Beware of chemical residues
Market report for 18th and 19th April Wednesday Fat Sale 445 head. Thursday Bull and Cow Sale, 7 bulls, 473 cows.
There was a larger yarding this Wednesday for the fat sale. Quality was noticeable in the better pens, especially the vealer section which took up 82% of the market. Although demand remains easy agents were pleased with the outcome. Extra numbers in the heifer pens this week sold to easier demand, and although steer numbers were back. This section bucked the trend and recorded a lift in the average price, with vealer easing slightly. The yard average for this sale was back 2 cents overall to 262.9.
46 heifers made to 275.2, back 10 and averaged 219.3, back 26.
18 steers made to 267.2, back 31 and averaged 261.9, up 5.366 veal made to 330, back 10 and averaged 273, back 5.
The bull sale on Thursday saw 7 penned, and with less to choose from buyers were busy, this gave the bulls a lift in the top price and the average, making to 243.6 and averaging 18 cents up at 210.7. Bullock numbers were up with 27 yarded and topping at 246.6, up 18 cents and averaging 209.5. The yarding contained 473 cows which made to 232.2, back 15 and cows this week averaged 156.6, back 11. The yard average for Thursday was 10 cents easier at 160.4.
1 LimX 1 LimX 1 CharX 2 HfdX 1 BazX 1 Lim Bullock 1 Ang Steers 1 LimX 4 Lim 2 Ang Heifers 1 LimX P Webb, Nyora 17 Ang Molare P/L, Nar Nar Goon Export Cows and Heifers 1 Santa R Franklin, Yinnar 1 Ang P Hortis, Tanjil Sth 2 Hfd J Otten, Bega NSW 1 Gelb J Fortune, Nilma 1 LimX P&H Hatswell, Neerim East 2 S/Dev K Morrison, Trafalgar Dairy Cows 1 Frn C&D Kelliher, Neerim Sth 620 4 Frn Oanwayje Farms, Longwarry 681 3 Frn Corafield Farm, Cora Lynn 750 3 Frn McFox P/L Modella 716 1 Frn J&K Emmett, Yannathan 730 3 Fleck R&C Monk, Poowong 610 Bullocks 1 Ang 1 Frn 2 Frn Bulls 1 Gelb, 1 Ang
E&R Crowe, Narracan M&B Harding, Hill End K&K Smith, Nilma Nth R&G Tett, Bega NSW M&V Boraston, Lang Lang I&A Hancock, Poowong
H Sostak, Newborough
Saxton & Waller, Yarragon M&A Wood, Bega NSW P&M Neerer, Warragul DFP Aust, Poowong S&T Dyall, Hill End D Armstrong, G/borough
J Fortune, Nilma 940 236.2 2220 A Moyes, Boolarra Sth 845 228.6 1928
1. SEJ, 2. Landmark, 3. Scotts, 4.
Gibbon, 5. Elders.
440 385 365 335 340 445
600
510 515 520
485 461
465 640 710 775 685 670 830 615 675
330.0 322.0 320.0 318.6 318.0 315.0
267.2
267.2 264.6 258.6
273.2 255.9
220.0 219.2 216.6 212.0 203.6 207.6
206.6 203.6 202.6 202.6 199.2 190.6
246.6 225.0 204.6
1452 1239 1168 1067 1081 1401
1603
1362 1362 1344
1325 1180
1023 1402 1537 1643 1394 1390
1280 1386 1519 1451 1454 1162
2046 1383 1345
As we wait for the autumn break, things may be beginning to look pretty bare.
There can be the temptation to open up the area around the shed to the cattle, which hasn’t been grazed for years, or to let them in to the old house paddock, or the old dip site, or the old dump.
By doing so you may be unwittingly exposing your cattle to chemical resides.
Organochlorine (OC) pesticides such as DDT, dieldrin, and heptachlor are the main concern as these chemicals can persist in the soil for decades.
Stock readily pick up residues if they have access to areas of high level contamination.
Meat processors carry out extensive residue monitoring on slaughter stock and any carcase with a residue above the Australian maximum residue limit (MRL) is condemned for human consumption, which means the vendor may also be liable to legal action.
How can you avoid this from happening? Firstly, a monitoring history of known contaminated sites is available. It is the unknown contaminated sites which may cause a problem.
How can you identify any likely risk areas on your property? Commonly identified OC risk areas include: Buildings, yards, fences, stumps, and power poles treated with OC chemicals for termite control Sheep dip sites used before 1963 Old containers or chemicals in farm rubbish dumps Chemical storage, mixing and disposal sites Lawn clippings from OC contaminated areas Land used for growing potatoes and tobacco before 1986
Land used for orchards before 1988 and vegetable production before 1986.
As part of your risk assessment, gather all available information on past OC use, including information from previous owners.
Soil sampling may be required to determine if contamination is present, but overall it may be simpler to avoid potential risks by simply fencing risk areas to exclude cattle.