David Heath speaks out on the 50,000 head quota

Lucky there are other markets to supply.

Few things that strike me here and the first is the 'shock' by our industry leaders! If memory serves me right, first quarter numbers were just 50,000 head.

Perhaps this was the initial feel of the market by the import ministry authorities; anyway, It was thankfully boosted in the second quarter a couple of times to allow for the Idul Fitri (Lebaran) end of Ramadhan festival on 17th July.

Here we have a similar effect to when when the previous Australian government chose to closed the trade overnight with Indonesia. The reduction of import numbers will impact on Indonesian feedlots post Lebaran.

To cease or reduce production flows will prove expensive. I am not sure what the collective expectations of exporters and importers were for this quarter, but it may have just aimed a little high? Lucky there are other markets to supply. It is unfortunate, to see many political attempts at lame 'point-scoring' on this issue, those comment have no foundation or relevance to the issues of how the Indonesian government operates, I am sure.
Regards David Heath

From the Jakarta Post.

Partogi Pangaribuan, the head of foreign trade at the Indonesian trade ministry, also denied that recent tensions were behind the decision.

"We imported 250,000 in the second quarter and we think that should be enough until August or September and domestic supply is also sufficient," he told AFP.

Under Indonesian law, cattle can only be imported if domestic supply is insufficient, he said, adding that shipments may rise in the fourth quarter. Indonesia has been pushing for several years to achieve self-sufficiency in its beef supply.

- See more at: http://m.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/07/14/indonesia-slashes-cattle-imports-australia.html#sthash.y2GKUPmH.dpuf

David Heath will be keeping M.D.M. Media Digital Marketing informed on cattle prices and news of interest to the Cattle Industry from his base in Bali and Darwin.

The sellers and traders talk of brisk business in the lead to Lebaran on 17 July, so essentially this is the last 'fat market stock' than can arrive in Jakarta before the fast breaking festival.

Bali is a closed island location to all other bovine species, both domestic and imported.
The farmers here have a unique market timing window which they use to perfection.

They have neither heard of, nor care about the delays in issuing permits for imported cattle from central Government in Jakarta.

Bali Cattle Market ((Pasar Beringkit)

Weds 8 July 2015

Tues/ Weds market mostly bulls and or male trade cattle
Sat/ Sun mostly female, weaners, trading stock.

Observed trading of approx 350 head up from 200 on Tues.
Selling system is by one on one barter negotiation.

Pictured are two prime Jakarta bound Bantang

1) Largest branded Bantang -
Est. weight 410 kg
Fetched 38,000 per kg

2) Rear rump view Bantang,
est. wt 375 kgs. Made 37,500 per kg.
Using Aud forex rate as $1/10,000 rupiah
You get returns of both in excess of $1,400 / per head
Yard fee is 15,000 rp/ head ($1.50)
Transaction fee is 40,000 rp/ head ($4)

Road travel is 3 nights, 3 days including 1 ferry sea crossing in the West

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