Home - Beef Central

Wait times on some new farm vehicles blow out to a year

The car and light utility vehicle market has been flipped on its head in the past two years, with new and used vehicles fetching record prices and wait times on a replacement blowing out to a year in some cases. Interest rates are also starting to bite…Read More

Eric Barker, 30/06/2022

Genetics

Fixed-Time AI in heifers: Friend or foe?

Veteran NSW agribusiness and breeding advisor Phil Holmes explores the use of Fixed-Time AI in heifers – a hot topic across the beef industry at present …..Read More

Phil Holmes, 30/06/2022

News

Methane-reducing seaweed additive now commercially available for beef producers

Lowering methane emissions through the use of asparagopsis seaweed as a feed supplement has entered its commercial phase, with first sales of product for use in feedlots this month…Read More

Beef Central, 30/06/2022

News

Beef Central’s beef quiz -June 2022

Test your industry knowledge with our June 2022 quiz…Read More

Beef Central, 30/06/2022

Markets

Dalby sale 29 June 2022: SA cattle in 3029 yarding

The regular feed and restocker buying panel was boosted by additional supermarket support. Light weight yearling steers returning to the paddock experienced a further fall of 28c/kg. Medium weight yearling steers to feed remained unchanged in price…Read More

Beef Central, 30/06/2022

News

Registrations open for Youth National Roundup

Registrations have opened for the 2022 NH Foods Australia Angus Youth National Roundup after it was postponed earlier this year. The event is being held in Wodonga, Victoria on 6 – 9 October…Read More

Beef Central, 30/06/2022

Property

Weekly property review: Creeping hesitancy among investors a sign of things to come?

In recent months, numerous grazing properties across Australia have returned to the market after failing to sell at auction. Are vendor expectations too high, with some suggesting these properties are now sitting above the market at their current list price, or is buyer hesitancy creeping in?..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 29/06/2022

News

Groups raise questions about grassfed cattle restructure process UPDATED

A group of cattle producers has released an open letter today directed to the Grassfed Cattle Industry Restructure Steering Committee calling for answers to several questions about the current process to replace Cattle Council of Australia with Cattle Australia as the sector’s new peak industry council. ..Read More

Beef Central, 29/06/2022

News

Cattle industry could easily comply with methane pledge, professor

Eric Barker, 29/06/2022

News

Biosecurity top of mind as Murray Watt plans Indonesia visit

Terry Sim, 29/06/2022

News

Historic Avon Downs on the Barkly celebrates 100 years under AA Co management

Jon Condon, 29/06/2022

Weather

Weekly rainfall update + rain outlook 29 June 2022

Bureau of Meteorology, 29/06/2022

Markets

Roma sale 28 June 2022: Yarding lifts to 5876

Beef Central, 29/06/2022

Genetics

Weekly genetics review: Leasing bulls? Some points for consideration before you do

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 28/06/2022

Property

Hewitt Cattle to put 539ha solar farm rental income on the market

Hewitt Cattle has put the rental income of one of Australia’s largest solar power generation plants on the market – which currently collects more than $580,000 in rent…Read More

Beef Central, 28/06/2022

News

Why FMD is a bigger threat than Aus appears to recognise

Q. What is the risk of transmission of FMD from Indonesia to Australia?
A. In my opinion the risk is extremely high over the next one to six months…Read More

Dr Ross Ainsworth, 28/06/2022

Processing

WA processor V&V Walsh merges with Craig Mostyn Group

Two of Western Australia’s best-known animal protein businesses have merged, bringing together a suite of pork, lamb and beef brands, plus seafood, rendering and protein trading businesses…Read More

Jon Condon, 24/06/2022

News

Cattle Australia: Where is it up to?

For more than a decade grassfed cattle producers in Australia have been calling for a more democratic system of national industry representation. After several misfired attempts the latest collaborative push to achieve that goal is upon a key deadline…Read More

James Nason, 27/06/2022

News

The Business of Beef: Can wealth creation be tax deductible?

As a result of higher profits, a tax payable bill can often be around the corner, sometimes bringing with it the temptation to reduce the looming tax bill – perhaps dangerously at the expense of business performance…Read More

Tim Carter, Bush Agribusiness, 24/06/2022

Processing

Weekly kill: More processor grids retract, with offers back 10-35c/kg

Slaughter cattle grids across eastern Australia are now showing signs of softening, in the face of tough export meat trading conditions and a moderate rise in cattle supply. Depending on location and cattle description, most direct consignment grids now appear to have softened by anywhere from 10c to 35c/kg since the start of last week, in the first significant price adjustment in two and a half months…Read More

Jon Condon, 28/06/2022

Property

Meet the next wave of rural property practitioners in a booming ag sector

Young rural property valuer Nick Houston has worked everywhere from the Kimberleys to southern New South Wales over the past seven years assessing world-class agriculture portfolios and gaining insights into how the businesses are managed. He is part of a new wave of young property industry stakeholders working in agriculture..Read More

Beef Central, 27/06/2022

Property

Weekly property review: Creeping hesitancy among investors a sign of things to come?

Property editor Linda Rowley, 29/06/2022

News

What today’s Census data says about Australia

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has today released the results of the Census which took place on August 10 last year. Here are some snapshots of the changing face of Australia. ..Read More

Beef Central, 28/06/2022

News

Cattle industry could easily comply with methane pledge, professor

A pledge to reduce methane emissions by 30 percent within the next decade has been leading plenty of discussion in recent weeks, but one professor says it would be easy for the Australian cattle industry to comply,..Read More

Eric Barker, 29/06/2022

Industry Dashboard

$A / $US

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.6860

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

30 Jun 2022 (updated 10am daily)

Company	Price	Trending
Elders	$12.59
Australian Agricultural Co	$2.21
Graincorp	$9.42
Ridley	$1.78
Woolworths	$36.08
Wellard	$0.08

Source: ASX

Beef Kill

Eastern States, weekly

Last Week

99738

Source: MLA's NLRS

EYCI

Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, c/kg

Today

1018

Source: MLA's NLRS

90CL Cow

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

Today

877.8

Source: Steiner Consulting, MLA

Live Export

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

Today

480

Source: Trade contacts

SOI

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Today

18.5

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

Why FMD is a bigger threat than Aus appears to recognise

This needs to be escalated to the highest priority by all forms of government and quarantine immediately....

Belinda Kelly

Why FMD is a bigger threat than Aus appears to recognise

With the outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease, as well as Lumpy Skin, in Indonesia, only a stone’s throw away from our northern shores, it surprises me how little....

John A. Mohr-Bell

Cattle Australia: Where is it up to?

I believe the whole scene is confused about democracy. To be democratic, members of the new CA must reflect the wishes of their constituents as obtained from reasoned debate....

John Armstrong

Holograms enlisted in fight against foreign disease incursions

Really? I just came through Sydney International airport on a flight from SE Asia. No sniffer dogs at the luggage carousel, no luggage inspection, despite ticking the "Been on....

Richard Eldershaw

Wait times on some new farm vehicles blow out to a year

Eric Barker, 30/06/2022

Methane-reducing seaweed additive now commercially available for beef producers

Lowering methane emissions through the use of asparagopsis seaweed as a feed supplement has entered its commercial phase, with first sales of product for use in feedlots this month…Read More

Beef Central, 30/06/2022

Beef Central’s beef quiz -June 2022

Test your industry knowledge with our June 2022 quiz…Read More

Beef Central, 30/06/2022

Registrations open for Youth National Roundup

Beef Central, 30/06/2022

Markets

Dalby sale 29 June 2022: SA cattle in 3029 yarding

Beef Central, 30/06/2022

Roma sale 28 June 2022: Yarding lifts to 5876

Overall the market continued to ease however prices and competition remained firm for quality cattle…Read More

Beef Central, 29/06/2022

Wagga sale 27 June 2022: Cheaper trend for 2775

In early sales prices dropped 40-50c/kg over all secondary classes with the market struggling to find a base and momentum. Local and northern store orders were operating and weaner steers returning to the paddock sold 50c cheaper and more in places…Read More

Leann Dax, 28/06/2022

Dalby sale 15 June 2022: Biggest yarding for eight months

A large run of 1,097 head from far Western Queensland, and 109 head from New South Wales, plus one single consignment of 508 head from South Australia helped to lift overall supply…Read More

Beef Central, 16/06/2022

Production

Grassland Society returns to in-person conference in 2022

Gippsland beef producer Tim Wilson will share his formula for his success when he hosts a Grassland Society of Southern Australia (GSSA) tour on July 13…Read More

Beef Central, 27/06/2022

Genetics project to lift performance of northern cattle herd

A new project to boost the efficiency and marketability of the northern cattle herd by accelerating genetic improvement has kicked off in the Kimberley and the Pilbara…Read More

Beef Central, 15/06/2022

Livestock industries playing catch up with probiotics for animal health

Probiotics for gut health in humans is now commonplace, but a group of agricultural researchers say the impact of intestinal health on livestock production is still relatively misunderstood despite recent technological advances…Read More

Beef Central, 23/06/2022

Autumn drenching makes for mixed bag of fodder crops

With rain drenching large parts of Queensland and New South Wales well into Autumn this year, the outlook for winter fodder crops is proving to be a mixed bag – with many producers struggling to plant on-time…Read More

Eric Barker, 14/06/2022

Processing

Weekly kill: More processor grids retract, with offers back 10-35c/kg

Jon Condon, 28/06/2022

WA processor V&V Walsh merges with Craig Mostyn Group

Jon Condon, 24/06/2022

Weekly kill: Processor losses around $300/head, model suggests

While better than earlier this year, trading conditions for beef processors remain at around a $300 loss per animal slaughtered, the latest Thomas Elder Markets margin model calculation suggests. Some factors are going in processors favour at present, while others are going against them, analysis suggests..Read More

Jon Condon, 14/06/2022

Processor Cedar Meats denies administration rumours, as it seeks to restructure

Victorian smallstock processor Cedar Meats has moved to dispel concerns its business would be disrupted by delays in finalising a new corporate structure deal, despite claims the business had gone into administration this week…Read More

Terry Sim, 22/06/2022

Lotfeeding

Feedgrain Focus: Southern cereals ease, north holds

The overlap of cropping seasons is reducing supply of grain and supporting northern prices in the near term, while southern values have softened to reflect offshore moves…Read More

Liz Wells, 27/06/2022

Would more shade have helped prevent US feedlot deaths?

The heat-stress related deaths of more than 10,000 cattle in the US has been making headlines in the past week. But would shade have prevented the episode?..Read More

Eric Barker, 21/06/2022

Feedgrain Focus: Markets sag as shorts disappear

Pockets of southern grower selling and trade unwinding northern positions encourage softer prices in feedgrain markets this week…Read More

Liz Wells, 20/06/2022

BeefEx 2022 an opportunity for lotfeeders to connect, create and celebrate

Registrations are now open for the grainfed beef sector’s premier event, BeefEx. The Australian Lot Feeders Association’s biennial conference featuring a program filled to the brim with big ideas will be held at the Brisbane Showgrounds on October 18-20 this year…Read More

Beef Central, 17/06/2022

Live Export

May cattle exports near 60,000 head

Almost 60,000 cattle were exported from Australia in May, the largest monthly volume for the year, but a trade slowdown is expected as Indonesia grapples with FMD…Read More

James Nason, 17/06/2022

Feedgrain Focus: Prices moves mixed and moderate

Price moves were mixed and moderate in eastern Australia’s feedgrain market this week as traders and growers weigh up the impact of rain in the northern region…Read More

Liz Wells, 11/06/2022

SE Asia Report: FMD vaccine desperately needed to avert Indo catastrophe

Continuing to import Australian cattle into Indonesia makes no sense until adequate vaccine supplies are available to protect them immediately on arrival, Dr Ross Ainsworth writes in this month’s South East Asia report…Read More

Dr Ross Ainsworth, 09/06/2022

Laporan Pasar : Industri Daging Sapi Asia Tenggara

Tidak masuk akal untuk melanjutkan impor sapi Australia ke Indonesia, sampai pasokan vaksin yang memadai tersedia, untuk melindungi kawanan sapi pada saat kedatangan…Read More

Dr Ross Ainsworth, 09/06/2022

Trade

Industry works to fill void in red meat training among young apprentice chefs

A significant decline in the amount of course-time allocated to the preparation, cuts choice and cooking techniques associated with red meat through TAFE chef training has left a serious knowledge vacuum in the food service industry. What is the red meat industry doing about it?..Read More

Jon Condon, 28/06/2022

High US beef production due to drought helping suppress grinding meat exports

Tough trading conditions continue for Australian lean grinding beef exports in June, due in large part to the extreme high rates of beef kill in the US due to drought…Read More

Jon Condon, 23/06/2022

Carbon neutral beef brands continue to emerge, but premiums remain elusive

There’s a small, but growing number of Australian and New Zealand beef brands which are now making carbon neutral, or methane-reduced claims on their products – but to this point, price premiums recognising the fact appear to be elusive…Read More

Jon Condon, 09/06/2022

May beef exports mount rally, but still historically low

There was an encouraging rally in Australia’s May beef export volumes, but tonnage remains low against earlier years’ performance. Shipments to all markets last month reached just short of 80,000t – a dramatic 30pc rise on April shipments – but April was severely hampered by weather and public holiday abattoir closures…Read More

Jon Condon, 01/06/2022

Genetics

Fixed-Time AI in heifers: Friend or foe?

Veteran NSW agribusiness and breeding advisor Phil Holmes explores the use of Fixed-Time AI in heifers – a hot topic across the beef industry at present …..Read More

Phil Holmes, 30/06/2022

Weekly genetics review: Leasing bulls? Some points for consideration before you do

This week’s genetics column contains some tips for those producers who elect to lease bulls rather than purchase. This is still common for many smaller producers, so these tips could be useful in avoiding ongoing issues that can emerge when leases are done on a handshake and not more clearly defined..Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 28/06/2022

Weekly genetics review: An exciting spring sale season ahead

The price momentum for replacement stud and herd bulls which was so graphically evident in 2021 shows little signs of easing, as the spring 2022 bull selling season starts to gather its own pace, genetics editor Al Rayner reports…Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 14/06/2022

Weekly genetics review: Changing the metrics to aid improvement on-farm

This week’s review looks at the language or metrics we use to measure our business’s performance. At present indicators are quite variable – due to inaccurate starting points – which means selection is often less effective than it could be. So if we recast our data, can it highlight the areas that then will respond more effectively to genetic section or improved management?..Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 21/06/2022

Ag Tech

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

Swiss hills alive with Aussie ear-tags

The old-fashioned Swiss cow bell is getting a high-tech upgrade courtesy of Australian developed ear tag technology…Read More

James Nason, 16/12/2021

Property

Weekly property review: Creeping hesitancy among investors a sign of things to come?

Property editor Linda Rowley, 29/06/2022

Hewitt Cattle to put 539ha solar farm rental income on the market

Hewitt Cattle has put the rental income of one of Australia’s largest solar power generation plants on the market – which currently collects more than $580,000 in rent…Read More

Beef Central, 28/06/2022

Weekly property review: Top Gun flyover brings cinema to property sales

Producing aerial videos to showcase rural properties is a practice most real estate agencies have embraced vigorously in recent years. In fact, some could be described as ‘mini movies’ or ‘visual works of art’ that could be viewed in any cinema around the country, or aired on the epic US cowboy pay-TV drama Yellowstone…Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 15/06/2022

What recent interest rate rises mean for beef producers

The Reserve Bank of Australia has twice raised interest rates since early May – now sitting at 0.85pc – to combat high inflation. These mark the first time interest rates have increased in Australia in more than 12 years, but what does it mean for livestock producers?..Read More

Beef Central, 15/06/2022