BETTER housing for Sale’s fat and store cattle markets will lead to post-sale weighing in the fat market, according to agents.
Currently, pre-sale weighing occurs at Sale.
However, a complete upgrade of the saleyards – including roof, new yards and soft floors – is expected to lead to other changes.
“We expect it will become post-sale weighing, to bring it into a more competitive line with Koonwarra and other saleyards,” said Don McMillan, Rodwell’s livestock agent.
“It will be driven by the buyers – the processors.
“Pre-sale weighing at Sale is a disadvantage to farmers who take their better-finished cattle to Koonwarra, for example.
“It’s a disadvantage to them when you consider how long their cattle have to stand without food; when at Sale the cattle are weighed pretty much as soon as they arrive.
“Post-sale weighing also provides the processors with a more competitive figure,” Mr McMillan said.
The Sale facility is operated by Victorian Livestock Exchange (VLE) which operates Koonwarra, Pakenham and Leongatha saleyards, where post-sale weighing has been in place for many years.
VLE CEO Wayne Osborne was reluctant to give an opinion about Sale and said competition in the industry would drive the decision making towards post-sale weighing.
“Post-sale weighing has been operating at Pakenham since 1999 and for at least seven years at Leongatha,” Mr Osborne said.
“Post-sale weighing at Sale is really up to the industry and will be driven by the stakeholders – processors, stock agents and vendors.
“Competition is in the eye of the beholder and post-sale weighing will be dependent on the stakeholders wanting it to happen.”
Pre- and post-sale weighing, collusion and processors dictating terms of trade at saleyards are part of a red-meat inquiry currently being conducted by the Australian Senate.
Submissions to the inquiry end this month.
There has already been some controversy when earlier this year, Barnawatha’s new saleyards switched to post-sale weighing, required by processors.
The decision cause a boycott by farmers against post-sale weighing one week; and by processors another week in protest against the farmers.
Victorian Farmers Federation president Peter Tuohey said livestock agents were supposed to work for the farmer but too often appeared to work for the processor.
He confirmed the VFF has made a submission to the Senate Inquiry and encouraged farmers to make their own.
The new saleyards shed at Sale is nearing fitout, with walkways and pens being constructed.
Water tanks have already been installed.
In August, the new soft floor and adjustable height loading ramps will be installed; then the carpark and finishing work is expected to be completed by January next year.
The saleyards upgrade was part of the incoming election platform of Mayor Carolyn Crossley, who last week said she was proud of the new facility.
“The best option for the town is to have the saleyards upgraded where it is,” Ms Crossley said.
“The infrastructure, waste management, waste water and animal husbandry facilities were there.
“For a long time the decision was vacillating between a green-field site or upgrading the existing facility.
“We made a decision that was about supporting future prosperity of agribusiness in the Shire.”
The Wellington Council took out borrowings of $3.3 million, according to Chris Hastie, General Manager Built & Natural Environment for the Shire.
“We are currently ahead of the works plan, so expect to easily achieve the completion date of January 2016,” he said.
