RED MEAT 2019 SPECIAL FEATURE Killara sets the pace Bullish outlook for grainfed beef Andrew said they had learnt a lot through the ongoing drought, including reassessing what commodities they use in feed rations based on availability and dropping the minimum induction weights of some cattle from 380kg to 350kg. Despite the drought, Andrew said he remained bullish about what 2020 might bring. “When it does rain, grain will be cheaper, so if there’s a drop of $40/tonne, that equates to a saving of about Elders Killara Feedlot Manager Andrew Talbot. $100/head. SNAPSHOT: The strategies how their cattle performed in“There will be no way the feedlot and ultimately on feedlots will want to start Elders Killara Feedlot, behind the buying reducing numbers on feed. and marketing farm gate returns. Quirindi, NSW decisions of one “When the drought l “Killara is an interesting of Australia’s oldest barometer of the vigour of thedoes break, there feedlots were shared beef industry, because while will be restockers with beef producers a lot of feedlots are owned when Elders Killara by vertically integrated wanting to retain Feedlot hosted a tour companies, Killara is not. heifers to breed during Red Meat 2019. “This means everything from, so the biggest The 20,000‑head feedlot we buy we’ve got to find near Quirindi has feeding a customer for, and so all issue next year will programs ranging from 70 the cattle in the feedlot are be supply.” Area: already marketed before 610ha days through to 150 days or they get here,” Andrew said. more. The facility feeds out He’s also confident about Enterprise: 340 tonnes of feed per day to “So, if our short‑fed domestic international demand. Licensed 20,000‑head turn off 1,500 head a week for inventory or long‑fed “A rise in price won’t stop feedlot; 400ha of cropping domestic and export markets. inventory starts to grow, China eating beef. We get including irrigated corn for it gives you a gauge phone calls every week from silage, triticale and barley for About 12,000 head are as to strength in those hay production, and barley supplied into premium beef suppliers to China trying to brand, Jack’s Creek. different markets.” source beef. for backgrounding Elders Killara Feedlot Targeting market “I came away from a Livestock: Manager Andrew Talbot, the specifications recent trip to the United Cattle Killara team and Jack’s Creek The Killara team discussed States feeling good about Soil: Managing Director Patrick the strict specifications where our beef industry Self‑mulching, chocolate Warmoll shared aspects of they adhere to when is compared to the US – alluvial soils the feedlot’s operations and sourcing cattle for each we’ve got our integrity and what they’re looking for when of their feeding programs traceability systems such Rainfall: buying cattle from producers. and markets. as the National Livestock 660mm The business has transitioned Identification System Killara buys cattle directly and the National Feedlot from the paddock and from predominantly supplying Andrew Talbot the domestic market to Accreditation Scheme. The E: Andrew.Talbot@ Andrew said the message quality we’ve got and the to producers is that their now exporting 70% of their elders.com.au beef to markets including rigour of our systems gives on‑farm management me comfort.” ■ eldersrural.com.au/ decisions such as genetics, South‑East Asia and Europe. livestock/elders-killara- animal handling techniques Domestically, the feedlot is feedlot and pre‑vaccinations impact Woolworths’ biggest supplier. 13