THE Pilbara has stepped up to fill the needs of Indonesian beef consumers with Livestock Shipping Services exporting the first of what is hoped to be many more consignments of pastoral cattle from Port Hedland.
Due to the extensive flooding in Queensland – which has taken the lives of about 300,000 cattle – exporters have looked west to source much needed stock at short notice.
The shipment of 3550 head from Pardoo and Wallal stations left Port Hedland last week for the port of Jakarta, in Indonesia, on the Gudali Express – the first voyage since last season and only the fourth since 2017.
The Gudali Express arrived, was loaded and departed within 24 hours.
Hedland Export Depot manager Paul Brown said it was heart-wrenching to see what had occurred in Queensland with the drought and then the flooding, but it gave WA the opportunity to show that the trade was flexible and resilient.
Mr Brown said the depot, which was registered for 1906 cattle during the summer season only, had to be audited by the Federal Agriculture Department before it could be permitted to hold so many cattle at once.
He said the department auditor approved it for 4420 head all-year because it had the capacity with sufficient water, fodder and space without having to build any new infrastructure.
Mr Brown praised the efforts of all involved in the process of preparing for the voyage.
“It was a welcome phone call but threw us a bit of a curve ball because we hadn’t been thinking about it,” he said.
“We had to make sure we had the 90 tonnes of fodder and the hay”, as well as ensuring the yard registration was up to date to cater for the increased capacity.
“It’s indicative of the industry, when there’s a tragedy we all pitch in,’’ he said.
“It’s also an opportunity for us to export 3550 cattle outside the normal season.
“It shows that the Pilbara can do shipments outside the conventional time frame – it also puts the focus on the Pilbara and Port Hedland.”
There has been talk in the north about an early mustering season this year due to the dry weather conditions.
Pastoralists could use the opportunity provided by more export vessels to destock and take pressure off their systems in order to manage the herd and the land until the rains come.
Mr Brown said the early muster couldn’t come soon enough.
“We would love to see a continuous supply of ships but it is up to pastoralists,” he said.
Mr Brown said pastoralists have had a poor wet season so far and could utilise the opportunity to make more money by not having to truck cattle to Fremantle.
“The quality of the cattle in the Pilbara is exceptional,” he said
“The pastoral industry is a multi-million dollar industry that has invested in its future and I’d like to see them benefit from exports out of Port Hedland.”
Port Hedland is the biggest bulk export port in the world and has the capacity to cater for live export vessels any time of the year.
Pilbara Ports Authority live export manager Jon Giles said 22,000 head of cattle went through the port before 2011 and it could be done again.
“We can do it – even at short notice,” Mr Giles said.
“It’s got to be a benefit for everybody not having to travel a long journey and also financially, for getting them quickly and safely in and out of the port.”
While exporters have been encouraged to utilise the port there are no other scheduled vessels to date.
