Home - Beef Central

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

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

News

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

Markets

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

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

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

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

News

People on the Move: Appointments, retirements, achievements

Jon Condon, September 23, 2020

News

ICMJ webinar to outline the red meat path to carbon neutrality

Beef Central, September 23, 2020

News

Helping farmers access booming Indonesian market

Beef Central, September 23, 2020

Weather

Weekly rainfall wrap + rain outlook, 23 Sept 2020

Bureau of Meteorology, September 23, 2020

Markets

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

Beef Central, September 23, 2020

Genetics

Weekly genetics review: Placing a value around improvement

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, September 22, 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

News

South American processing giant eyes off Australian investment

Jon Condon, 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

News

John McKillop succeeds Don Mackay as RMAC chair

Agribusiness identity John McKillop has been appointed as the new independent chairman of the Red Meat Advisory Council, succeeding Don Mackay…Read More

Beef Central, September 18, 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

Property

Weekly property review: Recently completed sales

Property editor Linda Rowley, September 23, 2020

Property

Movement at the Station: Recent property listings

Property editor Linda Rowley, September 23, 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

0.7060

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

24 Sep 2020 (updated 10am daily)

Company	Price	Trending
Elders	$10.99
Australian Agricultural Co	$1.15
Graincorp	$4.03
Ridley	$0.77
Woolworths	$38.25
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

774.75

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

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

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

People on the Move: Appointments, retirements, achievements

Jon Condon, September 23, 2020

Markets

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

Morven rail freight hub will smooth livestock supply

Queensland’s new Morven rail freight hub is now officially open, with weekly services providing a new channel to get slaughter cattle to market out of the state’s Central west quickly and efficiently…Read More

Beef Central, September 22, 2020

Wagga sale 21 Sep 2020: Feeder steer prices firm

The season continues to be the major influence ahead of solid demand for feeder types…Read More

Leann Dax, September 21, 2020

Production

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

Playing ‘tag’ with wild dogs

A smart tag developed to track individual movement and behavioural changes in cattle is also arming researchers with a cost-effective new weapon in the fight against wild dogs…Read More

Beef Central, September 15, 2020

Natural Sequence Farming seeks to regenerate degraded landscapes using natural farming systems

A Natural Sequence Farming four-day course was held at Queensland property, Dulacca Downs, last week. Tarwyn Park Training founder, coordinator and educator Stuart Andrews conducted the course for 22 participants keen to learn how to rehabilitate, regenerate and rehydrate degraded landscapes using natural farming systems and practices…Read More

Beef Central, September 14, 2020

Processing

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

Weekly kill: Further softening in grids as processor losses fall to record levels

Direct consignment slaughter cattle prices have continued to deteriorate this week, as beef processors rack-up record losses in the face of listless international beef markets…Read More

Jon Condon, September 15, 2020

Lotfeeding

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

Australian cropping programs to favour feed grain production in next decade

Population growth and changing consumer dietary preferences will be positives for the grain industry over the next decade, but there will be challenges from international competition, trade tensions and climate change…Read More

Neil Lyon, September 18, 2020

Live Export

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

Laporan Pasar: Industri Daging Sapi Asia Tenggara – Edisi ke-81: Agustus 2020

Kita semua masih berharap agar lebih banyak lagi kru kapal yang ditemukan dalam keadaan selamat dari 43 kru kapal MV Gulf Livestock 1 yang hilang secara tragis akibat dihantam topan pada 2 September lalu di lepas pantai Jepang..Read More

Dr Ross Ainsworth, September 14, 2020

Family, friends of missing Gulf Livestock 1 crew plead for search to resume

Family and friends of two Australians who were on board the Gulf Livestock 1 which is believed to have sunk in the East China Sea during a typhoon nine days ago have issued pleas for the Australia Government to intervene after Japan called off its full-time search for survivors overnight…Read More

Beef Central, September 11, 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