As we continually read about all eyes pointing to China in regards to our Economic future, especially in minerals, some smart cattle exporters have procured another enormous market. I remember reading a few weeks ago about the commissioning of three new purposely built ships for the live trade export and it has now dawned on me what is going on.
One of the new boats, “The Ocean Drover”, has set off with 8,000 head of cattle to Russia. It looks like these fellows have cracked what they feel is an insatiable Russian market, who are up and running and love their Beef.
This has been spurred on by the continuing falls in Domestic Beef production in Russia, mainly due to the selling off of seed stock encouraged by the liberalised markets of the post Soviet era.
The modern ships these days appear to be set up like a travelling feed lot, where the cattle will be expected to gain about half a kilogram per day, due to the unrestricted access to feed and water throughout the journey.
The upshot to the Producer, hopefully out of all this, due to the new market will be an improvement in prices for quality cattle to satisfy this market.

Stock movement has now moved into a fairly exciting era. With the animal liberation regulations now becoming paramount in the movement of stock to other countries, time is an increasing issue. Relatively small numbers of approx 350 head can be moved quickly on converted 747/400 series aircraft. This is of particular interest as I have been associated with a local person who has been moving dairy heifers to Vietnam. The mats they put under the cattle are deodorised and cancel out the ammonia from the urine build up and are about $200 each. These mats are thrown out after the arrival of the cattle. The cattle are kept in fibreglass and aluminium pens, which are designed as roll on stock. It now appears that there is going to be a lot more demand for this type of transport for smaller lots. Gives a great new meaning to “Cattle Class”.

Looks like it is that time of the year again, seems to be always just before our annual show, that the old three day sickness is starting to hit quite a few stock in the area. For those of you who haven’t encountered it before, it is pretty easy to pick up, as the cattle become very lethargic, basically running a temperature and often laying down. We have always found that the best way to handle it is to make sure that they are in a shaded area, and basically keep an eye on them. Probably the worst thing you can do is to try and move them about too much.
The other thing that has arrived over the last few weeks has been ergot poisoning, which has come about by the abundance of paspalum. After a discussion with our local vet, he has suggested that when the paspalum is at that sticky stage, it is at it’s worst. The signs are with the cattle looking quite bright in nature, but not having any control over their legs, and cannot get up. The cure is to remove them from the area of paspalum and they seem to come good in three to four days.
Just a couple of the local seasonal problems that don’t happen every year, but more prone in great seasonal conditions like we are having.