This part of the economy contributed $18 billion to our GDP, being some 11/12 per cent of the nation’s agricultural turnover. This part of the overall economy provides 405,000 jobs, direct and indirectly, and most Australians consume red meat on a regular weekly basis.

Value of this industry has grown immensely in the past 5 years to stand at the current figure. In the 2016 calendar year, Australians not only ate more red meat per head than any other country, we are also among the leading exporters of this form of protein in the world.

In 2016, we were the leading exporters in the world for beef, second largest for sheep meat and ran third in the export of livestock.

We also witnessed a significant growth in the export of goat meat on a global scale.

Mr Mackay went on to list numerous opportunities for governments and regulators to assist the industry.

We, as an industry, have far too much red tape and bureaucracy in the current mix.

Across the globe we compete with other exporting countries who compete freely in our markets with what appears to be only a fraction of the impost imposed on our exporters.

The same appears to be happening at the producers’ end where we seem to be accumulating layer after layer of paper work.

Mr Mackay suggested the technical trade costs were in the vicinity of $3 billion per year. This figure is impossible to maintain long term.

The reality is we have more businesses then ever trying to work in a difficult environment and he thought politicians of all persuasion should start to think outside the square and inject some much-needed infrastructure and policy into the industry.

Peter Greenham Jr. has confirmed the Greenham Group of companies has purchased Moe abattoirs in the Gippsland region from their previous Chinese owners.

The family hopes to commence slaughtering in mid-November.

Moe is set up for yearlings and dairy cattle with a capacity of 1000 head a week and substantial capacity for expansion.

The plant holds an export license and all maintenance and upkeep has been continued on a regular basis.

Dubbo on Thursday yarded and scanned 2900 cattle.

Well over half the yarding presented in store to very plain condition. Most trade and feeder stock were cheaper. Light weight cattle to the restockers were stronger with the lead of these types selling well above $4.00 per kg. Heavy grown steers and bullocks were 7 to 9c/kg dearer, topping at 291c/kg.

Cows were mainly firm.

Dubbo Regional Livestock Market (DRLM) has won a gong at the cities recent Rhino Awards for excellence in Work, Health and Safety.

Dubbo saleyards is a major driver in the economic development of the Dubbo region. In September, the facility sold 24,000 cattle and 156,000 sheep. In 2016/17 the market had a throughput of 199,431 cattle and 1,437,030 sheep and lambs.