Why all vendors opted for top tier accreditation program for cattle

The once-a-year store cattle sale in Victoria’s North East is targeting a premium market, in an Australian first that could lead to handy returns.

The entire yarding at Corryong’s store sale in Victoria’s North East this week will carry the Immune Ready status in what is believed to be a first in Australia.

The 1100 steers and heifers in Friday’s sale have all undergone a comprehensive vaccination and animal health preparation program, in a move to attract buyers.

And all are being sold with the Immune Ready animal health declaration, a program backed by the Australian Cattle Veterinarians group.

Agent Justin Costello, from Costello Rural at Corryong, said the move was an attempt to seek a premium for the district’s cattle, and to preserve the centre’s once-a-year sale.

“We wanted the opportunity to qualify the cattle for the highest animal health status, which is the Immune Ready program,” Mr Costello said.

“It is about ensuring the cattle have the best chance of performing for the buyers, because their animal health is right.”

Justin Costello from Costello Rural.

There are 30 vendors selling at the sale, and the cost to qualify the cattle was about $26 each.

Mr Costello said everyone agreed to commit to the Immune Ready program and were already seeing the benefits before the sale was held.

“The vendors are seeing less pull outs, so if normally someone is selling 150 weaners, they have to pull out 10 before the sale because of some issue, but they are now down to maybe three,” he said.

“Then there are the benefits seen in any cattle they may retain, like heifers, because all the animal health is right for them too.”

The cattle have all received a range of vaccinations and treatments including for clostridial diseases, pink eye, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and bovine respiratory disease.

Immune Ready pen card which shows the status of cattle.

Mr Costello said the Corryong region knew how important it was to be able to buy cattle that had every chance of doing well.

“We do have breeders in the area but we also buy in a lot of cattle to finish, and so we know what we would like to see in those cattle in terms of immunisations and animal health,” he said.

The whole yarding at Corryong's store sale this week will carry the Immune Ready status.

Mr Costello said the local cattle industry wanted to retain the December store sale in Corryong but knew something had to be done.

“We don’t want to be just the same little store sale and wanted to stand out and be different and for buyers to know they could come to Corryong and buy with confidence,” he said.

“As agents, you have to be relevant and you have to market the cattle the best way you can.”