Friday, 27 November 2015 15:01

Cows fly to their death

Written by Rural News Group

font size decrease font size increase font size

Some Australian cows are taking 13-hour flights to China before ending up on a plate.

Chinese demand for beef, which used to be called 'millionaire's meat', has grown fourfold since 2000, putting beef prices there among the most expensive in the world. Hence Elders' decision to fly the cows and milk the fresh beef market for all it's worth.

Crated and loaded onto the main deck of a Boeing 747 cargo plane by hydraulic lift, the 150 beasts this month were on Australia's first live flight to central China. Destination: the abattoir.

More like this

Editorial: Taming Trump

OPINION: The world is bracing for a trade war between the two biggest economies.

World Butchers' Challenge captains go head-to-head before competition

Ahead of the World Butchers' Challenge, the captains of 14 nations’ teams squared off in Paris over the weekend.

New Zealand primary exporters urged to stay nimble

Be ready to be nimble. That's the message to New Zealand primary exporters from international trade expert, company director and farmer Mike Petersen.

House in order?

OPINION: Your old mate reckons a wake-up call is overdue for the platoons of non-productive (and now unemployed) bureaucrats, researchers and various other bludgers whingeing about the current government putting out the bonfire of taxpayer money that burned so brightly in recent years.

NZ-China trade under strain?

The world is now amid potentially one of the most disruptive periods in world trade for a very long time.

Featured

Avian flu poses top biosecurity threat to NZ, says Hoggard

Avian flu getting into New Zealand's poultry industry is the biosecurity threat that is most worrying for Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard.

Government mandate to double NZ wool use, says Wool Impact CEO

The annual domestic utilisation of wool will double to 30,000 tonnes because of the edict that government agencies should use woollen fibre products in the construction of new and refurbished buildings.

Gongs for best field days site

Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.

Feed help supplements Canterbury farmers meet protein goals

Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.

South Island rural property market gains momentum amid strong milk price outlook

Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.

Holstein Friesian NZ: Young breeders begin development journey

The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.

National

Co-existence with genetic modification 'possible'

Co-existence of genetically modified (GM) and non-GM plants in New Zealand industries will be challenging, but is achievable, a review…

Finalists named for Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year

Three farmers making contributions to the wider dairy sector have been chosen as this year’s finalists for the prestigious Fonterra…

Lame stories from a country vet

Everyone from experienced veterinarians and young professionals to the Wormwise programme and outstanding clinics have been recognised in this year’s…

Keeping cyber attacks at bay

Fonterra says it takes the ongoing threat of 'adverse cyber action' extremely seriously.

New associate director for DairyNZ

After 20 years of milking cows, Northland farmer Greg Collins is ready to step into the governance side of dairy.

Machinery & Products

Claas technology boosts silage efficiency with Perfect Partners system

Silage making is both a science and an art, but Claas says it offers onboard technology featured in its Claas…

JCB expands new Texas factory after US tariff hike

Since Donald Trump’s import tariff announcement, the world has been on a wild economic ride.

Amazone extends hoe range

With many European manufacturers releasing mechanical weeding systems to counter the backlash around the use and possible banning of agrochemicals,…

Gong for NH dealers

New Holland dealers from around Australia and New Zealand came together last month for the Dealer of the Year Awards,…

A true Kiwi ingenuity

The King Cobra raingun continues to have a huge following in the New Zealand market and is also exported to…