This is my first letter to the Members since becoming President after the AGM back on December 8th, 2015. Since the AGM your ASA Council members have been in regular contact through phone calls and skype meetings. Our first job was to assign duties to each new Council member as follows:

Peter Rogers – President and Vic Rep.

Alan Penfold – Vice President and WA Rep.

Michael Manley – Treasurer and Qld Rep.

Kathy Gardner – NSW Rep.

Roz Curtis – Website manager and SA Rep.

Updated contact details for ASA Council members are available on the ASA website at:

http://www.salersaustralia.com.au/current-asa-council-members/

This Presidents letter will be emailed to all members and posted on the website.

 

We will have regular 2 monthly Council meetings by skype during 2016, with meetings to be held 8pm Melbourne time on the third Tuesday of every second month. Meeting dates are: February Tuesday 16th, April Tuesday 19th, June Tuesday 21st, August Tuesday 16th, October Tuesday 18th, December Tuesday 13th.

If any ASA member has issues they would like to bring to Council, please contact your State Rep. prior to one of the meeting dates. Some of the issues that your Directors have been working on include:

  • 2016 AGM: Michael Manley has advised that Queensland will host the 2016 AGM of the ASA in Toowoomba on the weekend of 19-20 November 2016, on the occasion of the 31st Anniversary of Salers in Australia. Please reserve the date!
  • Website: Members who check the ASA website will notice a regular stream of new articles and information. This is due to the energy and enthusiasm of Roz who is doing a fantastic job managing content. She is requesting one (1) article from each member per year, which will keep the website alive.  Members can advertise any animals/semen/embryos for sale, as well as post information about their studs. There is no cost to members, all that is required is for you to send the material to Roz to post.
  • ABRI: Renewal of the 2 yearly ABRI data processing and clerical agreement. This includes hosting and managing the Salers Herdbook, registrations and BreedPlan.
  • AI Semen Register: Kathy Gardner is compiling a register of Salers semen held by members that is being used for AI. Please contact Kathy by email or phone if you have sires you would like to add to this register.
  • Budget: Michael Manley is compiling a budget for ASA for 2016.
  • ISF: Alan Penfold is our representative on the International Salers Federation.

 

Finally, to the reason we are all here, our Salers cattle.

While we in West Gippsland and many others have had a tough few months with drought and lack of feed, it looks as though the corner has been turned as far as El Nino is concerned. The silver lining through all this has been the exceptional prices that cattle are fetching. Most breeders know that the increase in prices is long overdue, and it has certainly put a spring in the step of the cattle business, despite the poor season in large parts of the country. Studs are seeing a significant increase in buyer interest, as breeders look to invest in new genetics to maximise returns. Cattle breeders everywhere are looking for bulls, cows and heifers to improve their breeding programs. Repeat bull buyers understand the additional value that hybrid vigour can add, especially with Salers crossed over British breed animals.

Salers are reknown for their calving ease and maternal attributes. From my personal experience, this message has reached the market place, resulting in a strong demand for Salers heifers and cows. Over the past 5 years we have been able to sell every female Salers breeder that we were able to release, as word spreads. A live calf on the ground every year from each breeding female is the single most important factor in making a profit. Salers cows know how to make a profit!

Best wishes to all,

Peter