Farm enterprise Budget Series: June 2010 Enterprise: EU cattle (0-4th)
European Trade
Enterprise Unit: 100 cows
Pasture: Improved pasture
Marketing Information:
No growth promotants can be used. Age is 4 tooth (approx 30 months) or less. Premium weight target for EU cattle is 280-340 kg dressed, although cattle are accepted at some works down to 240 kg at a lesser price. The Australian system of differentiating hormone free cattle continues under close scrutiny. Properties now require registration as hormone free, with complete traceability of individual cattle.
National Livestock Identification Scheme approved electronic eartags must be attached to animals at point of slaughter. New lime green tailtags and an EU national vendor declaration are to be used. The value of the E.U. market for red meat and offals in terms of dressed weight prices, has continued to equal or better most others in recent times. Most steers prepared for EU markets have the added flexibility of being able to be held over as Japanese grassfeds if required or marketed early as feeder steers when they don’t make the weight.
Production Information:
Heifers are eligible for the same market as steers provided conformation is adequate. E.U. cattle can be prepared on improved pasture plus summer or winter crops with some supplementary feeding in late summer and autumn or with access to irrigation country. Many central NSW fattening areas are capable of producing cattle to EU market requirements.
