All things beef at annual conference
More than 200 beef producers from across Gippsland attended the East Gippsland Beef Conference at Bairnsdale last week.
BetterBeef project leader Darren Hickey said the sixth annual beef conference was a sell out event.
Market report 14th and 15th August
There was some very good vealers sold to top 355.0 in a yarding of 978 which is 10 less than last week. Where good cattle in short supply sold very well.
In a day where averages were mostly up, with heavy and secondary cattle selling to increased demand with restockers keen to purchase better bred cattle.
97 vealers sold to 355.0 cents, averaged 278.9 and per head $777.54, down 9 cents from last week.
16 heifers sold to 339.6 cents, averaged 311.4 and per head $1391.49, up 36 cents from last week.
30 steers sold to 340.0 cents, averaged 291.0 and per head $1231.34, up 17 cents from last week.
The yard average for 146 head was 281.2 and $922.48 per head.
Vealers 9 Lim DJ Britt, Lillico 1 LimX PJ Keily, Driffield 1 Lim N&M Watson, Bega 1 LimX N&M Watson, Bega 1 LimX BE Brown, Darnum 1 SimX N&M Watson, Bega 4 Ang JL&OJ Currie, Bona Vista Heifers 1 Char Willow Creek Past, S/Ck 400 339.6 1358 5 HfdX Rarma Downs PL, Modella 480 329.4 1581 2 Char Willow Creek Past, S/Ck 350 312.0 1092 Steers 2 Char Willow Creek Past, S/Ck 405 340.0 1377 2 Char Willow Creek Past, S/Ck 390 228.0 1279 1 LimX D Kelly, Willow Grove 665 325.6 2165 1 B/B A Schellekens, Neerim Sth 595 323.2 1923 1 CharX L Witty, Yarragon 520 323.2 1680 Thursday’s cow and bull sale. Cow numbers were down on last week but sold very well considering the quality of the cattle yarded.
336 cows, 30 up from last week. 2911 bulls, 9 steers, with a full field of buyers.
336 cows sold to 290.0 cents, averaged 223.4 and per head $1093.56, up 8 cents from last week.
29 bulls sold to 337.2 cents, averaged 269.3 and per head $1783.28, up 15 cents from last week.
9 steers sold to 297.6 cents, averaged 263.3 and per head $1275.68, up 31 cents from last week.
Yard average for 374 cattle was 229.0 and per head $1151.43, up 11 cents on last week. Beef Cows 1 Lim D Britt, Lillico 1 B/B C&L Vaughan, Cloverlea 1 Ang C&N Guy, Buln Buln 1 Ang Carrington Park, Drn Sth 1 Ang Carrington Park, Drn Sth 2 Ang R&S Summerfield, B/Vista Dairy Cows 6 Frn Koyuga Downs Past, S/Ck 471 1 Frn J&J Tekema, Shady Creek 695 1 Frn RD Miller, Athlone 670 1 Frn Milshan Nominees, L/touche 633 1 Frn RS White, Neerim South 580 1 Frn JG Ashby, Bayles 750 1 Frn Bonnie View, Drouin 700 Steers 1 LimX 4 Frn 2 Frn Bulls 1 Lim 1 Frn 1 Jsy 1 Spk 1 Frn RS White, Neerim South M&M Briggs, Drouin Upston Farms, Drouin
JF Britt, Lillico 840 337.2 2832 C&D Kelliher, Neerim Sth 865 274.2 2371 G&B Geary, Longwarry Nth 775 263.2 2042 Topiram Park, Poowong 630 253.6 1597 JS&ML Meggetto, Wgl Sth 735 245.6 1805
1.NGL, 2. Landmark, 3.
SEJ, 4. Scotts, 5. Elders.
394 380 360 330 515 525 300 625 805 615 650 770 503 475 582 405
344.2 341.2 333.6 333.6 326.2 324.6 319.6 290.0 284.2 280.2 279.6 273.6 273.6
276.6 271.6 267.2 266.6 266.6 261.2 261.2
297.6 278.2 234.6
1355 1296 1200 1100 1679 1704 958 1812 2287 1723 1817 2106 1374
1302 1887 1790 1686 1546 1959 1828
1413 1619 950
“The goal of the organising committee in planning the day’s program was to provide beef producers with new insights, the opportunity to network with like-minded people and some inspiring and challenging take-home messages.
Presenters in the opening plenary sessions included Rob Hermann of Mercado and Simon Quilty of MLX in the Market Analysis Forum and then Michael Crowley of Meat & Livestock Australia presenting on ‘Innovation in a commercial beef enterprise’.
Concurrent sessions followed where Rob Inglis of Elders Australia talked about ‘Herd rebuilding’ and Brendan Cullen from the University of Melbourne ran a discussion about ‘On-farm adaptation to climate variability’.
The afternoon sessions included Nick Linden of Agriculture Victoria on ‘Driving pasture production’ and Nuffield Scholar Claire OsbornBooth on ‘Understanding finances and succession planning’.
Other speakers included Maffra vet Stephanie Cullen on ‘Parasite resistant cattle’, Neil Moss of Scibus on ‘Setting up the farm for variable seasons’, and Jason Trompf of JT Agri-source on the ‘Value and benefits of a breeding objective’.
Delegates also heard directly from their peers in a primary producer forum ‘Tactics in Tough Times’ where Charlie Maslin, David Read, and Brad and Jenny Smith discussed their strategies for getting through the drought.
Mr Hickey said for farmers in eastern Victoria, drought and dry seasonal conditions had been very challenging.