Sturt Plains," Mr Inglis said.

"Live export is our main market, but we have sold our better end cattle to bullock growers over recent years when the market has been strong, and to some feedlots down south, mainly because it was a bit better money than the export job at the time.

"However, at the moment export is where we are at. We load trucks here and the cattle are weighed at Katherine, with our most recent steers averaging 358kg.

"For the feeder job, they have pretty strict rules and like a straight clean coated Brahman. There's a lot of people caught with cattle up here at the moment. It's now back to what it was 25 years ago. I remember when I was young the selector used to come out and assess the cattle - they were always strict on brindles, crossbreds etc."

Mr Inglis and Ms Dyer are both disillusioned with the export job at present.

"We can go and spend $20,000-$30,000 on bulls and produce a beautiful article, putting a lot of effort and time into our cattle and then we get the same money as others that aren't the quality of ours," Mr Inglis said.

"For northern Australia to improve their herd, they should introduce a grading system of an A, B, or C category, where cattle still meet the specifications, but you receive a premium for premium cattle.

"That might encourage people to improve their herds, and help the breed as well, as the perception of Brahmans in the north, especially territory cattle, is that they are all wild and woolly and the quality isn't there, but there are some high quality/well handled Brahman herds in the north that are a premium product."

Mr Inglis said they bought their bulls at the Rockhampton Brahman Week Sales, Elrose, and Lancefield sales.

"We love the Brahman's adaptability in tough conditions. In the next 2-3 months here and most of the Northern Territory it gets quite tough, and you want cattle that will forage and handle the build-up period. We believe Brahmans are the go.

"Our cattle are run on natural pastures supplemented with urea lick blocks in the dry and phosphorous based in the wet season, which is a big cost.

"We keep a line of heifers every year to join. There will always be demand for a quality grey female that suits a variety of markets. We sell a lot of replacement females to people and we get a kick out of that."