mirabelle

These are some photos sent to me by my dear friend. They are taken at a cattle station about 100 miles north of where we used to live (yes it was in the middle of nowhere)
Some interesting statistics
There are 17 road trains (trucks) with 3 trailers and 2 decks per trailer
There are a total of 102 decks and approximately 28 cattle per deck, total 2,856
Each trailer has 24 tyres plus a dolly with 8 tyres
For the 72 truck/trailer combos there are 6,192 tyres on the road

I used to drive our highway and have to pass these mammoth road trains, they are not called trucks in the Northern Territory and this is the only place in Australia where you will see them

JeanieG

Oh my Mirabelle, those are amazing photos! Thanks so much for sharing!

QuiltingNinaSue

Thanks for sharing the pictures. Wow, what a sight to our eyes. 'Eye' Candy for trail riders.

oksewglad

Wow, here too. All I can think of is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...dInEV3CS4&NR=1

dublb

Mirabelle-Those are neat pictures! Wow! 3 trailers each. That's a lot of beef!
Ok-That's so funny! My DSon couldn't figure out what I was laughing at, 'cause I just burst out laughin'.

mirabelle

A few more statistics for you to ponder
Each head of cattle weigh approx 1102 lbs
The sale price is approx 75c per lb
Each animal will therefore be sold for approx $825
Total revenue from this is approx $2,356,200

Remembering that cattle stations in the Northern Territory are larger than some European countries, it is just wide open country out there.

This cattle station is called Helen Springs Station and the Managers wife used to travel into town every month to take classes with our patchwork group. They have since moved interstate to manage other properties.

QuiltingNinaSue

Independent farmer here wants about $335 per quarter of a beef. Quite a difference in price for local USA meat compared with the price there.

gardnergal970

I just looked at the cattle prices for last week and they would average about $1/lb. With corn and beans at the prices they are, the growers don't have much margin. Mirabelle, are all these cattle in feedlots or do they graze on the range? Sure a lot of them in one place. How many times a year do they have these caravans?

oksewglad

How big is the quarter? Is that a processed price or does one pay the locker processing on top of that> We just sold a few steers "grade and yield" for 1.68/# dressed weight. Haven't gotten the check yet to see what weight they dressed out at.

QuiltingNinaSue

I think its corn feed steers and that is with processing, wrapped and frozen; twice as much for a half, four times the price for a whole beef. His Mother (also neighbor) quoted me that price for a 'mixed' quarter balanced with what would be in a half or whole steer processed and wrapped.