BULLETIN ISSUE 9 : Spring 2015
Greenlea strongly supports the recent Beef + Lamb initiative to see more dairy calves reared for the beef industry. Even prior to this programme being announced, Greenlea was initiating a programme of work with one of our bull suppliers to look at genetics of his best performing animals. Dairy-Beef integration would offer a number of positive outcomes for both the dairy and meat sectors. 1) Dairy farmers - Dairy calves sired by beef bulls are worth more; and therefore, can provide additional income to the dairy farmer
2) Dairy industry – channelling more surplus calves into the beef industry is a better outcome for these calves 3) Calf rearers/finishers – proven beef genetics should equal faster growing, better quality, and therefore, more valuable animals 4) Meat industry – New Zealand never sells as much beef as it could! Should you consider changing your breeding strategy?
MYTH VS REALITY It is well known that New Zealand exports of beef into the United States are restricted by quota. Quota is the amount of product that can be sent to a specific market in any one calendar year. Despite this trade barrier, in most processing years, New Zealand does not fill its full quota allowance. 2004 was the last year that the available quota was exhausted. As at 31 August of this year, New Zealand had used 89% of its USA beef quota of 213,000 metric tonnes. Considering the on-going high cow kill, it is extremely likely that NZ will fill its quota access prior to the shipping cut-off of early December. Diversification and storage options will be considered by all companies and each may have differing strategies over
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the next 3 months. China is one option for diversification. China is now clearly New Zealand’s second largest beef market representing 13% by volume of sales and 12% by value over the past 12 months. These volumes represent more than double the next biggest markets of Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Greenlea’s two plants were approved for export to China in August 2014, and our first sales to the market were concluded and shipped in October of last year. Greenlea is now exporting over 90 different products to China.
In August Greenlea launched a newly branded, consumer-ready range of products for the New Zealand market. The product range is carried by Farro Fresh (5 stores in Auckland) and Moore Wilson’s (4 stores in and around Wellington). Products in the range include eye fillet steaks, eye fillet roasts, sirloin steaks, diced beef and mince.
ilson’s! Find us at Farro Fresh & Moore W
Mudgey’s Column Spring … yeah, right! Well, it certainly hasn’t happened … yet. The North Island is a bit of a mess. In the North, more frost than normal this winter has left large tracts of land yellow. Kikuyu grass certainly doesn’t like frosts! Waikato and surrounding areas are short a nice warm rain, and a few sunny days are well overdue. Our east coast cousins are hanging out for moisture with conditions dry enough and plenty of talk about El Ninõ. One thing’s for sure … we’re tough us ruralbased types … whatever’s dished up, we’ll take it on the chin and make the best of it. Herd of Cows? Well, we certainly have! They just keep coming. Our plant staff have worked 10 hour+ days and weekends almost all year. It’s certainly been a real team effort to process as many as possible. Apologies to those who have had to wait awhile to shift stock, but rest assured we have been running as fast as we can. Looking forward, the next issue around the corner will be USA quota. The team are tracking this on a daily basis and moving product to other markets where possible. As we move forward, we will keep the buying team informed with developments. Now the glass is half full, so the grass will grow one day soon. It looks like the schedule might not get to last season’s dizzying heights, but when spring growth kicks in, weight gains will assist. Hopefully, the Yanks will get hungry for our beef and find some way to take a little more. Who knows? After we starve them from their hamburgers for a couple of months, we might force their hand in December/January. Either way we all know the real value is in the kgs produced ex farm, so feed them well, and I’m sure the cheque from Greenlea will look pretty smart.
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Greenlea’s cow has ‘taken flight’ as part of the Morrinsville Street Art exhibition. Herd of Cows? is a collection of 15 life-size cow sculptures throughout the town showcasing the history and heritage of Morrinsville. The project combines both the strong dairying sector with the town’s growing art culture.
TRAIL MAP Take the journey and discover the trail of stunning cows throughout our vibrant community. Our dream is to put smiles on the faces of young and old who walk the streets of Morrinsville.
Auckland 137 kms
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Discover the unique “Herd of Cows?” and learn about the local businesses and families, who have worked together with our New Zealand artists to create these iconic pieces of art.
Te Aroha 21 kms
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15 Hamilton 33 kms
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Herd of Cows? Morrinsville Street Art Major Sponsor
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8 Matamata 33 kms
Greenlea has recently launched an on-farm quality assurance programme for our prime steer/heifer suppliers. This programme, which is approved by the USDA, will allow us to label our prime products as grass-fed, hormone-, GMOand antibiotic- free. These specific product attributes are gaining in popularity in the US as consumers wish to know more about their food and how it was produced. The trend towards healthier, “organic” and more “natural” food is fuelling the switch to grass-fed beef versus the US grain-fed option. The move towards “antibiotic-free” is the result of increasing public awareness of microbial resistance to commonly used antibiotics. The development of resistance is thought to be due to excessive use of antibiotics in intensively reared livestock such as in US feedlots. If you are interested in being part of this programme, talk to your Greenlea livestock agent.
www.flightforlife.co.nz
“There is no doubt in my mind that without the rescue helicopter, i wouldn’t be here today. To die in front of my kids and be bought back to life... there are no words to explain how grateful i am.”
life-saving rural missions
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Male 56: Tumbled down a steep hillside in from Poihipi Road to Rotorua Hospital.
Phil Horn
Male 20: Rolled a tractor while undertaking farm work east of Tirau. NZ
Waikato Hospital.
Your help SAVES LIVES
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Female 12: Helping to move stock on farm.
Flown from Te Awamutu to Waikato Hospital. Male 50: on Lake Taupo where a 50-year-old male slipped and badly injured his leg. The
to access.
Become a Rural Friend of the Rescue Helicopter and help your local Rescue Helicopter to provide a vital emergency service 24 you might require this life-saving service. Here’s what you get: • A Friends membership for all farm worker households on your property. • in an emergency. • Plus all the other great Friends website
3 easy steps to donate a beast
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Pick up the phone and call your Greenlea agent or the Friends number 0800 11 10 10 and let us know whether you would like to donate a beast or a set dollar value.
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Choose the rescue helicopter you want to donate the funds to. You might live in the Waikato, but want the money to go to the Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter.
Philips Search & Rescue Trust
rescuehelicoptertrust
winter 2015
Discover more at rescue.org.nz
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Greenlea will process your dairy and beef
be forwarded to the rescue helicopter of your choice.
@Rescue_PSRT
0800 11 10 10