Home - Beef Central

Hollywood comes to Tipperary Station as Netflix films Australia’s answer to Yellowstone

The bright lights of Hollywood could soon be beckoning for an NT cattle industry leader and several of his ringers after finding themselves in the middle of a major Netflix production set in recent weeks…Read More

James Nason, 22/09/2023

News

Cattle Australia approaching first year AGM

Cattle Australia is approaching the end of its first full year of operation as Australia’s new peak representative body for the nation’s 40,000 plus grassfed cattle producers, and will soon start calling on producer support in the form of annual membership fees to help resource its advocacy efforts on their behalf…Read More

James Nason, 22/09/2023

Processing

Meat processing and export conference returns, with trade, climate and animal welfare among a host of hot topics

After an an eight-year hiatus due to COVID and other disruptions, the Australian Meat Industry Council is hosting its 2023 Meat Processing and Export Conference on the Gold Coast from 31 October to November 1. Trade, politics, climate, market access, the economic landscape, animal welfare and logistics are just some of the important topics that will come into focus during the program…Read More

Beef Central, 22/09/2023

The Weekly Grill

S3 Ep33: Live exporter, Justin Slaughter from Austrex

This week, Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan talks with live exporter Justin Slaughter, CEO and managing director of AgTrade, an Australian-owned, globally-focused livestock, genetics and food security company, whose businesses include live exporter Austrex, red meat supply chain manager Paradigm Foods and Thrive Agri…Read More

Beef Central, 22/09/2023

Carbon

More soil carbon credits issued as researchers find cheaper ways of measuring

A soil carbon project in New South Wales has become fifth project in Australia to be issued Australian Carbon Credit Units…Read More

Beef Central, 22/09/2023

Carbon

Canadian pension fund takes majority stake in GreenCollar for reported $800m

A Canadian pension fund has taken a significant majority stake in one of Australia’s largest carbon project developers, GreenCollar – in what the Australian Financial Review says will value the company at $800m…Read More

Beef Central, 22/09/2023

News

Federal Govt puts support behind nature-based reporting for lenders

The Federal Government has thrown its support behind an international program, which is aiming to create a framework for lenders to assess the nature-related risks and opportunities in the activities they fund – with beef on the early list of industries in its sights…Read More

Beef Central, 22/09/2023

Recruitment

Recruitment: Securing the right employees can hinge on your job ad message

It’s heading towards that time of year when new objectives are determined and goals are set by employees – both personally and professionally. For many, this may mean moving ahead in their current line of work or for some, a complete career overhaul…Read More

Beef Central, 22/09/2023

Trade

Rally in US imported 90CL beef price continues, providing a rare bright spot for industry

Beef Central, 21/09/2023

Live Export

Cattle trade to Indonesia: Demand low, but supply facing challenges also

James Nason, 21/09/2023

Markets

How does the current cattle market decline compare with earlier cycles?

Eric Barker, 21/09/2023

News

Opinion: Managing cattle price risk through contingency interest factor loan mechanism

Beef Central, 21/09/2023

Production

Which beef production system works best for WA’s Southern Rangelands?

Beef Central, 21/09/2023

Property

Weekly property review: Recently completed sales

Property editor Linda Rowley, 20/09/2023

Markets

Roma sale 19 Sep 2023: Secondary lines lose ground

All processors and backgrounders and feedlotters were in attendance and operating with buyers showing preference for quality lines…Read More

Beef Central, 20/09/2023

Processing

Weekly kill: Forward bookings now deep into October, as grids continue to slip

Despite the activation of Saturday overtime shifts at numerous beef processing plants across eastern Australia to try to clear the backlog of cattle, forward bookings on slaughter cattle now extend deep into October at many locations. Meanwhile, grids have slipped another 10-20c/kg across eastern Australia..Read More

Beef Central, 19/09/2023

Markets

How does the current cattle market decline compare with earlier cycles?

With cattle prices sitting at a four-year-low, industry analyst Matt Dalgleish has taken a deep dive into the numbers back to 1960s to see whether the market is still in a “normal” cycle…Read More

Eric Barker, 21/09/2023

Markets

NVLX Wodonga 19 Sep 2023: Feeder steers drop 25c

Buyers representing feedlots or restockers displayed a lack of enthusiasm, leading to a noticeable trend of reduced prices…Read More

Leann Dax, 19/09/2023

The Weekly Grill

S3 Ep33: Live exporter, Justin Slaughter from Austrex

Beef Central, 22/09/2023

Property

$700m anticipated for Australian Food & Agriculture’s NSW portfolio

After 30 years of investing in agriculture, the privately owned Australian Food & Agriculture Co is offloading 13 New South Wales farms spanning 225,400ha, with hopes of raising about $700 million…Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 19/09/2023

Genetics

Droughtmaster and other breed record prices fall, despite tough studstock trading conditions

In a year when stud sale results have generally been modest, to say the least, there’s been results that have gone against the trend – including a bunch of new breed records…Read More

Beef Central, 18/09/2023

Markets

Dalby sale 20 Sep 2023: Softer market for 3824 head

Light weight yearling steers and heifers returning to the paddock averaged a further 20c/kg less. Yearling steers and heifers to feed sold close to the previous week level with only small reductions in places…Read More

Trevor Hess, NLRS, 21/09/2023

News

Charters Towers sale 20 Sep 2023: Numbers lift to 2305

Most regular processors were in attendance and operating at subdued rates along with one live exporter, regular feeders and opportunity restockers…Read More

Beef Central, 20/09/2023

Property

Movement at the station: Recent property listings

Property editor Linda Rowley, 20/09/2023

Industry Dashboard

Carbon Trading Market

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

Today

Source: Jarden

$A / $US

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.6416

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

23 Sep 2023 (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

126585

Source: MLA's NLRS

EYCI

Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, c/kg

Today

396.6

Source: MLA's NLRS

90CL Cow

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

Today

822.8

Source: Steiner Consulting, MLA

Live Export

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

Today

310

Source: Trade contacts

SOI

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Today

-11.51

Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

Feeder Steer

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

Today

249.8

Source: Feeder Steer

What readers are saying

Hollywood comes to Tipperary Station as Netflix films Australia’s answer to Yellowstone

Move over Kevin Costner! This one's a cracker!....

Don Finlay

Weekly genetics review: Knowing what to avoid in selection is as important as what to look for

Such a good article. This message never gets old; it just needs to be retold & retold & retold ..........

Sally White

Govt defends extra meat labelling consultation, McDonald urges ‘common sense’

Surprise, surprise. The federal government and Minister Watt are not hearing what it, and he, wants to hear about food labelling, so the 'consultation' is being extended. Senator McDonald....

Peter F Dunn

Skin Deep Issues: Understanding LSD and Australian relationships with Indonesia

This industry has been treating the actually very good model of we breed them and they feed them in a very transactional manner. Inevitably issues like LSD will occur....

Ross Taylpr

Hollywood comes to Tipperary Station as Netflix films Australia’s answer to Yellowstone

James Nason, 22/09/2023

Cattle Australia approaching first year AGM

James Nason, 22/09/2023

Federal Govt puts support behind nature-based reporting for lenders

Beef Central, 22/09/2023

Recruitment: Securing the right employees can hinge on your job ad message

Beef Central, 22/09/2023

Markets

How does the current cattle market decline compare with earlier cycles?

Eric Barker, 21/09/2023

Dalby sale 20 Sep 2023: Softer market for 3824 head

Trevor Hess, NLRS, 21/09/2023

Why heavy feeders are outperforming lighter cattle in falling market

The gap between light and heavy feeder steers has well and truly closed in recent months, with the cost of gain equation making it cheaper to buy kilograms than put them on with a grain ration…Read More

Eric Barker, 20/09/2023

Sign of the times, as unwanted sale bulls get tipped into saleyards for beef

In another sign of the current challenging conditions in the beef industry, numbers of unwanted fed bulls originally intended for stud sales are defaulting into meat markets…Read More

Beef Central, 20/09/2023

Webinar explores opportunities to utilise satellite-based feed monitoring in drought decisions

The launch last November of the satellite-based Australian Feedbase Monitor is providing valuable new tools for beef producers to use in decision-making around drought management this spring…Read More

Beef Central, 19/09/2023

Livestock traceability system gets $22.5 million database boost

The Federal Government has awarded a $22.5 million grant to the livestock industry’s Integrity Systems Company to enhance the National Livestock Identification System database and its supporting systems…Read More

Beef Central, 15/09/2023

Animal health microchip technology ready for commercial trial

A microchip device that allows livestock managers to monitor their animals’ health status remotely, around the clock, is about to hit a development milestone, with the company behind the technology ready to launch a commercial trial…Read More

Beef Central, 25/08/2023

Processing

Meat processing and export conference returns, with trade, climate and animal welfare among a host of hot topics

Beef Central, 22/09/2023

Weekly kill: Forward bookings now deep into October, as grids continue to slip

Beef Central, 19/09/2023

Weekly kill: Cattle bookings extend forward, as supply congestion continues to gather pace

Poor seasonal conditions across an ever-expanding footprint of Australian grazing country are only adding to current slaughter cattle congestion, with some Queensland processors now taking direct consignment bookings only from the third week in October onwards. Meanwhile grids in many parts of eastern Australia have fallen another 10-20c/kg. ..Read More

Beef Central, 12/09/2023

WA’s Shark Lake abattoir closes 14 months after re-opening, while V&V Walsh adds Saturday shifts

WA’s Shark Lake abattoir near Esperance has closed its doors, barely 14 months after the troubled plant re-opened under new ownership. Meanwhile another WA beef and lamb processor, V&V Walsh, has added Saturday shifts to its roster ..Read More

Beef Central, 11/09/2023

Lotfeeding

Feedgrain Focus: Harvest starts in CQ, frost impact feared

Harvest has started in earnest this week in CQ as frost sparks some yield concerns in pockets of the crop in NSW…Read More

Liz Wells, 18/09/2023

Shifting trends in feeder prices, grain costs, and days-on-feed

The price relationship between feeder cattle and feedgrain pricesis now returning to similar levels to those last seen in early 2020. The national feeder steer price currently sits at 250¢/kg liveweight, and the Darling Downs feed wheat price sits at $465/tonne…Read More

Beef Central, 15/09/2023

Feedlot innovation competition: Simple ideas, big paybacks

An online competition invites Australian feedlots and their employees to showcase clever, practical and low-cost innovations that have genuinely made a difference to the functionality of their operation…Read More

Beef Central, 14/09/2023

Short abattoir lairage can increase yields and profitability for grainfed cattle, study

New research has found shortening the period of time between arrival at an abattoir and slaughter can increase yields and profitability for grainfed cattle…Read More

Beef Central, 12/09/2023

Live Export

Cattle trade to Indonesia: Demand low, but supply facing challenges also

The emerging impact of shifts towards Wagyu and crossbred programs by some northern cattle companies is among a number of factors affecting available supply of suitable cattle for Indonesia, people close to the trade have told Beef Central this week…Read More

James Nason, 21/09/2023

August cattle export figures show ban impact

Australian cattle exports dropped 20 percent in August following Indonesia’s ban on several key export yards in northern Australia…Read More

Beef Central, 19/09/2023

SE Asia Report: Indonesia pause a heart stopping reminder of the North’s reliance on the trade

Another eventful period in South East Asian trading for Australia with the effective suspension and then resumption of the live export trade to Indonesia and huge relief to many northern cattle producers…Read More

Dr Michael Patching, 13/09/2023

End of trade restrictions brings relief, but full details still unclear

The lifting of restrictions on seven export yards by Indonesia is being welcomed with relief across the northern Australia cattle industry, but clarity is still being sought on conditions agreed to by Governments of both countries and how those measures will affect the trade going forward…Read More

James Nason, 11/09/2023

Trade

Rally in US imported 90CL beef price continues, providing a rare bright spot for industry

In a rare positive sign for the beef industry this week, the recent encouraging rally in imported lean grinding meat prices into the US continues, with positive signs ahead for demand and trade in manufacturing meat into 2024…Read More

Beef Central, 21/09/2023

New trends in beef and lamb showcased before top restaurateurs + PICTURES

New trends and tips in beef and lamb dishes were showcased before some of Australia’s most renowned chefs during a recent Sydney trade event. ..Read More

Beef Central, 14/09/2023

Beef and lamb surging in popularity among Australian consumers, as prices decline

Domestic consumers are increasingly putting red meat in their trolley as retail prices push back against the inflation trend being seen more generally at the supermarket checkout. MLA says it has analysed the relationship between prices seen for livestock at the saleyards, and prices of red meat at retail…Read More

Beef Central, 08/09/2023

Monthly beef exports reach three-and-a-half year high in August

Australian beef exports in August have hit a three-and-a-half year high, driven mostly by rapidly deteriorating seasonal conditions forcing more cattle to market. Not since December 2019 – 44 months ago, towards the end of the continental scale drought – have monthly beef exports been this large…Read More

Jon Condon, 05/09/2023

Genetics

Weekly genetics review: Knowing what to avoid in selection is as important as what to look for

Resistance to change can often see people placing greater weight and value on the experiences or opinions of one person commenting on social media, than on a solid body of research conducted for that particular issue. Nowhere is this truer than in the approach some people have to performance recording and programs such as BreedPlan, genetics editor Alastair Rayner writes…Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 19/09/2023

Droughtmaster and other breed record prices fall, despite tough studstock trading conditions

In a year when stud sale results have generally been modest, to say the least, there’s been results that have gone against the trend – including a bunch of new breed records…Read More

Beef Central, 18/09/2023

Weekly genetics review: Breeding cattle in Northern Australia – what have we learnt so far?

From the early research work in 1987 to the major CashCow project, what have we learnt about the Northern breeding industry. Has much changed? What do we now have in terms of key profit drivers? The topic came into focus during the recent NABRUC conference in Darwin ..Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 12/09/2023

Making the most from genomics

For many, genomic information is becoming an increasingly important component of the analysis of information associated with beef cattle and has increased the accuracy and speed in which this information can be supplied to breeders. These developments are exciting and have been long awaited, however it is worth pausing to consider where genomics fits into the overall process of genetic improvement and the practical selection of animals on-farm. ..Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 12/09/2023

Ag Tech

Norco launches AR game to give kids a taste of farm life

Australia’s oldest and largest dairy co-operative has developed an augmented reality game to help spread the word to children about where their food really comes from…Read More

Beef Central, 15/09/2023

EOFY deals focus on tractors, grain sensors, precision ag

Manufacturers are dangling some end-of-financial-year deal sweeteners in addition to Government tax-time measures for producers. ..Read More

Sue Webster, 29/06/2023

Australian agritech award winners announced

Innovators in the agritech sector have been acknowledged for their contributions to the adoption of on-farm and agri-food supply chain technology at the Australian Agritech Awards Gala in Sydney…Read More

Beef Central, 27/06/2023

Federal govt gives $11M tech boost to ag trade

The Federal Government has this week announced $11 million in funding via grants to improve Australia’s agricultural traceability systems and make it easier for producers to get their goods to consumers and overseas markets…Read More

Beef Central, 14/06/2023

AgProperty Central

Weekly property review: Recently completed sales

NQ safe breeder country sells prior to auction | Nundle cattle country is passed-in..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 20/09/2023

Movement at the station: Recent property listings

Property editor Linda Rowley, 20/09/2023

$700m anticipated for Australian Food & Agriculture’s NSW portfolio

Property editor Linda Rowley, 19/09/2023

Weekly property review – 10pc decline in foreign ownership of ag land, ATO finds

This week’s property review scrutinises the latest findings from the Australian Taxation Office’s annual Foreign Ownership of Ag Land register for the year to June, 2022. Last year recorded a 10pc drop in land area held by foreign interests on the previous year’s figures, with the ATO citing expansion by Australian investors for the decline…Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 13/09/2023