Senin, 30 Desember 2013

Sheep and wool in review: part 2


THE trials and tribulations of the sheep and wool game kept producers talking in 2013.


In part two of a year in review, sheep and wool writers CARA JEFFERY and DANNIKA BONSER look at the industry's major issues. (Part three online tomorrow.)


Uardry naming rights saga

ONE of the most talked about issues in sheep circles this year was the Uardry stud naming rights.


Dubbo Merino breeders Graham and Susan Coddington, purchased the Uardry stud trademark and intellectual property from Tom Brinkworth, who purchased the Uardry property last year, however, Mr Brinkworth failed to transfer the registration of the stud to his name.


This is where the waters get muddied; the Coddington's were given approval in June from the NSW Stud Merino Breeders' Association to use the Uardry stud trademark they had purchased.


However, this decision was controversially overturned by Australia Association of Stud Merino Breeders (AASMB) in July.


AASMB president, Phil Toland, Violet Town, Victoria, reasoned the Uardry stud was dispersed, not sold, and there for the AASMB was dealing with a new stud registration, not a name transfer.


While the AASMB could have interjected with this ruling ahead of the sale, as the Uardry trademark and intellectual property were put up for tender, however, it bizarrely seemed to only came onto their radar after they received a letter from former Uardry manager Chris Bowman.


Mr Bowman explained in his letter to the AASMB the Uardry stud was dispersed and the name should remain a parent stud name of significance in Australia, to which the AASMB council voted on.


The issue reached boiling point at the Australian Sheep and Wool Sheep at Bendigo, Victoria, in July when the Coddington's attempted to exhibit and sell sheep.


Under AASMB rules they were not permitted to show the Uardry Poll sheep as they had not bred them- they had bought them as ram lambs; as Uardry Poll was not a registered stud they were unable to sell their sheep under the Uardry Poll name; they were also not allowed to exhibit their sheep in the Merino display as their flock number for Uardry Poll stud was relinquished.


In January the Uardry Dohne trademark and prefix was sold for an undisclosed sum to Coonamble Dohne breeders Bill and Marge Pye, Calga Dohne stud.


The Pye's were locked in a battle with The Australia Dohne Breeders' Association (TADBA) to have the stud registered.


They were given a new prefix for the and new stud number but the plan was for the Uardry prefix and stud number (UD30) to be transferred to them.


However, their application was rejected twice by the TADBA and they had been registered with the prefix and stud number UC207.


War on wild dogs

AUSTRALIAN Wool Innovation sunk another $1 million into its wild dog control funding after stage one produced encouraging results.


The Community Wild Dog Control Initiative started in 2011 with $1 million from AWI.


For the 2012/2013 financial year AWI funded 24 wild dog groups across 67,000km square.


Wild dogs are becoming a greater problem in the NSW western division as they are moving down from Queensland.


NSW Farmers received $550,000 to employ a wild dog co-ordinator, based in Dubbo, for three years, to help combat the burgeoning problem of wild dogs in western NSW.


AWI, Department of Primary Industries, Livestock Health and Pest Authorities and NSW Farmers are partners in the project.


The use of donkeys by Queensland woolgrowers to protect their flocks from wild predators is gaining momentum, with Landmark agent Bruce Lines, Roma, flat out keeping up supply.


Highs and lows of the wool market

THE Australian Wool Exchange Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) finished 2013 at 1134c/kg, this was up 62c/kg on the 2012 market close.-


The EMI at the end of the first week of sales in January 2013 settled at 1111c/kg which meant the last market finished the year 23c/kg above the January level.


The EMI was at highest point in April at 1145c/kg and at it's at lowest point in May at 966c/kg.


Across the calendar year 1,930,197 bales were offered, 0.5pc more than last year.


The Australian wool clip for 2012-2013 financial year was billed at a staggered $2.5 billion, up almost $800 million from where it was five years ago, according to Australian Wool Innovation data.


Lamb in demand

NATIONALLY lamb yardings in 2013 were around 700,000 head higher than in 2012.


However, data from Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) showed heavy lamb yardings were around 120,000 head lower.


An MLA spokesman cited this as the the key reasons for a premium on heavy lambs over light and trade lambs this year.


MLA data indicated restocker and light lamb prices were lower in 2013 than in 2012.


The 2013 lamb slaughter is estimated to be around 21.43 million head, an increase of 1.4 million on 2012.


In addition, sheep slaughter is estimated at 9.14 million head, an increase of almost 3 million head on 2012.


Total lamb exports will reach around 210,000 tonnes swt for 2013, over 20,000 tonnes higher than 2012, which was the previous annual record.


Mutton exports, at around 170,000 tonnes swt, were significantly higher than any volumes seen in the last decade.


The emergence of China as a major buyer of Australian sheepmeat in 2013 was particularly timely in lending some support to sheep and lamb prices, an MLA spokesman said.


Wool pack changes

AN extensive trial of 1800 wool packs resulted in the Australian Wool Pack Standard being revamped.


The two-year on-farm trials were conducted by the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) across varying sheep properties in NSW and Victoria with the aim to change wool pack standards to improve road transport compliance with road regulations.


The key changes to the wool pack standard are the introduction of a four-seamed base and a bale fastening guide (BFG) on each flap.


The four-seamed base will provide greater structure to the wool bale, a square base and reduce bulge.


The BFG will provide wool pressers with a mark to pull the bale fastener to when closing a bale.


Newcastle Wool Centre's final curtain call

THE Newcastle Wool Centre closed its doors on March 31.


An end of lease for the premises and a declining volume of wool being sold at the centre meant continuing the auction elsewhere in Newcastle was not a feasible option.


With only four sales a year at Newcastle the $70 a square metre rent was not cost effective, particularly in comparison to Sydney with its 41 sales a year making better use of the $110/m square weekly rent.


Ten years ago the centre sold more than 150,000 bales a year, last financial year it was lucky to reach 50,000 bales.


Tidak ada komentar:

Posting Komentar