It was never a big volume market but on a value basis it was one of our biggest.

For many years the market took only grass finished cattle. These were heavy carcases supplied in NSW from abattoirs in the north of the state.

The heavy carcases suited European cross cattle, so many herds from the Hunter north, ran them. European x British steers can be impressive.

About three years ago a grain-fed EU market opened up in Australia.

It looked promising for producers in the south of the state, because there are big feedlots in the Riverina, right in the middle of the cropping land.

Producers became interested in becoming EU accredited, so they could supply EU feeder steers. Many had already geared their business up with feeder steers as their main market.

The logical step was to become EU accredited – the local feedlots promoted it, so their supply was available.

Becoming EU accredited is not difficult. It costs nothing but a bit of time, and the system is relatively easy.

The basis behind supplying the EU is that no cattle treated with Hormonal Growth Promotants can enter the market.

It is an assurance scheme, backed up by the National Livestock Identification System. For many producers, becoming involved in supplying EU feeder steers has been an easy way to value-add to their cattle.

As local feedlots began supplying this market, they offered good money for these steers.

The big feedlots who have traditionally supplied Angus cattle to their buyers as their premium product, have offered more cents per kilogram purchase price to producers supplying such cattle.

As the grain fed EU market developed, feedlots often offered equivalent or more money for EU steers.

Cattle that were their second or third choice often now received the top money.

It was a fantastic offer for breeders of cattle other than Angus.

But things change.

Supply and demand drives market price and this was no different.

We now see one of our major local feedlots starting to grade prices for EU steers on breed content – as they do for their other markets.

The market remains a good one for local feeder steers suppliers, and the current price variation between breeds is small. EU prices are still often significantly better for many cattle than non-EU.

But price offered for any product always indicated the buyer’s preference.