Mordallup to keep level head amid possible national herd rebuild

Mordallup Angus stud co-principal Mark Muir is aiming to keep a level head as he plans his next step. The Manjimup stud sold all 56 bulls offered at its latest annual yearling bull auction at the Boyanup saleyards earlier this month and reached a $16,000 high, as the nation’s cattle market continued to firm. With Meat and Livestock Australia last week flagging a possible herd rebuild, many bull stud principals could be set to benefit from increased demand. Mordallup’s herd sits at 350 breeders, which are run at the Muir’s Manjimup farm alongside 300 commercial breeders. The South West conditions have delivered well below winter seasonal pasture growth the past two years. However, with this year’s weather forecast looking promising, Mr Muir is determined to maintain herd numbers. “There hasn’t been much density in the paddocks,” he said. “We won’t get ahead of ourselves, but hoping to increase bull numbers by 10 per cent next year, depending on demand and quality of calves coming through.” MLA has tipped the possible herd rebuild on the back of a strong cattle market, better weather outlook nationwide and declining female slaughter rates. The prediction came as the adult cattle slaughter in February declined 8 per cent year-on-year to 634,000 head. Queensland accounted for 267,000 head slaughter, to notch a 17 per cent drop on year ago levels. The NSW slaughter slid 5 per cent, while Victoria was steady year-on-year. Meanwhile, February’s total beef production totalled 186,000 tonnes carcase weight to mark a 11,000 tonnes cwt decrease year-on-year. The biggest fall was in Queensland, down 14,000 tonnes cwt on last year to 81,000 tonnes cwt.