HEREFORD beef producers can look forward to more marketing options in the near future, with multiple overseas markets in demand for quality Australian produce.
In the competitive beef market, the Hereford breed has maintained popularity through it's quality characteristics and suitability to numerous market programs offered by some of the Nation's largest feedlots.
NH Foods - Whyalla Beef, requires about 6000 head per week (h/w) to fill their multiple contracts, which supplies the expanding European and Asian markets.
Whyalla Beef, national livestock manager Greg Krarup said Whyalla Beef procure this amount of cattle for either back-grounding operations or direct into feedlot programs.
"All steers are purchased direct from the producer out of the paddock and into the feedlots," Mr Krarup said.
"Cattle purchased by Whyalla Beef, are company owned and fed for a specific market and brand," he said.
Hereford producers have access to the growing EU Hereford Reserve Program, which requires 160 steers per week, after originally only needing 40 h/w in its early beginnings.
With interest predominately coming from France and Belgium, this premium market for producers is gaining momentum in other European countries as the brand becomes more widely known.
"Herefords are a well-recognised breed around the world and customers are aware of the brands associated with the breed," Mr Krarup said.
"We can see the demand for Hereford steers growing; customers are looking for recognised Brands with breed specific programs," he said.
The dynamic breed also suits the EU British Breed Program, where cattle are destined for interested European countries.
Mr Krarup said Whyalla Beef offer the Non EU British Breeds only program as a third market, where cattle are fed for 150 days with produce mostly destined for Japan.
"For us to maintain our market share it's all based on quality; for producers to maintain a good price in the market it's based on their quality, so it's simple, to satisfy our customers we need a quality steer to produce a quality product," he said.
Recently, Australia’s largest live cattle exporter, Wellard, announced Hereford producers now have a Middle Eastern market available.
Wellard chief operating officer Scott Braithwaite said buyers in the Middle East are prepared to pay a significant premium to reward producers who are prepared to keep their bulls uncastrated.
