WHILE much focus will be on the weaner calf sales in early January, the first first-cross ewe sale for 2012 will be conducted at Kyneton on January 6.
The three agents who service the region – McGrath Rodwells, Landmark Dwyer and Elders – have gathered 15,000 ewes for the big annual sale.
“I think this is the 50th sale, but there could have been more,” Keiran McGrath said last week.
Mr McGrath is pictured with son Patrick, 14, last week checking on a line of 500, 1.5-year-old ewes that will be sent to Kyneton by Don and Norma Younger, Sandside, Morundah, near Narranderra, NSW, who sell there each year.
The Younger family have been breeding first-cross ewes by their own Sandside rams from top Riverina ewes for 50 years and, judging by the prices paid at the same sale in January 2011, they’ve got it just about right.
At this year’s sale, their ewes sold for the top price of $307.
In 2010, they also topped the sale, at $192.
In fact, Sandside ewes have topped Kyneton for three years in a row.
“These ewes are right at the top of the tree,” said McGrath, who has been doing business for the Younger family for 20 years.
The 500 ewes were shorn in the last week of October, drenched and backlined and and carry five points.
“There used be a lot more sheep in this area, but cattle are now more popular with the increasing number of Melbourne-based small farmers,” he said.
But the Kyneton first-cross sale remains one of the prime lamb industry’s major features.
“There are some big lines on offer and, unlike some other sales, we sell in unrestricted runs to suit buyers wanting smaller runs of the best sheep on offer,” Mr McGrath said.
He said the three agents, all franchises of the major companies, all work together and assisted each other when necessary.
“I really think the prime lamb industry has a bright future – the export job is exciting, with potential to grow, and the domestic marketing appears solid.
“Some say the solid prices in both beef and prime lambs are grass-driven.
“It’s more than that; people just won’t buy just for the sake of it.
“Confidence is driving the job.
“While prices might come off a bit, if it stays at sustainable levels that will encourage the market, leading to further investment.”
The Kyneton agents are also conducting their annual weaner sale on January 18 and their usual monthly store sale the following Wednesday.
Export focus
Australian beef exporters have been traditionally dominated by the big three markets: Japan, the US and Korea.
But beef exports to all “other” markets increased 17 per cent (January to November) year-on-year, offsetting a 3pc decline to the big three combined.
This is good news because a diversified market can help shelter the industry from unforeseen risks.
The stars of the 2011 export year were the smaller, non-traditional markets, which offset (or even contributed to) the lower volumes to Japan and the US.
Russia, the Middle East and South East Asia were the main contributors to the increase in total exports for the year, with rises also witnessed to the more traditional markets of the EU and Canada and to Korea.
Another bit of good news this week is that despite 2011 being marked by unprecedented events in key beef export markets, Australia is exporting more, with beef and veal shipments exceeding 2010’s total.
The latest Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries export figures for December (as at December 19) show 56,192 tonnes of beef have been shipped so far this month, taking total exports for 2011 to 923,333t – passing the 922,833t registered for all of 2010.
Export shipments are expected to surpass 940,000t for 2011 – the fifth highest on record.
Considering the headwind of an Australian dollar averaging 103US cents and twice hitting 110c this year, ongoing global economic turmoil and the odd natural disaster such as the Japanese tsunami, plus increased competition from the US in Japan, it’s a great result in any language.
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