Home - Beef Central

Weekly kill: Weather again the key focus for upcoming cattle supply

Weather is again shaping as the key influence in processor access to slaughter cattle over the next ten days, with BOM reporting the likelihood of more heavy rain across large parts of NSW, southwest Queensland into the Channel Country and across parts of Victoria…Read More

Jon Condon, 04/10/2022

Genetics

Weekly genetics review: Pregnant within four months of calving – can your northern cows do it?

WITH much of the attention in beef breeding fixed on the current round of bull sales and the records that seem reset every week, its often easy to stop thinking about the cow herd those bulls will soon join. The ability of bulls to make an impact on a herd often tends to be the major focus for many producers. However, getting a cow herd to perform will add significantly to productivity and ultimate profitability in breeding herds…Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 04/10/2022

News

Cattle Council members back transition to Cattle Australia

THE results of this morning’s Special General Meeting held by Cattle Council of Australia to determine the peak grassfed cattle industry council’s future have been announced, with members backing the transition to Cattle Australia. ..Read More

James Nason, 04/10/2022

News

JBS to exit US plant-based protein venture

Processing giant JBS has decided to exit its plant-based protein venture in the United States, closing its plant in the Colorado city of Denver…Read More

Beef Central, 04/10/2022

Property

As rural property values soar, how do young people get a start?

RURAL PRESS CLUB OF QLD PANEL SESSION: With rural land values at all-time highs, how do young people, particularly those without an existing family farming business behind them, get a start in the market?..Read More

James Nason, 04/10/2022

Carbon

Asparagopsis supply to cost between $132m and $1.6b, study finds

A new study has looked into the capital requirements of commercially producing the methane- reducing feed additive, red seaweed asparagopsis…Read More

Beef Central, 04/10/2022

Carbon

Electric utes won’t deliver hay this year, NSW Farmers

While Australia’s first electric ute is set to come on the market later this year, NSW Farmers says the vehicles will be unviable for most producers…Read More

Beef Central, 04/10/2022

Lotfeeding

Feedgrain Focus: Big yields, lower proteins feature

The weaker Australian dollar is buoying export demand for lower-protein wheat, while big carry-outs in NSW and WA are reassuring buyers, regardless of whether or not rain delays harvest…Read More

Liz Wells, 04/10/2022

Carbon

Applications open for climate-smart farming scholarship

Beef Central, 04/10/2022

Markets

Numbers swell to almost 20,000 head in online sales

Beef Central, 01/10/2022

News

Wildflowers bloom after wet winter + pics

Eric Barker, 30/09/2022

News

Jack’s Creek wins sixth major award at World Steak Challenge

Beef Central, 30/09/2022

News

Cattle producer groups declare positions ahead of Cattle Australia vote

Beef Central, 30/09/2022

Live Export

NZ passes bill to end livestock exports by April 2023

Beef Central, 30/09/2022

News

Cattle Council members back transition to Cattle Australia

James Nason, 04/10/2022

Property

As rural property values soar, how do young people get a start?

James Nason, 04/10/2022

News

Make or break day for Cattle Australia looms

Next Tuesday, October 4, 2022, is shaping as the make or break day for Cattle Australia…Read More

James Nason, 29/09/2022

News

Cattle producer groups declare positions ahead of Cattle Australia vote

Ahead of next week’s vote on the future of the proposed Cattle Australia restructure, a number of state farming organisations and cattle producer groups have released statements declaring their positions on the make or break vote…Read More

Beef Central, 30/09/2022

News

Jack’s Creek wins sixth major award at World Steak Challenge

New South Wales-based grainfed Wagyu brand Jack’s Creek has picked up its sixth major award at the World Steak Challenge, in seven years of entering the competition…Read More

Beef Central, 30/09/2022

Live Export

NZ passes bill to end livestock exports by April 2023

All exports of livestock by sea from New Zealand will cease in just over six months’ time, following the passage of a bill through the national Parliament yesterday…Read More

Beef Central, 30/09/2022

News

JBS to exit US plant-based protein venture

Processing giant JBS has decided to exit its plant-based protein venture in the United States, closing its plant in the Colorado city of Denver…Read More

Beef Central, 04/10/2022

News

Wildflowers bloom after wet winter + pics

Wildflowers have started to bloom across large parts of the country after widespread autumn and winter rain…Read More

Eric Barker, 30/09/2022

Carbon

AA Co embraces carbon opportunity in annual sustainability report

The Australian Agricultural Co has again flagged its interest in moving into carbon projects, in its annual sustainability report issued recently…Read More

Beef Central, 29/09/2022

Carbon

Electric utes won’t deliver hay this year, NSW Farmers

While Australia’s first electric ute is set to come on the market later this year, NSW Farmers says the vehicles will be unviable for most producers…Read More

Beef Central, 04/10/2022

Industry Dashboard

Carbon Trading Market

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

Today

30.75

Source: Jarden

$A / $US

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.6520

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

05 Oct 2022 (updated 10am daily)

Company	Price	Trending
Elders	$11.90
Australian Agricultural Co	$1.73
Graincorp	$7.85
Ridley	$2.08
Woolworths	$34.46
Wellard	$0.06

Source: ASX

Beef Kill

Eastern States, weekly

Last Week

79034

Source: MLA's NLRS

EYCI

Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, c/kg

Today

1075

Source: MLA's NLRS

90CL Cow

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

Today

822.9

Source: Steiner Consulting, MLA

Live Export

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

Today

450

Source: Trade contacts

SOI

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Today

18.61

Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

Feeder Steer

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

Today

588

Source: Feeder Steer

What readers are saying

Weekly genetics review: Pregnant within four months of calving – can your northern cows do it?

The article in the genetics review on females returning to oestrous within 4 months in northern herds is enlightening and interesting. Well done Alistair.....

Rob Forsberg

Cattle producer groups declare positions ahead of Cattle Australia vote

Oh dear! What a mess. Such a great industry distinguished by discontent and division. Such huge gains were made around access, food safety, research and adoption, identification, product description,....

David Palmer

‘Immune Ready’ – the beef industry’s most ambitious animal health program ever

What fantastic news. One question: Why have we not used existing vendor declarations that already exist under LPA.? Thanks for your comment, Kev. Our understanding is that the existing vendor dec....

Kev Roberts

Dutch city to become first to ban meat advertising

They have lost their minds...

Desiree Jackson

Cattle Council members back transition to Cattle Australia

James Nason, 04/10/2022

JBS to exit US plant-based protein venture

Processing giant JBS has decided to exit its plant-based protein venture in the United States, closing its plant in the Colorado city of Denver…Read More

Beef Central, 04/10/2022

Asparagopsis supply to cost between $132m and $1.6b, study finds

A new study has looked into the capital requirements of commercially producing the methane- reducing feed additive, red seaweed asparagopsis…Read More

Beef Central, 04/10/2022

Electric utes won’t deliver hay this year, NSW Farmers

While Australia’s first electric ute is set to come on the market later this year, NSW Farmers says the vehicles will be unviable for most producers…Read More

Beef Central, 04/10/2022

Markets

Numbers swell to almost 20,000 head in online sales

Quality and numbers increased again this week in AuctionsPlus commercial cattle trading, with 19,657 head offered – up 45 percent on last week…Read More

Beef Central, 01/10/2022

Roma sale 27 Sep 2022: Heifer highlight

The buyers gallery was packed for the annual turnoff of heifers from two local breeders this week. The run of 400 heifers were pre-weighed and sold open auction with the lead pen topping at $3,800/head for 365kg or 1,041c/kg with an average of approximately $3,020/head..Read More

Beef Central, 28/09/2022

Wagga sale 26 Sep 2022: Feedlot demand dominates in larger yarding

While feedlots were the main market driver, restockers stepped in under 280kg, paying from 620-700c/kg to average $1790 per head…Read More

Leann Dax, 27/09/2022

10pc lift in online offerings, despite rain impact

Cattle numbers offered through AuctionsPlus commercial cattle sales jumped 10pc this week, hitting 13,574 head, as clearance rates eased from recent levels…Read More

Beef Central, 25/09/2022

Northern beef industry still milking CashCow, 15 years on

Almost 15 years on from its inception, Australia’s northern beef industry is still cashing in on the insights and recommendations of its biggest single research activity, the CashCow project…Read More

Beef Central, 22/09/2022

Leucaena research pioneer Max Shelton receives national honour

Leading Australian pasture researcher Associate Professor Max Shelton, best known for his enduring work with leucaena, has been presented with the prestigious AW Howard Medal in recognition of a career that has helped livestock producers in Australia and globally…Read More

Beef Central, 20/09/2022

Pestivirus awareness and management: A recent phone call

In this novel approach to delivering a message, forthright veterinarian and beef consultant Phil Holmes explores the common lack of industry understanding about the impact and management of pestivirus, as described through a phone call…..Read More

Phil Holmes, 15/09/2022

Processing

Weekly kill: Weather again the key focus for upcoming cattle supply

Jon Condon, 04/10/2022

Weekly kill: Grids rise, despite deeper processor losses

There’s been further rises in Queensland export processors’ slaughter grid offers this week – driven in no small part by intense competition for local slaughter cattle from southern Australian processors who are being starved of cattle at home…Read More

Beef Central, 27/09/2022

TFI receives $5m govt grant to upgrade new Bourke plant

One of Australia’s largest meat processing companies will upgrade its smallstock facilities and expand operations at Bourke, with a $5 million grant from the NSW Government…Read More

Beef Central, 23/09/2022

WA’s Western Meat Packers buys Bunbury beef/sheepmeat plant

Western Australian beef and sheepmeat processor Western Meat Packers has bought the mothballed former Goodchild Abattoirs business near Bunbury, in the state’s south…Read More

Beef Central, 21/09/2022

Lotfeeding

Feedgrain Focus: Big yields, lower proteins feature

The weaker Australian dollar is buoying export demand for lower-protein wheat, while big carry-outs in NSW and WA are reassuring buyers, regardless of whether or not rain delays harvest…Read More

Liz Wells, 04/10/2022

Feedgrain Focus: North firms, southern wheat softens

Logistics headaches have lifted the northern market, while the southern wheat market has seen wheat values ease amid reduced activity in a short week…Read More

Liz Wells, 23/09/2022

Feedgrain Focus: North flat, protein lifts in south

A firming market for southern ASW wheat indicates the likelihood of a crop big on volume and low on protein amid subdued demand for feedgrain…Read More

Guest Author, 19/09/2022

Seaweed feed-additives could soon be earning carbon credits

Companies behind the development of methane-reducing feed additives have started proposals to earn carbon credits by using their product…Read More

Eric Barker, 13/09/2022

Live Export

NZ passes bill to end livestock exports by April 2023

All exports of livestock by sea from New Zealand will cease in just over six months’ time, following the passage of a bill through the national Parliament yesterday…Read More

Beef Central, 30/09/2022

Benefits of live exports to northern Australia quantified

Australia’s live cattle export trade contributes $1.4 billion to the national economy and employs 6,573 people, with more than 80 percent of direct value being contributed by northern Australia…Read More

Beef Central, 28/09/2022

August cattle export figures reflect Indonesian feedlot challenges

Livestock shipping figures for August continue to reflect the challenging economic and trading conditions affecting key South East Asian markets…Read More

James Nason, 13/09/2022

SE Asia Report: Indo FMD vaccinations finally gaining momentum

The FMD risk to Australia is declining due to a combination of increasing vaccine coverage and heightened biosecurity at Australian entry points, Dr Ross Ainsworth reports in this months South East Asia report…Read More

Dr Ross Ainsworth, 09/09/2022

Trade

Top Wagyu, Angus entries shine in Sydney Show branded beef awards

Some of the nation’s best-known commercial beef brand programs shared the major honours in the 2022 Sydney Show branded beef awards decided yesterday…Read More

Jon Condon, 23/09/2022

Major value-added beef companies bought by international investor

Two of Australia’s largest value-added foods companies using beef as a primary raw material – including the world’s biggest pie manufacturer – have been bought by an international private equity investor…Read More

Beef Central, 15/09/2022

Strong rebound expected in Aussie beef production and exports next year, says USDA

The US Department of Agriculture has forecast a strong rebound in Australian beef production and exports next year, as Australia continues to recover from severe drought in 2019-20…Read More

Beef Central, 12/09/2022

August beef exports continue to lag – Korea aside

South Korea aside, Australian beef exports for the month of August remained flaccid – as they have all year – under the burden of low rates of slaughter, processing labour and logistics challenges and other factors. Trade into Korea was disproportionately high, driven by an earlier decision to suspend tariffs on 100,000t of imported beef,..Read More

Jon Condon, 07/09/2022

Genetics

Weekly genetics review: Pregnant within four months of calving – can your northern cows do it?

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 04/10/2022

Weekly genetics review: Don’t just rely on correlations for your EBVs

It’s possible that many breeders choose to submit data to Breedplan without really understanding the data that they should be recording and submitting. Equally there can be some casualness about the recording program, which doesn’t help develop data that is as useful as it could be, genetics editor Al Rayner writes this week…Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 27/09/2022

Setting a break-even for bull prices

The net profit being made for bulls many not always be as high as what some people assume. Ahead of any decision to start breeding bulls for private use or sale, considering a break-even cost of production should be a first step…Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 27/09/2022

$15m project assessing the genetic traits of cattle methane

The Australian beef industry has launched a $15 million research project, examining the genetic traits of methane emissions in beef cattle…Read More

Beef Central, 27/09/2022

Ag Tech

Paddock grain testing company working on soil carbon tool

An agtech company, which is building a name for its paddock grain testing tool, is developing similar devices for leaf and soil carbon levels…Read More

Eric Barker, 05/07/2022

How the agtech sector is navigating connectivity issues

As the livestock industry becomes more reliant on technology to automate tasks and improve production systems, connectivity is still proving to be an issue for the growing agtech industry…Read More

Eric Barker, 27/06/2022

Agtech can help with labour shortage, conference hears + PICS

For the past five years, agtech companies have been popping up across the country, pitching new and improved ways to solve problems on farm…Read More

Eric Barker, 23/06/2022

Hopes for farm-wide wi-fi within 18 months

A university research collaboration with Australian agtech start-up Zetifi is aiming to deliver farm-wide wi-fi using tractors, trucks and passenger vehicles as roaming access points within 18 months…Read More

Beef Central, 17/01/2022

AgProperty Central

As rural property values soar, how do young people get a start?

James Nason, 04/10/2022

Weekly property review: Recently completed sales

FNQ’s Watson River purchased for carbon | 160 years of family ownership ends in southern NSW | NSW Upper Hunter grazing makes $15.5-$17.8m..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 28/09/2022

Movement at the Station: Recent property listings

Winton’s Baratria returns to the market | $40m+ for productive south-east Riverina holding | Riverina weightgain country likely to make $15m | Blue-ribbon Western Downs grazing | More than $18m for southern NSW’s Dalriado | $14-$15m for Snowy Monaro grazing | Wind farm income potential on CQ’s Gelobra | NW NSW’s Forest Lodge lists for $12.5m | CQ’s Springvale fails to sell at auction | Lamb finishing platform at Cowra | Casey Stoner offloads Northern Tablelands block | Downsizing graziers look to south-east QLD..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 28/09/2022

AAM confirms cattle purchase and long-term grazing rights in Maryfield-Limbunya deal

Fund manager AAM has confirmed its purchase of the cattle associated with this week’s Maryfield-Limbunya property transaction in the NT, together with long-term grazing and farming rights. The agreement, on a walk-in, walk-out basis, included around 50,000 Brahman cattle…Read More

Beef Central, 28/09/2022