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Weekly property review: Does leucaena development add value to a property asset?

Despite universal acceptance that it improves production capacity, helps mitigate drought and delivers greater profitability, the jury is still out on whether there is a consistent value trend for land established to the tropical browse legume shrub, leucaena…Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 21/05/2025

Live Export

Indonesia increases 2025 cattle import quota

Indonesia has increased its annual 2025 cattle import quota by 184,000 head, adding to the 350,000 head allocation released at the start of the year…Read More

James Nason, 21/05/2025

News

Hides sales big impact from US/China tariffs, says JBS

Lower demand and price for cattle hides has been one of the immediate impacts from recent tariff changes between the US and China, global meat processing giant JBS told analysts during a first quarter financial briefing last week. ..Read More

Jon Condon, 21/05/2025

Lotfeeding

New crown rot fungicide triggers livestock withholding period warning

Livestock producers are being warned to strictly follow withholding periods for stock feed from crops treated with Victrato to avoid maximum residue levels being exceeded and market access threatened. ..Read More

Lydia Burton, 21/05/2025

Weather

Rain forecast for some dry parts of eastern NSW, Victoria

Rain has been forecast for dry parts of the Riverina, with a system expected to pass through the area before the weekend…Read More

Beef Central, 21/05/2025

News

Two in 10,000: The vital context of animal welfare that the Guardian didn’t include

A recent study from Curtin University and a follow-up article in The Guardian claim that thousands of animals are being euthanised or dying after being transported to Australian export abattoirs, based on welfare reports from 2020/21. They are correct, thousands are being euthanised. This sounds alarming, but let’s take a breather before we ban the industry…Read More

Andrew Whitelaw, Episode 3, 21/05/2025

News

Regional cattle markets: US beef prices forge higher but local cattle markets pressured by supply

South to north cattle movement remains a strong feature in this week’s regional cattle markets wrap from Elders analyst Richard Koch ..Read More

Richard Koch, Elders analyst, 21/05/2025

Production

Pasture dieback encroaches further south, detected in Hunter Valley kikuyu

Pasture dieback has been detected in kikuyu pastures in the Hunter Valley region, having previously only been found in Queensland and northern New South Wales…Read More

Beef Central, 21/05/2025

Markets

Roma sale 20 May 2025: Weaner offloads continue

Guest Author, 21/05/2025

News

Shanghai food trade show’s strong vibe signals busy times for Aussie beef

Jon Condon, 20/05/2025

Processing

Weekly kill: Most grids steady, but supply pressure continues

Jon Condon, 20/05/2025

News

Nationals announce Coalition split, with door still open for an agreement

Beef Central, 20/05/2025

News

Hides values crash, but some offals stronger as trade winds blow

Jon Condon, 20/05/2025

Carbon

Coffey Cattle field day to give insight into growing forestry opportunities

Beef Central, 20/05/2025

Industry Dashboard

Carbon Trading Market

Aust. Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) - $/tonne of CO2 equiv.

Today

35.10

Source: Jarden

$A / $US

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.6424

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

21 May 2025 (updated 10am daily)

Company	Price	Trending
Elders	$8.96
Australian Agricultural Co	$1.52
Graincorp	$7.29
Ridley	$2.12
Woolworths	$36.64
Wellard	$0.06

Source: ASX

Beef Kill

Eastern States, weekly

Last Week

152396

Source: MLA's NLRS

EYCI

Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, c/kg

Today

673.1

Source: MLA's NLRS

90CL Cow

Imported 90CL cow beef price. Landed US, Ac/kg CIF

Today

1039

Source: Steiner Consulting, MLA

Live Export

Live export feeder steer prices ex Darwin (c/kg liveweight)

Today

345

Source: Trade contacts

SOI

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Today

3.10

Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

Feeder Steer

NLRS-reported yards (feedlot buyers only); 0-600kg, 0-2T, c/kg LW

Today

382.9

Source: Feeder Steer

What readers are saying

Mass exodus of southern cattle to Qld for greener pastures

We're located in Southern NSW, North East Victoria. We have been feeding breeders since this time last year. The sale of all our feeder cattle early has helped. Limited rain for....

Graham Star

Vale David Warriner

A great tribute to a great bloke. Thank you James Nason and everyone else who contributed.....

Greg Campbell

Current record global beef prices “just the start of the journey”: Quilty

Thank you for such a comprehensive overview of the cattle industry. Please keep me posted 👍....

Peter Murray

How media often gets it wrong on livestock emissions

Great article on the first scientist I have seen to have publicly complete the carbon cycle. The whole argument has been based on the creation of methane and its....

Simon Gatenby

Hides sales big impact from US/China tariffs, says JBS

Jon Condon, 21/05/2025

Two in 10,000: The vital context of animal welfare that the Guardian didn’t include

Andrew Whitelaw, Episode 3, 21/05/2025

Regional cattle markets: US beef prices forge higher but local cattle markets pressured by supply

South to north cattle movement remains a strong feature in this week’s regional cattle markets wrap from Elders analyst Richard Koch ..Read More

Richard Koch, Elders analyst, 21/05/2025

Shanghai food trade show’s strong vibe signals busy times for Aussie beef

IF the buzz around the SIAL Food Trade Show being staged in Shanghai this morning was anything to go by, Aussie beef is in for a busy time through the remainder of 2025. Momentum has grown in our beef trade into China, with calendar year figures up 27pc on last year – and with Chinese cold storage reserves now seriously depleted, the cheque books are coming out…Read More

Jon Condon, 20/05/2025

Markets

Roma sale 20 May 2025: Weaner offloads continue

With just under 6000 yarded, the laneways were packed with all the regular processors, feedlotters all bidding amongst the action…Read More

Guest Author, 21/05/2025

Wagga sale 19 May 2025: Numbers eased, quality mixed

Weaner steers and heifers returning to the paddock were dearer after falling last week with most of the steers selling between 350c and 432c/kg…Read More

Leann Dax, 20/05/2025

Heifer price lift highlight in 22,112 head AuctionsPlus offering

After two enormous weeks with listings above 26,000 head, numbers softened a little on AuctionsPlus this week. Most young cattle categories showed some rises in c/kg terms – steers somewhat modest, but heifers stronger – while most breeding female categories were also improved, after a couple of tough weeks…Read More

Beef Central, 17/05/2025

Dubbo sale 15 May 2025: Numbers ease 3100

Young cattle to the trade were keenly sought after and finished up to 25c/kg dearer…Read More

David Monk, 16/05/2025

Pasture dieback encroaches further south, detected in Hunter Valley kikuyu

Pasture dieback has been detected in kikuyu pastures in the Hunter Valley region, having previously only been found in Queensland and northern New South Wales…Read More

Beef Central, 21/05/2025

Demand for agistment on the rise, but careful planning needed

The drought in southern states isn’t the only reason agistment demands are high…Read More

Lydia Burton, 19/05/2025

Townsville to host Next Gen ag forum

A Next-Gen ag forum being staged in Townsville in August by the popular podcast, A Place to Call Home will aim to inspire, connect, and empower the next generation of farmers, innovators and industry leaders…Read More

Beef Central, 19/05/2025

Processing

Weekly kill: Most grids steady, but supply pressure continues

There’s been only a few changes in direct consignment slaughter cattle pricing over the past week, following a series of earlier downward corrections. Heavy supply continues to dominate discussions, with most Queensland and some southern export processors now booked well into June, and even into July in some regions…Read More

Jon Condon, 20/05/2025

Casino completes historic transition from Co-op processor to corporate structure

Ninety two years after the business was established as a cattle producer-owned cooperative, the Northern Cooperative Meat Co near Casino in northern NSW has competed its transition into becoming an unlisted public company…Read More

Beef Central, 16/05/2025

Meat Business Women set for engaging Brisbane conference tomorrow

The 2025 Meat Business Women conference kicks off in Brisbane tomorrow, having been postponed from its early March slot due to flooding in southeast Queensland…Read More

Beef Central, 14/05/2025

Weekly kill: Heavy supply momentum grows, pressuring grids

As direct consignment slaughter cattle bookings continue to extend under heavy supply, many export processors are now offering space bookings only for slaughter stock, with prices to be negotiated closer to processing date. It makes over-the-hooks pricing a little harder to pin down, as plants extend space bookings into even July in some cases…Read More

Beef Central, 13/05/2025

Lotfeeding

New crown rot fungicide triggers livestock withholding period warning

Lydia Burton, 21/05/2025

Feedgrain Focus: White grain rallies as drought demand intensifies

Local demand for wheat and barley has lifted values this week as soaking rain continues to elude the forecast for south-eastern Australia…Read More

Liz Wells, 19/05/2025

Record feedlot numbers stalk 1.5 million head milestone

The grainfed beef industry has gone within a whisker of topping 1.5 million head on feed for the first time, with March quarter cattle on feed numbers released this morning. The official number at the end of March was 1.497m head, setting a new industry record. Southern drought, and strong international grainfed demand in the face of lower US supply are factors…Read More

Beef Central, 15/05/2025

Feeder cattle market: Southern dry pushing numbers forward

The southern dry is influencing feeder cattle trade dynamics this month as another delayed autumn break forces more producers to offload ahead of winter…Read More

James Nason, 12/05/2025

Live Export

Indonesia increases 2025 cattle import quota

Indonesia has increased its annual 2025 cattle import quota by 184,000 head, adding to the 350,000 head allocation released at the start of the year…Read More

James Nason, 21/05/2025

SE Asia Report: Indonesia’s Eid Adha beef demand rises, as Prabowo pushes for import quota removal

Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto’s plan to scrap import quotas sparks debate amid local farmer concerns and possible market shifts | Eid al-Adha drives broad-based live cattle demand in Indonesia | Philippine livestock sector sees steady prices while the ASF vaccination programme expands to curb outbreaks..Read More

Dr Michael Patching, 14/05/2025

Cattle exports surpass 80,000 head in April

Cattle export volumes from Australia in April surged to the highest monthly total of the year to date, but notably no shipments were sent to the second largest market of Vietnam during the month…Read More

Beef Central, 09/05/2025

Mexico certifies arrival of more than 8000 Australian cattle since March

Agricultura, Mexico’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has confirmed it has received a second shipment of Australian live cattle for genetic improvement, bringing to 8014 the number of Holstein dairy cows imported since March…Read More

Beef Central, 07/05/2025

Trade

NFF supports an EU trade deal, but not at any price

Australia’s peak farmer body has offered qualified support for the resumption of free trade agreement talks with the European Union…Read More

Beef Central, 19/05/2025

Woolworths cuts prices on 400 ‘essentials’, but red meat barely represented

National supermarket retailer Woolworths has lowered prices on 400 ‘essential and favourite’ items from today, effective until the end of the year. The discounts come after both major supermarket retailers were accused of price gouging, manipulating suppliers and working against the expansion interests of other retailers via inquiries conducted by ACCC and other groups…Read More

Jon Condon, 14/05/2025

Crossbred Wagyu entry tops Brisbane branded beef competition

A crossbred Wagyu entry displaying abundant marbling and exceptional eating quality has claimed the Royal Queensland Show 2025 branded beef competition. ..Read More

Beef Central, 08/05/2025

Domestic wholesale beef market: High prices meet softening pre-winter demand – something’s gotta give

Domestic red meat wholesalers are facing challenges in the post-Federal Election period, with high commodity prices at a time when pre-winter beef demand is in seasonal decline…Read More

Jon Condon, 07/05/2025

Genetics

Feed efficiency part of breeding the ‘ideal cow’

Matching cows to the environment and production system was the key message from United States animal scientist Professor Dan Shike during a session exploring the topic of “What’s the Ideal Cow?” during the World Angus Expo in Tamworth on the weekend. He identified feed efficiency as a future selection target ..Read More

Brett Tindal, 06/05/2025

Leveraging genetic innovation driving smaller US beef herd

The links between how history has created where we started, how technology has driven where the beef industry is currently at, and how genetic opportunity will drive where the industry goes next was explored during the World Angus Forum in Tamworth on the weekend…Read More

Brett Tindal, 05/05/2025

Angus genetics driving brand transformation at JBS

The demand for highly consistent quality beef, backed by a provenance story and a validation of what a customer is eating and consistently enjoys has been the major driver for JBS Australia’s Southern grassfed operations transitioning to predominantly an Angus breed base, delegates attending the World Angus Forum on the weekend heard…Read More

Brett Tindal, 05/05/2025

SA Wagyu pioneer earns Life Membership

The Australian Wagyu Association has bestowed its highest honour – the Honorary Life Membership Award – on industry innovator, leader and visionary, Scott de Bruin. The prestigious accolade was announced..Read More

Beef Central, 02/05/2025

Ag Tech

SA producers still blocked from proven technology as NSW green lights virtual fencing

Livestock SA is calling on the South Australian Government to urgently reform outdated regulations that continue to block livestock producers from using virtual fencing, as New South Wales becomes the latest state to legalise the technology…Read More

Beef Central, 02/05/2025

AgTech success story as Optiweigh delivers 1000th in-paddock weighing unit

One of Australia’s agtech success stories has crossed a significant milestone, with the delivery of the 1000th Optiweigh unit to one of the company’s early adopters…Read More

Eric Barker, 30/01/2025

Scholarship to help keep Luke on the land after life-altering car crash

A North Queensland cattleman who became a quadraplegic after a car crash has received a bursary to become a drone pilot, to assist with work on his family’s cattle property…Read More

Beef Central, 29/01/2025

Green ammonia – Are we overlooking the opportunity for the livestock sector?

What if protein was no longer a limiting factor in our northern beef systems? Qld beef industry RD&E professional Dr Lindsey Perry looks at how small-scale, on-farm ‘green’ ammonia technologies could provide localised systems to potentially fill the protein gap in future…Read More

Lindsey Perry, 20/12/2024

AgProperty Central

Weekly property review: Does leucaena development add value to a property asset?

Property editor Linda Rowley, 21/05/2025

WA’s Lake Shaster aggregation could make @ $95m

Arkle Farm’s Paul and Deidre Cowan, private high net wealth Australians living in Switzerland, have listed their large-scale, mixed cropping and grazing opportunity in Western Australia’s highly regarded South Coast region with hopes of raising around $95 million…Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 16/05/2025

Palgrove lists properties as part of strategic refocus

Palgrove is placing two of its Queensland properties on the market as part of a strategic refocus aimed at doubling the scale of its commercial breeding herd to approximately 6,000 cows and strengthening its position as a leader in high-performance beef genetics…Read More

Beef Central, 15/05/2025