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Weekly genetics review: Herd reduction doesn’t necessarily mean cheaper bulls

This week’s genetics review considers the recent seasonal conditions across northern NSW and southern Queensland and whether widespread herd reductions are likely to influence demand for bulls this spring. Rather than assuming weaker demand, it explores why quality genetics may remain strongly sought after despite smaller breeding herds..Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 14/07/2026

Genetics

What bull sale statistics don’t tell us

This article looks beyond average prices and clearance rates to consider what sale results can and can’t tell us about the genetic value ultimately flowing into commercial herds, exploring the limitations of using sale-day figures as a measure of long-term genetic impact…Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 14/07/2026

Processing

Weekly kill: Mild winter holding back meatworks cattle, but a mini-surge looks likely

Every second conversation in the cattle industry this month seems to remark on the mildness of winter conditions this year, with many susceptible cattle areas yet to see a frost. The effect, in some cases, has been to push cattle processing commitments back, as cattle continue to gain weight at a time that they would normally be starting to slip…Read More

Jon Condon, 14/07/2026

News

EU strategy shows shift in approach to livestock, industry still cautious

A recently released strategy recognising livestock as “critical infrastructure” in the European Union has been lauded as a major shift in the continent’s approach to agriculture – after a decade of largely looking at livestock as a source of emissions…Read More

Eric Barker, 14/07/2026

Trade

Booming slow-cook BBQ movement explores fusion, secondary cuts

Some of the world’s most acclaimed competition BBQ chefs gathered in Brisbane for a Low & Slow BBQ festival on the weekend, attracting around 8000 meat-loving patrons. The talent on hand provided the perfect opportunity to get a handle on where the American BBQ movement is heading and what’s new…Read More

Jon Condon, 14/07/2026

Production

NSW sees large increase in cattle tick fever vaccine orders after a rise in outbreaks

Figures from the Queensland DPI show there has been a significant increase in the amount of cattle tick fever vaccine sold to New South Wales in the last 12 months. ..Read More

Lydia Burton, 14/07/2026

News

Southern producers get their say on cattle transaction levy review

Southern Australian cattle producers will get their first chance to participate in the Cattle Transaction Levy Review, with a series of face-to-face consultation meetings happening later this month…Read More

Beef Central, 14/07/2026

Carcase weight still pays: Raff Angus 2026 Sale – bulls with a difference in a heavily saturated market……

With the heavy emphasis given to meat quality and MSA index traits in genetics assessment, it’s sometimes easy to overlook the contribution that carcase weight plays in optimising revenue in the beef industry. In today’s heavily saturated bull market, we believe that Raff Angus maintains its unique point of difference…Read More

Weekly rainfall update + rainfall outlook 13 July 2026

Bureau of Meteorology, 14/07/2026

Processing

Value adding hides: bovine hair an underutilised source of keratin

Beef Central, 14/07/2026

Markets

Gunnedah 14 July 2026: Yarding rises to 2100,

Beef Central, 14/07/2026

Lotfeeding

Consistency – not maximum growth – key to feedlot success, producers told

James Nason, 13/07/2026

News

New Environmental Protection Agency bosses head to Central Qld cattle country

Beef Central, 13/07/2026

News

Wellness trends open doors for red meat producers

Beef Central, 13/07/2026

Industry Dashboard

Carbon Trading Market

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

Today

37.85

Source: Jarden

$A / $US

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.6914

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

15 Jul 2026 (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

146985

Source: MLA's NLRS

EYCI

Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, c/kg

Today

1020.7

Source: MLA's NLRS

90CL Cow

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

Today

1106

Source: Steiner Consulting, MLA

Live Export

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

Today

400

Source: Trade contacts

SOI

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Today

-17.02

Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

Feeder Steer

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

Today

507

Source: Feeder Steer

What readers are saying

Consistency – not maximum growth – key to feedlot success, producers told

Well said Tony Fitz As Tony has indicated, daily gain is for those who want to skite Performance is measured by feed conversion and cost of gain. Thank goodness other....

Kev Roberts

High-tech simulator boosting safety on Queensland farms

This is a wonderful initiative for farm safety. Can it be extended to include 4 wheelers. It would also be a valuable tool in road safety particularly for new....

Bronwyn

Video: Inside Australia’s largest virtual fencing cattle trial

Great to see meaningful progress in this technology.....

Tony McCormack

Weekly genetics review: “The data was accurate; but the bull still failed”

Great response to a readers comment Alistair. I agree, the program or back story on the herd of where the bull comes from carries a lot of weight in....

Jim Lindsay

EU strategy shows shift in approach to livestock, industry still cautious

Eric Barker, 14/07/2026

Southern producers get their say on cattle transaction levy review

Beef Central, 14/07/2026

New Environmental Protection Agency bosses head to Central Qld cattle country

AgForce members impacted by the changes to national environmental legislation have had the opportunity to directly engage with the Federal Environment Protection Agency (EPA) during two days of site visits in Central Queensland.  ..Read More

Beef Central, 13/07/2026

Wellness trends open doors for red meat producers

As the global wellness economy continues its rapid expansion, the red meat industry is positioned to play a meaningful role in conversations about health, nutrition and longevity…Read More

Beef Central, 13/07/2026

Markets

Gunnedah 14 July 2026: Yarding rises to 2100,

2100 cattle were scanned in Gunnedah this morning, an increase of 460 from the previous week. Score 2 and 3 cows to the processor improved on quality and made from 366c to 390c/kg, while score 4 heavy cows were 5c cheaper, making from 390-415c…Read More

Beef Central, 14/07/2026

Online offerings lift 15pc, but clearance sharply down

There was a 15pc rise in offering numbers on AuctionsPlus on Friday, rising to 13,368 head. Clearance was sharply down, to 66pc. Price trends were erratic, with lighter steers and heifers tending to lose value and heavier lines stronger. Breeding females were mostly down in value…Read More

Beef Central, 12/07/2026

Wagga sale 13 July 2026: Strong demand for limited feeder steer offering

Wagga yarded 3100 head this morning, down a little on last week. There was strong demand for feeder steers, prompting buyers to focus on lighter weights, particularly since cattle over the 400kg mark were limited in number..Read More

Leann Dax, 13/07/2026

Dubbo sale 9 July 2026: Grown steers and heifers cheaper in larger 3000 head offering

Grown steers and heifers were 9-13c cheaper, while cows were firm to 5c dearer in a larger yarding of just short of 3000 head at Dubbo yesterday..Read More

David Monk, NLRS, 10/07/2026

A machinery simulation unit will be deployed to schools and feedlots across Qld as AgForce Training works to boost farm safety…Read More

Beef Central, 08/07/2026

Webinar: Driving down shrink – How producers can protect cattle weight in transit

The next scheduled Beef Connect webinar on 16 July will take a deep dive into the topic of ‘shrink’ in slaughter cattle during transit. Transporting cattle over long distances can be a stressful process for both animals and producers. Without access to feed and water, cattle can experience significant weight loss – known as ‘shrink’-which can impact their health, productivity, and value…Read More

Beef Central, 07/07/2026

What is a resilient feeder animal, and how can genetics play a part in its delivery?

Building resilience into feeder cattle is one of the components that can help deliver greater efficiency, productivity and profitability in grainfed systems, beef producers attending last week’s Feeder Steer MasterClass held in Ballarat heard…Read More

Jon Condon, 30/06/2026

Processing

Weekly kill: Mild winter holding back meatworks cattle, but a mini-surge looks likely

Jon Condon, 14/07/2026

Value adding hides: bovine hair an underutilised source of keratin

The need to address declining hide returns is fuelling a range of innovative research projects at AMPC and the latest has looked into bovine hair as an underutilised source of keratin…Read More

Beef Central, 14/07/2026

Program bringing teachers to ICMJ gaining traction

A one off program bringing school teachers to the Intercollegiate Meat Judging conference has been expanded, with hopes for it to become a regular fixture at annual conference…Read More

Eric Barker and Lydia Burton, 10/07/2026

Weekly kill: Southern processing activity in sharp winter decline

While it’s not particularly unusual for this time of year, southern states beef processors are showing clear signs of putting the cue in the rack for the timebeing. Rates of production in Victoria, SA and NSW are now well back on operations levels seen only a few weeks ago, as sourcing well-finished local cattle becomes challenging…Read More

Jon Condon, 07/07/2026

Lotfeeding

Consistency – not maximum growth – key to feedlot success, producers told

Consistency – not maximum growth or chasing extremes – is the single biggest factor between cattle that excel in a feedlot environment versus those that don’t, a large audience of cattle producers heard at Texas Angus’s ‘Nothin’ But Beef’ field day last Thursday…Read More

James Nason, 13/07/2026

Feedgrain Focus: Dry week welcome as southern values firm

Values have softened a little in the north, and firmed in the south amid subdued consumer demand, and limited interest in wheat for export…Read More

Liz Wells, 13/07/2026

Feed conversion advantages in methane inhibiting feed additive, US trials show

Three recently-completed cattle trials in the US have supported claims made around feed conversion efficiency using a popular feed supplement fed for methane inhibition…Read More

Beef Central, 09/07/2026

Feeder cattle market: Special sales shine as grids surge again

Feeder cattle grids have again risen significantly as supply tightens on the back of storms passing through large parts of the Eastern Seaboard…Read More

Eric Barker, 06/07/2026

Live Export

Why northern live export prices aren’t easing

Prices for northern live export feeder steers into Indonesia have remained resilient with rates of $4/kg liveweight ex Darwin and higher for premium lines continuing to hold despite the seasonal lift in supply…Read More

James Nason, 25/06/2026

SE Asia Report: Vietnam trade draws fresh interest | China recognises Brazil as FMD free

The big news this month came from outside the region, China recognising the whole of Brazil as free of foot-and-mouth disease and opening the world’s largest beef market fully to the world’s largest beef exporter. The reason it matters here is twofold…Read More

Dr Michael Patching, 11/06/2026

Beyond the feedlot: The Indonesian households relying on Australia’s live cattle trade

One feedlot in Indonesia, filled with Australian cattle, supports more than 12,000 Indonesian families. The large number of households the trade supports is often overlooked. ..Read More

Lydia Burton, 26/05/2026

Leaked review finds “no definitive evidence” for daylight-only livestock vessel inspections

Several years after the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry ceased night-time biosecurity inspections for returning vessels – a move that industry has estimated has cost live cattle exporters up to $26,000 per shipment – an independent report prepared for the Department has found no definitive scientific evidence supporting the daylight-only inspection policy…Read More

James Nason, 25/05/2026

Trade

Booming slow-cook BBQ movement explores fusion, secondary cuts

Jon Condon, 14/07/2026

Manufacturing meat markets under pressure, as Brazilian challenge mounts

There’s plenty of evidence of ‘tougher going’ on the export beef sales front as the new financial year unfolds – especially at the manufacturing meat end…Read More

Jon Condon, 10/07/2026

Aussie beef takes centre stage with Soccer World Cup TV coverage

Millions of people have had a taste of Aussie beef during the FIFA World Cup, with an Australian Beef ad campaign by MLA scoring goals across SBS’s coverage…Read More

Beef Central, 09/07/2026

June beef exports to China slump in wake of tariff, but other markets absorbing the slack

Despite a dramatic decline in beef exports last month to China, other markets have stepped into the fold, absorbing much of the slack, latest trade data shows…Read More

Jon Condon, 02/07/2026

Genetics

Weekly genetics review: Herd reduction doesn’t necessarily mean cheaper bulls

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 14/07/2026

What bull sale statistics don’t tell us

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 14/07/2026

Rain, markets fuel optimism as 500 gather for Texas Angus field day + PICS

An impressive turnout of around 500 cattle producers and industry stakeholders attended a Texas Angus on-farm field day and bull inspection day near Warialda yesterday, underlining growing confidence ahead of the 2026 spring bull selling season…Read More

James Nason, 10/07/2026

Divergent views over adoption of multi-breed genetic evaluation, as Angus Australia seeks industry feedback

Angus Australia is this week seeking feedback from members and the broader Angus supply chain on what it sees as a significant strategic issue relating to the future of genetic evaluation in Australia. Divergent views are emerging over the question of adoption of multi-breed genetic evaluation in the Australian beef industry…Read More

Beef Central, 09/07/2026

Ag Tech

Virtual fencing delivers 99pc sheep, 96pc cattle compliance in US grazing trial

A year-long grazing trial in the United States has demonstrated high rates of compliance for cattle and sheep managed with virtual fencing technology…Read More

James Nason, 08/07/2026

High-tech simulator boosting safety on Queensland farms

A machinery simulation unit will be deployed to schools and feedlots across Qld as AgForce Training works to boost farm safety…Read More

Beef Central, 08/07/2026

In-the-box solution harnesses solar power for remote agriculture

Charles Sturt University is trialling new technology that will allow equipment and infrastructure to be operated in remote areas where grid power is unavailable…Read More

Beef Central, 29/06/2026

Profitability is sustainability, in that order

Producers are being asked to care about emissions, but Collin Kramer argues chasing the wrong number could come at a real cost. In this opinion piece, he identifies the figure that really matters…Read More

Collin Kramer, C-Lock Inc, 03/06/2026

AgProperty Central

Rural Funds Group sells five choice agricultural assets for $255.6m

Managed agricultural investment trust, Rural Funds Group, has exchanged contracts for the sale of five important Queensland and New South Wales agricultural assets for a combined figure of $255.6 million…Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley and Jon Condon, 10/07/2026

Weekly property review: Recently completed sales

New Forests pays $20m for Southern Tablelands asset | SA’s picturesque Mt Freeling Station changes hands | Western Qld’s Lorne Station makes $8.4m | Neil Schembri adds the Bark Hut Inn to his NT holdings..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 08/07/2026

Movement at the station: Recent property listings in Qld

Lund Grain lists Burdekin irrigation & cattle operation | Widespread interest in two Gulf assets headed for auction | Strong inquiry for SE Qld fodder & background holding | Campbell family offers Thallon floodplain & grazing country | Gulf breeding property offered with livestock & plant..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 08/07/2026

Recent property listings – NSW

New England’s Gleneagles returns to the market | Western Division country offers breeding, finishing & carbon | Negotiations underway for Packsaddle’s Pulgamutrie Station..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 08/07/2026

AgCarbon Central

We’re counting cattle emissions wrong (and why it matters to every Australian)

Australia is taking responsibility for increased warming it is not causing, and the consequences stretch far beyond the farm gate, according to a recently published paper…Read More

Beef Central, 10/07/2026

New livestock ACCU method now in development

Work has started on a new livestock sector method to replace the terminated Beef Cettle Herd Magement scheme and allow producers to earn Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) for herd management practices that reduce methane emissions…Read More

James Nason, 15/06/2026

Debate emerges over plans to cut carbon market

Debate has emerged this week over the future of one of Australia’s longest standing climate policies, with One Nation and the Coalition planning to scrap a key part of carbon market if either of them come into Government at the next election…Read More

Eric Barker, 12/06/2026

Carbon farming: The side of net zero running out of friends

Looking at One Nation’s continually soaring popularity in the polls, it is fair to say scrapping Australia’s target to reach net zero emissions by 2050 is a popular plan. The Coalition has joined in scrapping the target, meaning one side of the net zero target has lost another friend…Read More

Eric Barker, 10/06/2026