Ho Ho Ho! Here we are again, Christmas time, end of another year, make your plans and resolutions, catch up with your family and friends  and before you know it Easter will be here.

It was great to see such good support for the AGM and farm visits. Attendees travelled from as far afield as W.A and Queensland and all thoroughly enjoyed the weekend.  Everybody was left feeling very positive having discussed breeding and marketing experiences with other members and breeders.

The AGM itself went very well with the most important discussion being centred on the registration system.  All agreed that while there was a need for a commercial register, there was also a need to make the system as simple as possible.  The outcome was to omit the Braler and C Register but to adjust the Herdbook and Performance registers to accommodate the necessary requirements.

All members who submitted stock for the C Register should have been contacted by now by a councillor and given the opportunity to put their views forward if they were not able to attend the AGM.

Next May, Bendigo will again host the Beef Expo after a layoff for a year due to the building of a new complex.  It would be marvellous if we could put forward a display of Salers cattle that we could be proud of.

A new magazine will be out by this time, it will be around 26 pages of editorials, advertising, letters and photos.  We expect that a full page ad will be around $350 and smaller ads relative.  This of course depends on the amount of support we receive from you.  I can say for sure though that the deadline for entries will be the 1st of March, 2013.

I hope that the beef market will have improved by time of the deadline, here in South Australia it is about 30% down on last year due to a combination of scenarios…U.S drought, dry in N.T. and Queensland and the high dollar.
The other day I heard Australia referred to as the “Stephen Bradbury of world economies”.  Thanks largely to the mining boom Australia has remained financially buoyant but the flow on effect of the high dollar it created has had a negative effect for many rural areas. The decrease in numbers of live export cattle will also have an uncertain impact upon our markets.  The concern of poor quality beef being pushed into some consumer markets should not be overlooked.   Station owners who are geared for live export and breeding Bos Indicus may need to look towards infusing another highly maternal breed that will also increase their carcase weights and meat quality.  The hardiness of a breed to walk long distances to water and feed in tough conditions would be an attribute for these producers to consider.
Jen has just told me it has taken me longer to write this letter than it did for her to write, submit and receive assessment for a 15 page assignment.  On that note I’m going to pull the pin.  We hope to hear from you soon in regard to our magazine and that you have a very enjoyable festive season with success in the New Year.

Best wishes,
Steve