Home - Beef Central

No confirmation yet on easing for Vic meat processing restrictions

VICTORIAN Premier Daniel Andrews today said he couldn’t confirm any announcements on the easing of COVID-19 workforce restrictions on meat processors this Sunday. ..Read More

Terry Sim, September 24, 2020

Live Export

More to the story: Aus livestock ships must meet world’s highest standards

Every livestock vessel operating from Australia must comply with the world’s most rigorous standards and regulations, industry representatives have pointed out in response to recent public debate about ship safety…Read More

James Nason, September 25, 2020

Weather

Seasonal climate outlook Oct-Dec 2020

October to December is likely to be wetter than average for much of mainland Australia and northern and eastern Tasmania…Read More

Bureau of Meteorology, September 25, 2020

Markets

Grainfed cattle premium declines to near zero

The grainfed OTH indicator is currently operating at only a 2c/kg premium to the national OTH grassfed heavy yearling steer indicator, MLA reported today. This grainfed premium is in contrast to the 42c/kg premium the grainfed indicator held over the grassfed indicator at the beginning of the year…Read More

Beef Central, September 25, 2020

Live Export

Live exports ‘more than a single issue’, positives outweigh negatives: Survey

New research highlights the complex relationship the livestock export industry has with the Australian community, and the work that needs to be done to build further community acceptance…Read More

Guest Author, September 25, 2020

Lotfeeding

Feedgrain Focus: Export demand, local shorts lift values

Wheat and barley prices have firmed in the past week to reflect a little short covering from the domestic market, and export demand led by the latest Saudi barley tender. ..Read More

Liz Wells, September 25, 2020

Markets

WQLX meets organic cattle market with certification

Organic cattle producers will now have a route to market through Longreach following confirmation the Western Queensland Livestock Exchange (WQLX) has been granted organic certification…Read More

Guest Author, September 25, 2020

Production

Cargill, McDonald’s and Walmart join WWF in US sustainability initiative

Beef Central, September 25, 2020

Recruitment

Recruitment: Three key considerations for employers in job interviews

James Price*, JPAbusiness, September 25, 2020

Lotfeeding

Grainfed trading budget sees sharp decline, as feeder prices hit record high

Jon Condon, September 24, 2020

News

Value-based marketing can help beef fend off the ‘silver tank’ challenge

James Nason, September 24, 2020

Production

Cutting through the agtech hype for on-farm gains

Beef Central, September 24, 2020

News

Nominations open for ABIF-Marcus Oldham College Howard Yelland Award

Beef Central, September 24, 2020

News

South American processing giant eyes off Australian investment

South American processing giant Athena Foods, a subsidiary of Minerva, is eyeing-off investment in Australian red meat processing, as part of an expansion move driven by a planned public listing on the New York stock exchange…Read More

Jon Condon, September 23, 2020

Live Export

Livestock ship tragedy focuses attention on converted versus purpose-built carriers

The Gulf Livestock 1 tragedy almost three weeks ago is refocusing attention on livestock ship safety and more specifically whether “converted” vessels carry greater risks than purpose-built livestock carriers…Read More

James Nason, September 22, 2020

Property

Movement at the Station: Recent property listings

Korean owners list Mudgee aggregation | Tully River Station block in FNQ attracts strong inquiry | WA’s Hutt River Province offered to the people | Good value breeding block in south west QLD | Locals attracted to tightly held country on NSW’s South West Slopes..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, September 23, 2020

News

People on the Move: Appointments, retirements, achievements

Two senior analysts depart MLA | Veteran meat sales exec Ian Ball calls time | NH Foods livestock manager moves to new role at Killara | Executive changes at Mort | David Hill steps down after six years on CCA | WWF’s Ian McConnel takes on sustainability role with major US processor | Minerva Foods Asia appoints local directors | Former NTCA president aligns with global property agency | New CEO for FarmGate online auctions | Plant-based food manufacturer attracts former senior CSIRO scientist | Elders branch management appointments in Qld | New senior execs for Woolies..Read More

Jon Condon, September 23, 2020

Trade

JBS strikes alliance with specialist BBQ retailer

Retail packs of beef have been sold through up-market pub bottle shop drive-throughs in the past, so it makes a lot of sense for the nation’s largest specialist retailer of barbecues and barbecuing equipment to offer customers a range of succulent steaks, juicy chops and briskets for slow-cooking…Read More

Beef Central, September 22, 2020

Property

Weekly property review: Recently completed sales

One of the biggest family-owned commercial beef operations in southern Australia has reportedly paid in excess of $20 million for Dunkeld Pastoral Co’s Eulameet property, in Western Victoria…Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, September 23, 2020

News

New opportunities for beef in China, post swine fever

Signs are emerging that Chinese dietary patterns are altering in ways that would support longer-term beef consumption growth, Rabobank says in a recent report. And with static Chinese domestic beef production, further growth of Chinese beef imports was a good opportunity for Australia, it says. ..Read More

Beef Central, September 21, 2020

Lotfeeding

Grainfed trading budget sees sharp decline, as feeder prices hit record high

Record-high feeder cattle values and a softening in finished grainfed cattle price offers from processors has pushed Beef Central’s latest 100-day trading budget result deeply into negative territory…Read More

Jon Condon, September 24, 2020

News

NSW windfarm fined for breaching environmental conditions

Fines totalling $26,640 have been issued to a NSW windfarm for failing to meet environmental approval conditions…Read More

Beef Central, September 21, 2020

Weekly Kill Reports

Weekly kill: Rain slows numbers in some regions

Falls of 25-75mm across substantial areas of southwestern and western Queensland, western NSW and eastern parts of South Australia in the past week have been enough to disrupt slaughter cattle supply to some processors this week…Read More

Jon Condon, September 22, 2020

Industry Dashboard

$A / $US Graph

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.7050

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

26 Sep 2020 (updated 10am daily)

Company	Price	Trending
Elders	$10.83
Australian Agricultural Co	$1.16
Graincorp	$3.94
Ridley	$0.78
Woolworths	$37.80
Wellard	$0.07

Source: ASX

Beef Kill

Eastern States, weekly

Last Week

100208

Source: MLA's NLRS

EYCI

Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, c/kg

Today

773.75

Source: MLA's NLRS

90CL Cow

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

Today

662.5

Source: Steiner Consulting, MLA

Live Export

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

Today

355

Source: Trade contacts

SOI Graph

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Today

9.74

Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

Feeder Steer Graph

Shortfed feeder steer 380-500kg - c/kg paddock sales, eastern states.

Today

374.2

Source: MLA's NLRS

What readers are saying

John McKillop succeeds Don Mackay as RMAC chair

Congratulations John . We will look forward to John building on the enhanced profile and solid support base that RMAC achieved under Don Mackay and Anna.....

David Foote

John McKillop succeeds Don Mackay as RMAC chair

A great appointment, RMAC. Congratulations on your appointment John McKillop and best wishes in your new role.....

Lachie Hart

Weekly property review: The getting of wisdom

A great article and window into the beef property market of northern Australia. Dick was an enjoyable travel companion inspecting the Stanbroke Pastoral Company assets for AACo, when they....

Peter Honnef

Farm deaths and injuries continue to take heavy toll

Whilst any farm death is tragic, producers get frustrated hearing how 'dangerous' farms are, as opposed to bush walking, surfing, crossing a busy road, playing sport, driving a car,....

Natasha Wing

Recruitment: Three key considerations for employers in job interviews

When hiring new staff there are a number of issues that need to be dealt with by a business owner or senior manager before a recruitment interview process begins. It’s much harder to retro-fit this important information into a recruitment process after the fact, says business advisor James Price…Read More

James Price*, JPAbusiness, September 25, 2020

Value-based marketing can help beef fend off the ‘silver tank’ challenge

Getting discounted for their could cattle could be the most valuable thing that could happen to producers, a leading livestock innovator told the opening day of the Livestock 2020 digital forum on Wednesday. ..Read More

James Nason, September 24, 2020

Nominations open for ABIF-Marcus Oldham College Howard Yelland Award

The Australian Beef Industry Foundation (ABIF) and Marcus Oldham College are inviting nominations for the ABIF-Marcus Oldham College Howard Yelland Award 2020…Read More

Beef Central, September 24, 2020

South American processing giant eyes off Australian investment

Jon Condon, September 23, 2020

Markets

Grainfed cattle premium declines to near zero

Beef Central, September 25, 2020

WQLX meets organic cattle market with certification

Organic cattle producers will now have a route to market through Longreach following confirmation the Western Queensland Livestock Exchange (WQLX) has been granted organic certification…Read More

Guest Author, September 25, 2020

Dalby sale 23 Sep 2020: Heavy cows back over 300c

Southern restockers were the major buyers in the market, with over 1,000 head purchased by interstate operators, with some going as far south as Victoria…Read More

James Nason, September 24, 2020

Roma store sale 22 Sept 2020: Steers dominate rain reduced yarding

There was a smaller but competitive buying panel present, including all regular processors, and buyers were operating to strong demand on the reduced yarding…Read More

Beef Central, September 23, 2020

Production

Cargill, McDonald’s and Walmart join WWF in US sustainability initiative

Three of the largest red meat value-chain stakeholders in North America have joined forces with the World Wildlife Fund in a new sustainability initiative…Read More

Beef Central, September 25, 2020

Cutting through the agtech hype for on-farm gains

After years of hype around livestock tracking technologies, Dr Mark Trotter will tell the next Elders Presents online forum that these systems are now becoming a reality. Dr Trotter, Associate Professor in Precision Livestock Management at Central Queensland University, has been working with smart tag developers for about a decade and says the commercial release of these technologies is closer than ever, but more testing still needs to be done…Read More

Beef Central, September 24, 2020

Drought tips for farmers from farmers

The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has launched a new publication Preparing for drought – what the farmers say, designed to provide a resource to support the State’s primary producers to become stronger and ready to face future droughts…Read More

Beef Central, September 18, 2020

Allan Savory urges world leaders to recognise role of livestock in combatting climate change

Climate change is a crisis more serious than any wars ever fought, and one that will require millions of more animals on the land to reverse, according to prominent ecologist and regenerative agriculture specialist Dr Allan Savory…Read More

Beef Central, September 17, 2020

Processing

No confirmation yet on easing for Vic meat processing restrictions

VICTORIAN Premier Daniel Andrews today said he couldn’t confirm any announcements on the easing of COVID-19 workforce restrictions on meat processors this Sunday. ..Read More

Terry Sim, September 24, 2020

Weekly kill: Rain slows numbers in some regions

Jon Condon, September 22, 2020

Throsby purchases Hilltop Meats at Young, in consolidation move

In further evidence of the extreme operating challenges across red meat processing at present, Singleton, NSW based export beef processor EC Throsby has bought the Hilltop Meats beef abattoir at Young, in the state’s southwestern slopes region. Both plants are hot-boning style operations reliant mostly on dairy cows and cull beef cows, and are direct competitors in the saleyards markets across NSW and Victoria…Read More

Jon Condon, September 17, 2020

Processors looking on, as COVID restrictions ease in regional VIC

Victoria’s regional meat processors are no closer to knowing if or when workforce restrictions will be further eased, as the state government yesterday announced that regional Victoria will move to step three of its coronavirus reopening plan from midnight tonight…Read More

Jon Condon, September 16, 2020

Lotfeeding

Feedgrain Focus: Export demand, local shorts lift values

Wheat and barley prices have firmed in the past week to reflect a little short covering from the domestic market, and export demand led by the latest Saudi barley tender. ..Read More

Liz Wells, September 25, 2020

Grainfed trading budget sees sharp decline, as feeder prices hit record high

Jon Condon, September 24, 2020

Robotic feedlot bunk scanner set to be demonstrated

Lotfeeders will soon be able to see the BunkBot feedbunk scanning robot at work in a commercial setting, with monthly demonstrations planned at Mort & Co’s Pinegrove Feedlot near Millmerran in southern Queensland from November. In earlier trials, the Bunk Scanner proved to be more precise and accurate than human bunk callers in measuring the volume of feed on hand…Read More

Beef Central, September 21, 2020

Feedgrain Focus: South softer, north mixed in thin trade

Values for nearby barley have jumped in the northern market on some short covering ahead of harvest volume, while southern values have mostly softened, despite limited grower selling…Read More

Liz Wells, September 18, 2020

Live Export

More to the story: Aus livestock ships must meet world’s highest standards

James Nason, September 25, 2020

Live exports ‘more than a single issue’, positives outweigh negatives: Survey

New research highlights the complex relationship the livestock export industry has with the Australian community, and the work that needs to be done to build further community acceptance…Read More

Guest Author, September 25, 2020

Livestock ship tragedy focuses attention on converted versus purpose-built carriers

James Nason, September 22, 2020

SE Asia Report: Hoping for good news from East China Sea

We are all still hoping that more survivors from the 43 crew will be found after the tragic loss on 2nd September of MV Gulf Livestock 1 in a typhoon off Japan…Read More

Dr Ross Ainsworth, September 14, 2020

Trade

JBS strikes alliance with specialist BBQ retailer

Beef Central, September 22, 2020

Domestic beef market risks getting swamped, as export volumes decline

As Australia’s beef export volumes continue to retract sharply, there’s an emerging risk of the domestic beef market becoming swamped by product being diverted out of the international trade – even at a time when slaughter volumes are historically low for this time of year…Read More

Jon Condon, September 15, 2020

Trade deals have boosted Aus ag, and its competitors too

Free Trade Agreements have significantly assisted the growth of Australian agricultural exports including red meat in the past 20 years, but a global proliferation of similar deals has also helped competitors erode some of the benefits Australia has gained, a new ABARES report released today shows…Read More

Beef Central, September 11, 2020

Opinion: The case for Australia to pursue ‘Regional Self-Reliance’

Australia cannot reasonably achieve self-sufficiency, but can and should be pursuing a goal of ‘Regional Self-Reliance’ through a much closer working relationship with its nearest neighbours, writes Andrew Henderson.

It could even take the form of a multilateral economic partnership agreement. writes Andrew Henderson. ..Read More

Andrew Henderson, September 11, 2020

Genetics

Weekly genetics review: Placing a value around improvement

In all the excitement of a record year for bull sales across the country, there are many producers looking at their budgets and re-evaluating how they value new bulls. Just as a bull’s influence will last over 10 years, the value his genetic contribution can be far-reaching. ..Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, September 22, 2020

Weekly genetics review: How long will the influence of your 2020 sire purchases last in your herd?

This year’s sire purchases will have an influence over a herd potentially until 2030, genetics editor Alastair Rayner writes this week. “Moreover the last three generations of sires determine 87pc of the genetics within a calf crop – so genetic improvement is long-term, and needs to be considered in order to change direction. Its not an easy change,” he writes…Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, September 15, 2020

2020 bull selling season setting some unbelievable benchmarks

With a month or so still left to play out, the 2020 spring bull selling season is rapidly emerging as an era-defining benchmark for the seedstock industry, by which all bull sales will be measured for years, if not decades to come. What has set the 2020 season apart is not so much a string of breed record prices (although a few breed records have in fact already been set this year) but the sheer depth and determination of buying support…Read More

Beef Central, September 15, 2020

Breeding cattle for greater environmental efficiency

Breeding for environmental efficiency and breeding for economic efficiency are highly complementary, this study compiled by Southern Beref Technology Services suggests. In both cases, fertility is paramount; after all, a cow in the breeding herd should raise a live calf each year and failure to do so makes her a drain on resources…Read More

Beef Central, September 15, 2020

Ag Tech

Robotic feedlot bunk scanner set to be demonstrated

Beef Central, September 21, 2020

NBN report highlights agtech growth potential

NBN Co has initiated an agriculture development strategy which aims to address connectivity needs of farmers and supporter greater efficiency of agricultural productivity…Read More

Beef Central, September 1, 2020

AXIchain launches livestock movement app for transporters

With a focus on digital lifetime traceability, animal welfare, and biosecurity enhancements, AXIchain has launched the mNVD app for use in the livestock transport industry…Read More

Beef Central, August 10, 2020

Post-pandemic swing to robotic, automated food production predicted

Food producers will now be moving to advance robotic and automated technologies much faster to prepare for the next pandemic, University of Queensland Professor Robert Henry says…Read More

Beef Central, July 31, 2020

Property

Weekly property review: Recently completed sales

Property editor Linda Rowley, September 23, 2020

Movement at the Station: Recent property listings

Property editor Linda Rowley, September 23, 2020

Weekly property review: The getting of wisdom

Marking 60 years in the rural agency profession this year, people might ask 77-year old property marketing identity Dick Allpass why he is still working. The answer is quite simply because he loves it, property editor Linda Rowley writes. ..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, September 16, 2020

Rural land price increase cycle may have ended, says Rabo report

While prices of Australian agricultural land are at record highs in many regions, the market is entering a new phase, with little or no growth in median prices forecast over the next 18 months, according to a new industry report. The robust growth in agricultural property prices witnessed over the past five years has slowed, with 2020 signalling “the beginning of a new phase in land markets across the country,” Rabobank suggests…Read More

Beef Central, September 14, 2020