Eighteen decks of cattle from Boulia will be christening the Blackall Saleyard’s new organic status next week when Rick and Anne Britton send in around 800 mixed sex weaners from Mudgeacca.
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It’s a vote of confidence for Blackall’s ground-breaking move to become accredited to sell organically certified cattle, which came into being a month ago.
“This a real opportunity for us, and a credit to Blackall for making it possible,” Rick said.
“We’re normally bullock and fat cattle producers, but in July last year we had an opportunity to purchase an organic property in the Boulia district.
“We’d planned to run breeders and sell the weaners off mum, and when (Blackall Saleyards manager) Dave Carter confirmed they were going down the path towards organics, I thought, that’ll do me.
“We’ll be supporting local industry and keeping jobs in the area.”
Rick and his team have been at work this week drafting the pick out of 640 Santa and Santa cross mixed sex weaners and 360 Angus, Droughtmaster, Charbray and Brahman cross weaners.
They were branded at the end of April and early May, and are expected to have a weight range of between 180 and 300 kilograms, averaging around 240 kgs.
Rick said most of the country out his way could be organic by default, with a little record keeping, but he was going to “see how the market rolled” before he made any decisions about moving the rest of his operation in that direction.
“It’s new and a challenge,” he said.
“If Blackall wasn’t there we probably would have just sold privately, but the ducks have lined up for us.
“It’s taken a fair bit of forward planning though.”
Rick is used to growing his bullocks out to 300kg dressed and selling them either to the live export market out of Darwin or to Dinmore.
Both destinations are a lot further away than Blackall, a journey of 740 kilometres.
He said that as far as he could see, not many organic producers were turning off weaners, which he saw as an opportunity.
As far as the sale outcome goes, he said he had no expectations about price or purchaser, being such a new venture.
“We’ve had a fair bit of interest,” he said. “The proof will be in the pudding on the day. I’ll be interested to see whether they’re bought by an organic or non-organic purchaser.”
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
