AS the demand for red meat grows internationally and domestically Livestock Shipping Services (LSS) and its processing arm, Hillside Meat Processors are seeing a growing demand for livestock.
And to meet this growing demand, the company has put on a new sheep buyer.
Former Elders Williams agent Mark Mahney has taken on the new role and officially joined the team last week.
Working mainly as head livestock buyer for Hillside, Mr Mahney will remain based at Williams.
LSS sheep livestock manager Dean Hubbard said the addition of Mr Mahney to the team came as both divisions of the group were expanding.
"The addition of Mark to the team has given us an ability to have a focussed approach for both the LSS and Hillside buying," he said.
"Mr Mahney's prime responsibility is to oversee the continuous and ongoing supply of quality lamb for our Hillside facility."
Over the next two weeks Mr Mahney will shadow LSS buyer Chris Medcalf at both the Muchea Livestock Centre and Katanning trade sales and will then commence buying for Hillside and LSS at the weekly Muchea sale.
Originally a sheep producer from rural Victoria, Mr Mahney moved to WA in 1988.
"I have been an agent for over 20 years here in WA," Mr Mahney said.
"I have worked as an agent for Elders based in Williams for the last 13 years, and prior to that I had stints in Katanning, Mingenew, Merredin and Southern Cross.
"I have worked in the industry for a while, so there are not many people that I don't know, or know of."
According to Meat and Livestock, the Australian beef export record was broken for three consecutive years in 2014.
Beef shipments for 2014 totalled 1.29 million tonnes swt, a staggering 17 per cent above the previous high recorded just 12 months ago.
Australian lamb exports also hit new highs in 2014, surpassing the previous year's record by 23,193 tonnes swt, at 236,908 tonnes swt, increasing 11pc.
Jacinta Bolsenbroek
Senior journalist at Farm Weekly.
Senior journalist at Farm Weekly.
