Cape York has the potential to support two live export cattle shipments a year, the company behind the first consigment to leave Weipa in seven years believes.
Brisbane-based company Austrex, a global livestock exporter, sent 1900 head of cattle on the Ganado Express, three weeks ago.
Chief operating officer James Leftwich said while the exercise had challenges, it proved to Cape York cattle producers that live export was a viable marketing option.
“We can see Weipa sending one or two boats per year, small to medium capacity, around 3000 head,” Mr Leftwich said.
“Weipa presents an opportunity to support the current model we have created for Austrex which is supply based diversified markets along with our other centres at Broome, Townsville and Geraldton.
“It provides options for various cattle categories to match requirements of customers.
“I hope producers can can see there are live export options as well as inland movements.”
Mr Leftwich said discussions to send the boat started earlier this year.
“Given the mix of cattle and our diverse mix of markets and customers we knew there was a match,” Mr Leftwich said.
“Our concern was there had been boats before but they were years ago.
“There is a certain challenge in operating out of there due to the isolation and road access but as we said to producers this is a platform for the future.”
The journey to the first live export consignment in almost a decade was far from plain sailing.
The ship was caught in the recent drama where Indonesian reportedly abolished its quota system for live cattle, forcing the Ganado Express to wait offshore for two weeks before a permit was secured.
“It certainly wasn’t a vanilla exercise,” Mr Leftwich said.
“Financially it wasn’t a great outcome for us. There was a significant number of cattle that came from the northern gulf and southern parts of the Cape.
“We were late in the season and the first and second round musters had already taken place.
“But it wasn’t just a numbers game for us.
"The current economics of the live export trade at the moment means most exporters would be running at a loss, that’s just the fundamentals of the current cycle.”
Mr Leftwich said when the ship sailed there was immense relief and great deal of pride.
“Throughout the process a lot of people said it can’t be done but we made a commitment and saw that commitment through,” Mr Leftwich said.
“I need to acknowledge Libby Thomson, our northern operations manager, who was instrumental in making sure everything runs smoothly and Steve Grose, Queensland livestock buyer who spent a considerable amount of time with producers.
“We didn’t like how long the process ran but it did give Libby and Steve an opportunity work hand in hand with producers.”
Mr Leftwich also praised the Cape York Peninsula Live Export Group.
“Don’t underestimate the resource you have in CYPLEG,” he said.
“It’s a matter of now of sitting down and getting producers to understand export, and making sure they have a handle on what cattle is required.
“This highlighted to producers that there is some marketing options for cattle but because of the isolation there is a need to band together in order to make sure this works.”
Mr Leftwich said he hoped Cape York producers could gain “confidence” from the shipment.
