Cattle Prices,hoping for the best.

[Australian Cattleman]

We are selling some pens of steers tomorrow at our local saleyards.
The steers are South Devon Hereford,Brahman Hereford and some Black Baldys.
Hopefully they will sell well.
Keep you posted we'll have more to sell in a months time.

Colin

[PPRM]

Collin,

I know your view is only one from big island, but what do you see in te way of cattle feeding in Australia??? Do you see a move to feeding calves out on grain????

[Australian Cattleman]

Because Australia is so big, and has a lot more poorer country than the US,I don't think that there will be a big change towards grain feeding. All our feedlots are located in grain growing areas or in areas that have access to grain. Freight costs are the big killer when it comes to shipping grain/feed any distance.
We are about 90 miles from our source of grain (custom mix supplier),that is almost the closest that we can get. The price is the cheapest and they have the best quality feed. We finish a few steers at times on grain. They usually are the left over or younger ones. Our commercial cows calves are sold straight off their mothers at about 8 months of age. The size of them at that age in our country (which is a good solid cattle growing area) just pulls the cow down. We like the cows to have 3 to 4 months rest before she has the next calf.

Colin