TWO HUNDRED pregnacy-tested-in-calf Brahman stud heifers will be flown to Indonesia in a landmark deal between the Indonesian government and Brisbane-based exporter Lembiru Livestock Pty Ltd.
The elite heifers, which had to be registered with a respective breed society and less than six months in calf, have been selected from Reg Underwood's Bunda Station in the Northern Territory's Victoria River District, 600 kilometres west of Katherine.
Lembiru Livestock's Angus Grieve and Adam Armstrong, together with the manager of the Indonesian Government-owned Sembawa Farm in Sumatra and several Indonesian government officials, travelled to Bunda Station to select the heifers required for the tender several weeks ago.
Bunda Brahman Stud is well-known for its superior quality Brahman cattle and its ability to effectively service the live export market.
Following their selection, the heifers will spend a period of time in quarantine in Katherine, at Phoenix Park Cattle Transit Centre. The heifers will travel to Darwin by road transport than be airlifted from Darwin to Indonesia.
Mr Grieve said the export of the heifers further demonstrated that local cattle suppliers had the ability to harness live export opportunities and that with continuing support from the NT Government were well poised to continue consignments to Asia.
Mr Grieve said the shorter transport time of the airfreight consignment, compared to sea freight, would minimise stress on the cattle.
Bunda Brahman Stud manager Brenton McCarthy will oversee the airfreight consignment of the heifers before spending several days at Sembawa Farm to help them acclimatise.
Lembiru Livestock and Bunda Brahman Stud representatives said the support and assistance provided by the NT Government to facilitate the airfreight consignment was invaluable.
The airfreight deal comes just weeks after NT Primary Industries Minister Willem Westra van Holthe visited Indonesia in a bid to reinvigorate the live export trade and open more dialogue with government officials.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott was also in the archipelago this week where live cattle exports formed a large part of his talks with the Indonesian president and other key decision makers.
"It is great to have strong and active support from a government in an environment that has been tough for the live export industry in recent times," Mr Grieve said.
He said the deal highlighted the valuable and sustained efforts of all parties involved to continue the Territory's live cattle export trade to Indonesia.
