The first prime cattle sale under the new roof at Casino took place yesterday with everybody keen to see how the new selling conditions performed.
Other than the usual teething problems, vendors and auctioneers were pleased with this first stage of the $14 million re-build for what has become the principal selling centre on the North Coast.
Myall Creek Angus breeder Terrence “Taffy” Jones said the difference between old and new was obvious from the get go, with calves and steers “managing exceptionally well”. “I’ve never seen cattle so contented,” he said.
Former Casino saleyards manager Doug Scott witnessed the opening day of the “new” Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange (NRLX) in 1983, at a 10th of the current rebuild, and commented the new look will be “good when it’s finished”.
“My only concern is that the cost to the producers doesn’t rise so much that they are tempted to sell to the abattoirs direct, which will only put greater pressure on the council to increase prices again,” he said.
Livestock transporter Gordon Clark said he was more worried about the sawdust soft floor and its potential to hold bacteria and disease, such as Johne's disease, over its year-long lifespan.
“Sawdust might work at Dalby where the cattle are trucked in from four hours away and are empty on arrival,” he noted. “But here on the coast the cattle are only coming from half an hour away.”
Richmond Valley Council project managers Brad Birney and Ben Zeller allayed those fears saying the sawdust floor was “industry standard” and had proven itself as viable. The pine sawdust, trucked to Casino from Sawtell, would be aerated with a rotary hoe once a fortnight, using similar practice to that adopted by the intensive chicken industry, and there was evidence that urine would kill lurking bacteria.
When it comes to cost Casino was currently at the lower end of the ladder at $10.75 a head plus agents fees and while the council continues to maintain the facility as a “break-even” enterprise, there is no reason why prices would escalate. “There will be a price review every year,” said Mr Birney.
Meanwhile, it appears the combined agents and the council have come to agreement on the future, with an acceptance of the new annual fee of $10,500 for each of the five agents involved – T&W McCormack, Ramsey and Bulmer, Ian Weir and Son, George and Fuhrmann and Ray White Rural.
New president of the combined association, David O’Reilly, said the new facility was “fantastic”.
More to come
There is more to come with the new-look Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange.
Another $7 million will be spent covering the remainder of the saleyards, renewing pens, improving the weigh bridge station and cattle dip.
Richmond Valley council project officer Brad Birney said the transformation of the 35-year-old facility was only possible because of the combined generosity of both Federal and State Governments.
“The previous saleyards made no money for the council,” he said, adding that the investment was for the good of the community economy.
Future works may include internet connectivity, but there were issues with how best to present that on-line information.