Rumours once again have surfaced regarding the possible sale of the Australian arm of the JBS conglomerate. The investment and banking house of J.P Morgan is supposedly doing the rounds to see if Australian investors both big and small have any desires to purchase shares in what is described as our biggest player in the meat processing space.

This move may also include Primo small goods which the mother ship purchased in 2014 for a suggested figure of 1.45 billion dollars. Primo is one of the leading players in the bacon and salami section of the industry. Investors may be difficult to woo with returns in the meet industry being unattractive in recent times with earnings flattening at best. The company owns abattoirs and feed lots of various configurations in most eastern states and are heavily involved in the marketing of branded products.

This is the second or third occasion in recent years that the suggestion has been raised that the company or part thereof would be listed as a share float. JBS had denied that the business is for sale. The Regional Australia Bank Dubbo show, all breeds prime lamb, hoof and hook competition is set down for May, 11. Last year saw 534 lambs from 46 entrants involved in 67 different classes share in prize money to the value of $25 000.00 all donated by very generous sponsors. The $27 000.00 raised by the charity auction was shared between 19 different charities. The event received outstanding media exposure for the 9 breeds on show plus the sponsors who no doubt benefited from the television/radio press and social media coverage all of who show cased this event to great effect. Official sponsorship comes in 6 categories ranging from medallion at $200.00 through to platinum which sand at $1500.00 plus having said that all donations no matter how small in money or kind would be gratefully accepted by the people driving the concept.

The competition is based around three categories between trade weight lambs (less 52kg) export (52 to 62kg) heavy export (62kg plus).

School nominations are encouraged and to that extent are sponsored by Fletcher International Exports.  Breed societies also reward any of their members with extra prize money if they should win the grand championship hoof or hook pen. The organisers would love to hear from any potential sponsors or lamb producers who wish to be involved.

Dubbo like many other centres are beginning to yard a high percentage of plain to poor cattle, probably timely to remind vendors of the legislation in place regarding the “fit to load” of any animals under your care.

This is a wide-ranging scenario involving many facets of animal husbandry including poor stock, lame, blind, heavily pregnant or emaciated but is not restricted to those mentioned above.

The chain of responsibility begins with the graziers and follows onto the carriers, receivable personal at the saleyards or abattoirs through to the agent or meat works involved. Be careful with that you load because penalties can be severe.