THE Pastoralists and Graziers' Association (PGA) is pushing for the construction of a live cattle export port facility at Point Torment, north of Derby.
The push has also renewed the debate as to whether an abattoir facility in WA's north would be a viable option.
Premier Colin Barnett endorsed the Point Torment site for proposed oil and gas shipping infrastructures, which was welcomed by PGA president Rob Gillam who said he hoped the livestock industry could also benefit from the project.
"We will be registering an early expression of interest in the new port to have live cattle export facilities included in the project," Mr Gillam said.
"The northern cattle industry desperately needs an alternative port to Broome and to Darwin, especially with the deep water capacity Point Torment would offer larger, more viable shipping.
"There is currently no viable case for a meat processing facility in the north and the cattle industry will be increasingly dependent on overseas markets such as the Middle East that require larger vessels than those currently using Broome.
"We would also see opportunities for Aboriginal enterprises to build and operate the cattle holding yards that would be required at Point Torment, similar to their operations on Roebuck Plains station near Broome."
Mr Gillam said they were still pleased that work had been done in regards to a meat processing facility in the north and their support would be guided by the results of that work, however any development would need to be free enterprise.
"I guess urgency has been added to that situation by the news that Indonesia has imposed a 350kg weight limit on imported cattle," Mr Gillam said.
"There is no doubt that there will be cows over that limit and they will need an outlet.
"There had been talk of the Katherine abattoir reopening, but we have not heard yet if they will take cattle or just camels."
Milne Agrigroup and Liveringa Pastoral Co managing director Graham Laitt said an abattoir facility in the north was still needed to give producers an alternative when cattle were not suitable for live export.
"We have not heard why the PGA is advancing the need for another port as shipping has not been a problem in our experience," Mr Laitt said.
"The issue is markets for the cattle and there are limited live export markets and we need the options that can be developed with an abattoir.
"It is important that North West cattle producers find a way of processing cattle that cannot be sold into live export markets."
Mr Laitt said there were few live export opportunities for cull cows and other cattle that were unsuitable for live export for age, condition, quality or breed reasons.
"There are large numbers of these cattle," he said.
"The Middle East market generally will not take cows or poor quality cattle and Indonesia has also stopped importing these types."
Mr Laitt said generally the live export market was focused on buying feeder cattle, or cattle that could be successfully fattened in the overseas location and then slaughtered.
"This means young male cattle," he said.
"Cull cattle are not suitable as feeder cattle.
"Pastoralists are unable to invest in improving the genetics on their properties if they cannot turn off culls and get some cash from them."
Mr Laitt said it was essential that North West cattle producers had access to a guaranteed method of turning cattle off in drought or other seasonal conditions which dictated reducing stocking levels.
He said environmental issues arose if there was no way of reducing stock numbers.
"Our suggestion is that a kill and chill abattoir is established and that cattle are processed into sides or quarter beef and backloaded to Perth on the chiller transport that brings up the large quantities of chilled product for the tourist season, which also coincides with the period a seasonal abattoir would be open," Mr Laitt said.
" Meat processors in the south would be able to buy cattle in the north and have them slaughtered and shipped to southern boning rooms.
"There are good export boning rooms in the south that have excess capacity over the winter months.
"Boned and boxed North West cow meat has in the past been exported to the USA where it is blended with their higher fat meat to produce hamburgers and the like.
"Australia has not filled its quota for this meat to the USA in recent years.
"There is also a growing market for grinding beef throughout Asia and it is likely that this category is where the early increased demand for beef arises as per capita incomes increase in overseas markets."
Mr Laitt said he was also awaiting the results of an inquiry into a northern abattoir proposal.
He said on the basis of many years experience in the industry, from his perspective there is a business case for an abattoir in the north and pastoralists would be unwise to pass up any opportunity to have this major gap in their marketing options filled.
"It is difficult to get a private operator to establish such an abattoir as there are a large number of planning and other issues that deter investment," Mr Laitt said.
"The abattoir would need to be seasonal and this limits the time over which a return can be achieved but capital is minimised by limiting the abattoir to kill and chill.
"Pastoralists would need to be involved, perhaps through a cooperative and committed to support and supply their cull cattle and over time it might be possible to develop markets for good quality beef."
Email a friend