THE first lamb sale of the year held at the Koonwarra VLE saleyards on January 7 went well, with around 4500 lambs and about 600 sheep yarded. James Kyle from SEJ said the lamb market was very strong on the day. “The best of them went for about $148 and it looked like most of […]
SOUTH-EAST Australia’s stud beef cattle breeders are gearing up to provide displays of their herds and sale bulls during the 24th Stock and Land Beef Week from January 27 to February 4. The 224 studs representing 30 breeds are involved in the nation’s biggest on-farm open day beef industry event. Beef Week now runs for […]
RAINFALL over the district in 2014 was slightly lower than average. Neville Buckland of Fish Creek recorded 847mm for the year, while the average for the year is 1030mm. Last year was much drier than 2013, when 1235mm of rain fell. However, December was wetter than average. Mr Buckland said 83.5mm fell over 12 days, […]
THE South Gippsland Sub-branch of the Holstein Friesian Association will be having a twilight farm walk at the Footes’ family farm in Fish Creek on Friday, January 23. This is a free night for all farmers to attend, starting with a free barbecue and drinks from 6.30pm at the Cornwalls Road property. The evening will […]
There were approximately 800 export and 200 young cattle penned and 2015 started off strongly for Gippsland producers as prices lifted 20c to 30c from the last sale of 2014, with a real sense of excitement spreading through a large group of onlookers. Not all the regular buyers were present, however competition was fierce from […]
FOOT and Mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious virus disease of animals. If there was an outbreak of FMD the impact on our livestock industries would be devastating. The likely cost is estimated to be around $52 billion to the Australian livestock industry and meat processing sector over 10 years. The beef industry alone […]
NOW the weather is warming up, it is a good time to think about the immediate actions that can be taken to minimise heat stress in the herd. We all know the consequences of heat stressed cows – decreased milk production, reduced feed intake, potential loss of body condition, mastitis, potential to not conceive or […]
DEVONDALE Murray Goulburn’s (MG) Leongatha UHT plant is producing milk under the Devondale brand for the Chinese market using new bilingual metallic packaging. Simon Taylor, MG’s operations manager east region, said, “Our Leongatha team is very proud Devondale milk from across Victoria is available to Chinese consumers, who seek the quality, safety and freshness Australia […]
THE Tarwin Landcare group visited the local cemetery to learn more about the area’s history and grasses recently. Ken and Marg Fisher, whose family have looked after the Tarwin Lower cemetery for generations, shared with the group stories of those resting in the cemetery including many notorious individuals, local families and early settlers. Mr Fisher […]
THE Labor Government has said the Department of Environment and Primary Industries will be abolished. But the change is not expected to affect frontline services, nor close offices, including the Leongatha branch. Under the new government, agriculture will be included in the new Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources. Environment will be moved […]