Yabby, your comment
Fact is that live exports don't affect what is in the Coles or
Woolies meat counter, as Aussies hardly eat mutton, unless its
ground up in their pies or sausage rolls etc.

As for your comment on local butchers being stuck with suppliers due to logistical reasons, well I am sorry but this is simply not true.

We as retail butchers have access to meat from every part of the country it is just that some butchers can’t think outside the square so as to say.

Just for the record 30 years ago when I started as an apprentice rump steak was $8.00 per kilo. Today $19.00 per kilo. Really should be around $65.00 per kilo given how much a loaf of bread has gone up.

A small tip.
If the dollar drops below 80c US meat prices will soar. The latest mail is that prices are about to fall quite sharply so be on the lookout for this.
Cheers

rehctub would you agree generally meat is not in short supplie?
Our meat export trade started a long time ago with cracker cows exported as hamburger meat to the USA.
We need to export that 85% because we few can not eat it.
It could be said why not let other country's have that market but do we then survive as a farming country?
Yes if prices doubled as a result of our dollar or too much exporting we would still not be paying a great deal more in todays dollar values than those I quoted.
A local butcher, in country NSW who knows you is better value you just can not beat that personal link.
He can not compete with Cole's ext specials but quality is better.
Cole's sausages are about as good as eating dirt, and I wounder how long it will be before they sell pre packed tail tags.
Yabby however has in my view it right meat exports live or chilled are going to continue and are no threat to consumers

Belly

The last time you gave your opinion it was to complain about those dreadful people following you into the thread title Kevin Rudd and Trade in China.

You stood on your dig. You wanted to know just what Kevin Rudd; Trade, China had to do with live exports.

Enough said about your knowledge on the meat trade dead or alive.

Australia actually gives more funding to overseas than Australia for meat projects and plants here in Oz

For example in the last labor Government era a bloke tries to buy meat works but he was a tad short. So he asks regional development for $500.00 has the rest himself so not big loan.

Gov say no. No funds available. Three weeks later they hand over 40 million for the same plants to a Japanese owned company.
Now before you ask yes this does effect the price of meat and the preferences given of supply.

If you want good Ausue meat you will have to go to Japan or elsewhere. In twenty years time we are heading for a world food shortage anyway.

If you don’t think the UN by that time are not going to try to have Australia tagged war criminals and put sanctions on our food being deliver your not clued.

Now considering where we are from the rest of the world and the lack of plants clearly its only going to get worse much worse.

The fact meat is getting harder to buy because of high demand and we are up against the prices in Asia.

The demand for more meat in ME and Asia is pushing up the price here and many people can’t afford meat now let alone down the track.

Almost 16% rise already as I said.
I buy meat for a cousin who is on a pension. I buy it bulk and she freezes it every six month os so.
If I didn’t there is no way she would have meat. She simply could not afford it. It’s only going to get worse.

"Others too but my lips are sealed, the current campaign against long distance travel for live exports seems to be interesting.
More information any one?" (Belly)

Happy to oblige Belly:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/news/exposed-the-long-cruel-road-to-the-slaughterhouse-781364.html

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/20/2168168.htm

http://www.abc.net.au/rural/nsw/content/2006/s2159572.htm

http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/200803/s2181978.htm

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/bribe-claim-rocks-wool-trade-body/2008/03/07/1204780065920.html

Looks like merino meat could be a real bargain this year eh?

http://www.liveexportshame.com/news2/index.php?topic=4185.0

Thanks dickie I do think the animals Australia campaign is well run, but like most Australians am not convinced.
I understand it is cruel , but questions exist.
In debating this issue may I say the opinions of those who are not yet on one side or the other are valid?
That it is unlikely we can be pushed and shoved into sharing others ideas and thoughts?
In trying to get support for any issue , any you can name rational discussions do more good than insisting others should think as we do.
I will not give in to the view meat exports live or chilled are going to kill my weekend Bar B Q's.
In truth cost seems more related to drought than exports surely for all Australian farm products?
dickie in your view what percentage of the meat we produce in Australia is eaten here?

A lot is said about the pros & cons about meat exports, both live and dead.

The truth is that these are purpose bread animals (sheep I am referring to) and are in large bread to meet the market demands. They are not wild beasts that we captured.

I for one do not support live export, not on grounds of cruelty because believe me, (if you think we are cruel what do you think happens to the animals at their place of destination), but for the reason that there are so many local jobs lost through this practice.

Furthermore, it is our 'poor bleeding heart farmers' that are to blame because after all it is they who chase the easy export dollars by exporting live.

Another myth is the one that we only get the leftovers. Just not true.

Sure we export a small amount, in relative terms, to Korea and Japan but the bulk of our exports go to the US for their hamburger trade.

Another tip.
Try to buy Tasmanian meats, they are expensive but also hormone and steroid free due to legislation.