The last prime cattle sale at Dubbo is scheduled for Thursday, December 14 with a store cattle sale on December 15 and the year wind-up is a prime sheep and lamb sale on December 18.

January will see a prime cattle sale on the 4^th, sheep and lambs on the 8^th followed by the opening store cattle sale on the 12^th.

The centre will hold the second store cattle sale on January 19. It will conduct a prime cattle sale on January 25, the day prior to the public holiday for Australia Day.

In a recent column we congratulated council staff at Troy Saleyards on their tree planting effort. They are now embarking on the erection of a high security fence around the complex which will be complemented by a ramp at the main entrance.

This will go a long way towards enhancing the security of the facility with regards to wayward livestock. Last column we wrote about the export company Phoenix and its developing live cattle trade with mainland China.

In Australia, the company trades as Harmony Agriculture & Food Co (HAAFCO) and is primarily run by Australian executives. They have so far acquired two substantial parcels of land in Western Australia plus a 7000-head feedlot.

They currently have on their books 15,000 cattle and 10,000 sheep. One of their own divisions has two livestock carriers and recently loaded at Portland bound for China. The cargo consisted of 1800 steers and 600 heifers, principally grain fed with a small penning of grass fed. The consignment was destined for a sister company in China. 

HAAFCO is currently investigating the possibility of feeding cattle in eastern Australia. The AA Company recently announced pre-tax earnings of $16.1 million up until the end of September.

This is a rise of 16 per cent when compared to the same period last year. The company’s new plant near Darwin is continually being plagued by difficult trading conditions. It is not alone in this as most processors you speak with all complain of their current trading dilemmas.

Dubbo at our prime cattle sale on November 30 saw a yarding of 2980 head. Market reporter David Monk saw the sale to be considerably stronger in a week which saw many centres experience softer trading conditions.

The chance of decent rain over the next few days certainly helped the cause.  Young cattle to the trade were 7c to 10c dearer with best vealers @ 326c/kg.

Feeder heifers were slightly stronger while the steer portion remained firm. Best cows were firm topping at 236c/kg. A very plain offering of 300 Hereford cattle from SA had strong support from restockers and backgrounders to ring the bell for the day at 422c/kg.