WA cattle impresses importer
One of Indonesia’s largest importers of Australian cattle recently visited several northern WA pastoral properties that supply cattle to Indonesia to view production systems, breeds and the quality of cattle that can be sourced from the north.
The Great Giant Livestock Company (GGL) operates a feedlot at Lampung, in South Sumatra, capable of processing 100 000 head of cattle, annually.
General Manager Dayu Ariasintawati provided a keynote address at the Department of Agriculture and Food's Northern Beef Futures (NBF) project industry forum in Karratha and shared insights to help northern beef producers better meet the specifications of the Indonesian market.
Whilst in WA, the delegation gained an understanding of how seasonal variations in the north and south of WA increase the capacity to provide cattle year-round, compared to other parts of northern Australia.
GGL is interested in building its breeding herd to meet part of the market demand, and in importing a large number of heifers, beyond the feeder cattle import permits and quota.
This represents an opportunity for WA producers to value add heifers, which are often discounted and difficult to sell in northern Australia, and sell carefully-selected animals to Indonesia at a premium price for commercial breeding operations.
DAFWA's NBF project will now work with GGL and WA cattle exporters to organise a trial shipment of heifers later this year with the aim of developing a long-term, sustainable market opportunity for the State’s northern beef industry.
For more information about DAFWA's NBF’s new market and supply chains activities, contact manager Manus Stockdale on +61 (0)8 9368 3881 or email nbf@agric.wa.gov.au.