Thickshake

May 28th 2012

          Well this morning started off with breakfast as usual. We finally have free wifi for one more night at our hotel.
          We then headed to the Wagga Wagga Livestock Marketing Center. It was operated by the Wagga Wagga City Council and started in 1979. They have weekly sales and sell about 500 cattle per hour. They also sell sheep and lambs. Their way of auctioning seems to be more efficient then ours. They bring the cattle to the front in holding pens. Then they have two different alleys where the cattle come into the auction floor at the same time. One set is auctioned off and then the next. Both sets leave down the same ally and are sent off to their buyers pen. Majority of their gates in the arena were hydraulic so there was just a person sitting in the office controlling that. Then there wasn't an extra person on the floor. Instead of the normal auctioneer chant, the auctioneer yelled the whole time. There wasn't any ring to it and he beat a wooden stick after each group of cattle were sold.
          Next we headed to Cargill Abattoir now owned in partnership Teys. Their plant was more of an American style harvest operation. This was the first facility we've seen that has harvested grain fed beef. We got to see how they harvested the different cuts like the tongue, tail, and the omassum. They said people separate the omassum and fry it. Sounds terrible to me! I know what it's used for and it does not sound appetizing.
          After that we had lunch in a small town of Temora. Then we had a little free time to roam around town. We found a little soda shop and we got milkshakes. Well actually if you want an American milk shake you would ask for a thickshake. Otherwise you would just be getting milk with a little flavoring slightly shaken. But my Carmel thickshake was delicious.
          Next we headed to Jindalee Feedlot who is owned by Cargill and Teys. All of the cattle their were owned by them. They had the cattle on 100 day programs. Some of the things they were fed were steamed flaked wheat, cotton seed, cotton seed hulls, and hay.

         Now we are waiting to go to supper. Until next time!

Elizabeth