THE export of dairy heifers needs more price stability for the industry to thrive, says a Warrnambool-based livestock agent involved in the exports.
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Elders Warrnambool livestock manager David Patterson said his company’s exports of dairy heifers from the south-west had declined dramatically this year after hitting a high last year.
Mr Patterson said Chinese demand for dairy heifers hit a peak last year when record prices of about $2000 were being paid for unjoined.
“It was not sustainable. It stopped dead at Christmas.
“The Chinese buyers pulled the pin to bring it back,” Mr Patterson said.
He said the heifers had been going to Chinese farmers who received a subsidy to cover most of the cost if they bought a pure-bred animal.
Mr Patterson said there was little prospect of demand from China picking up later this year and alternative markets were being sought in Pakistan, Vietnam, Qatar, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates.
He said demand for export heifers was very cyclical and “a happy medium” was needed to even out the industry’s big highs and lows.
Last year boats carrying between 2000-4500 heifers, most of which were unjoined, were leaving from Portland or Geelong every two months, Mr Patterson said.
The heifers were sourced from throughout Victoria, SA, southern NSW and Tasmania.
However the heifer export division of Camperdown-based Total Livestock Genetics (TLG) was much more positive about the industry.
TLG live export coordinator Michelle Williams said it had exported about 11,000 heifers in the past 18 months to China and was preparing another 5000 to go next year.
TLG also operates the only sex sorted semen supply facility in Australia and all its heifers are impregnated with female semen before departure.
TLG principal Shane Ashworth said there had been “massive” demand in China for heifers impregnated with female semen.
Ms Williams said heifer exports had become a significant part of TLG since it entered the industry in 2000.
Apart from the shipments to China, it had also sent a few planeloads to India and Malaysia, she said.