EUCAS brings new market to saleyards
WARWICK saleyards has acquired its European Union accreditation, a move hoped to provide more opportunities for producers and vendors.
The European Union Cattle Accreditation Scheme (EUCAS) allows Australia to meet the market requirements around traceability and HGP-free status to supply to the European Union.
Beef exported to the EU must be supplied through an EU-accredited supply chain including producers, feedlots and saleyards.
Roma and Dalby saleyards already have their accreditation.
George and Fuhrmann held the first EU sale, the charolais and weaner sale, at the Warwick saleyards on Friday, May 4.
“It’s a big thing for Warwick Saleyards as a whole,” GNF stock agent Michael Grayson said.
“It’s a good drawing card for the selling complex.
“It’s something that’s needed to be put in place and has been.
“It’ll only benefit the future of the saleyards.
“It’s certainly something people will have a look at and see if it’s worth their while.
“There are certainly rewards there to be EU-accredited in regards to prices, but it might not suit everyone.
“There aren’t too many costs involved. But once you’re EU-accredited, you can only have EU cattle.
“There’s not too much involved in it but you have to have the right vendor bred cattle.
“And you’re bound to it. Once you have EU cattle, you can only buy and sell EU cattle.
“We’ve only had that one EU sale, but anyone can bring in their EU cattle to a weekly market now and those cattle can be sold as EU.
“It will certainly help to boost numbers at the Warwick yards for years to come.”
The Roma saleyards have had their EU accreditation for 15 years.
“We’ve always had EU accreditation,” TopX Roma agent Cyril Close said. “It just offers the opportunity for EU producers to offer their cattle in an auction market. “It certainly does bring more business to the saleyards on both sides – buyers and vendors.”
The Toowoomba saleyards don’t have EU accreditation.
“We don’t sell a lot of EU cattle here, most of them are further out. I know Dalby has their accreditation,” Elders Toowoomba branch manager Darren Hartwig said.
“We’re not looking at it at the moment.
“We don’t have a lot of EU clientele in this area. If we do, they go to Dalby.”
It certainly does bring more business to the saleyards on both sides – buyers and vendors. — Cyril Close