Home - Beef Central

Weekly property review: Pre-auction sales – a bird in the hand?

In the past three months, around 100,000ha of prime grazing country in NSW and QLD worth more than $50m has been snapped up by buyers making offers prior to assets going to auction. Is it a short-term phenomenon during times of limited listings, or a long term trend? Is economic uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 a factor? Property editor Linda Rowley seeks answers..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, May 27, 2020

News

Aussie dollar recovers from COVID-19 shock

The Aussie dollar is more or less recovered from COVID-19 impacts, which saw the currency plunge 15 percent to below US57c in March…Read More

Jon Condon, May 27, 2020

News

NSW Farmers urges industry organisations to clarify positions on red meat MOU review

NSW Farmers is urging other industry groups to formalise their positions on the Red Meat MoU review so there is clarity about where organisations stand…Read More

James Nason, May 27, 2020

Ag Tech

AgTechCentral/Agrihive webinar: Ag tax time tips with BDO

Tax time is fast approaching – and there are plenty of things for rural businesses to consider in their tax planning following a year of challenge and change…Read More

Beef Central, May 27, 2020

News

Satellites to manage wild buffalo herds from space

More than 1000 feral buffalo and unmanaged cattle roaming Northern Australia will be tagged and tracked as part of the world’s largest satellite herd-tracking program, announced today by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO…Read More

Beef Central, May 27, 2020

Weather

Weekly rainfall wrap + rain outlook, 27 May 2020

A cold front produced moderate falls in western Tasmania, while onshore flow brought showers and moderate falls to the east coast of Queensland and New South Wales…Read More

Bureau of Meteorology, May 27, 2020

Ag Tech

EvokeAg agtech event pushed back to 2022

COVID-19 concerns have pushed back agriculture’s largest annual agtech event, EvokeAg, by 12 months. Originally scheduled to take place in Perth early next year, organisers have this week postponed the next event until February, 2022…Read More

Beef Central, May 27, 2020

Markets

Roma store sale 26 May 2020: Southern demand adds to competition

Beef Central, May 27, 2020

Lotfeeding

Application to allow beta agonist use in feedlot cattle in Australia is polarising industry

Jon Condon, May 26, 2020

News

Reader survey: Share your feedback and enter draw to win $200 voucher

Beef Central, May 25, 2020

Weekly Kill Reports

Weekly kill: Some northern grids lift, while southern cow market on fire

Jon Condon, May 26, 2020

Live Export

Six crew members on livex vessel test positive to COVID-19

Beef Central, May 26, 2020

News

Cattle Council calls for biosecurity funding commitment

Beef Central, May 26, 2020

Production

Scientists understand cattle not climate villains, but media still missing message

The message that not all greenhouse gas emissions are created equal and livestock are in fact a potential global warming solution has made it all the way to the IPCC, but is still being ignored by the mainstream media, internationally renowned air quality expert Dr Frank Mitloehner told Alltech One global virtual conference on Friday night…Read More

James Nason, May 25, 2020

Lotfeeding

Application to allow beta agonist use in feedlot cattle in Australia is polarising industry

AN application to register a beta agonist medicated pre-mix product for use in Australian grainfed beef cattle for the first time is polarising views within the industry…Read More

Jon Condon, May 26, 2020

News

Loading ramp changes should be ‘guidelines’, not standards: livestock councils

Australia’s cattle and sheep producer representative councils have voiced significant concern about the potential for new loading ramp safety standards to become mandatory in future…Read More

James Nason, May 22, 2020

Trade

Food service providor hit hard by COVID-19 impact

One of Australia’s largest domestic wholesale food service distributors, hit hard by the shutdown of hotels, restaurants and cafes across the country, has put off 100 staff across its Australia-wide operations…Read More

Beef Central, May 22, 2020

Weekly Kill Reports

Weekly kill: Some northern grids lift, while southern cow market on fire

Some processor grid offers in Queensland have risen this week, while southern Australian saleyards cow prices continue to fire on all cylinders. Flow of cattle into southern Queensland plants is looking tighter this week, and there are suggestions that at least one large export plant may skip days next week, as a result…Read More

Jon Condon, May 26, 2020

News

Atypical BSE detected in Irish cow

Atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has been detected in a 14 year old Limousin cow in Ireland, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) confirmed overnight…Read More

Beef Central, May 26, 2020

Lotfeeding

Feedgrain Focus: Barley firms after China announcement

Grain markets ploughed through the damage of tariffs while drivers, as complex as the poultry sector shrunken by COVID-19 and inconsistent moisture across Australia’s grainbelt, saw domestic new crop markets edge higher…Read More

Liz and Henry Wells, May 22, 2020

Live Export

Six crew members on livex vessel test positive to COVID-19

Six crew members from a livestock export vessel docked in Fremantle have tested positive for COVID-19…Read More

Beef Central, May 26, 2020

News

Aussie beef set to sizzle on MasterChef TV show

Beef will play a starring role on the nation’s favourite cooking show, MasterChef Australia, following MLA’s signing of a new sponsorship deal with Network 10…Read More

Beef Central, May 25, 2020

News

Prime new location for Ekka beef competition

Entries are now open for the Royal Queensland Show’s (Ekka) Prime Beef Competition, which will take place in a new location this year following the cancellation of the 2020 Ekka…Read More

Beef Central, May 25, 2020

Industry Dashboard

$A / $US Graph

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.6650

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

28 May 2020 (updated 10am daily)

Company	Price	Trending
Elders	$9.50
Australian Agricultural Co	$1.05
Graincorp	$4.24
Ridley	$0.72
Woolworths	$34.72
Wellard	$0.03

Source: ASX

Beef Kill

Eastern States, weekly

Last Week

131155

Source: MLA's NLRS

EYCI

Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, c/kg

Today

704

Source: MLA's NLRS

90CL Cow

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

Today

809.8

Source: Steiner Consulting, MLA

Live Export

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

Today

320

Source: Trade contacts

SOI Graph

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Today

-0.9

Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

Feeder Steer Graph

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

Today

354.1

Source: MLA's NLRS

What readers are saying

Application to allow beta agonist use in feedlot cattle in Australia is polarising industry

Unfortunately there are a number of examples of Australian business looking at short term gain at the expense of long term prosperity and success. Our extraordinary hard earned reputation....

Roger Cook AM

Application to allow beta agonist use in feedlot cattle in Australia is polarising industry

For the people in our industry who want to use Beta agonist in our beef, I would say, dumb dumb and dumber. As Joyce said, keep our beef clean,green, natural....

Rob Introvigne

Application to allow beta agonist use in feedlot cattle in Australia is polarising industry

If you want to read about its effects on production, carcass traits and shear force read this open access paper which is a meta analysis of all published literature....

Peter McGilchrist

Application to allow beta agonist use in feedlot cattle in Australia is polarising industry

The Australian beef industry should pursue its "clean and green image" Zilmax will not fit this image and why threaten the Chinese market.....

Alex McDonald

Aussie dollar recovers from COVID-19 shock

The Aussie dollar is more or less recovered from COVID-19 impacts, which saw the currency plunge 15 percent to below US57c in March…Read More

Jon Condon, May 27, 2020

NSW Farmers urges industry organisations to clarify positions on red meat MOU review

NSW Farmers is urging other industry groups to formalise their positions on the Red Meat MoU review so there is clarity about where organisations stand…Read More

James Nason, May 27, 2020

Satellites to manage wild buffalo herds from space

Beef Central, May 27, 2020

Reader survey: Share your feedback and enter draw to win $200 voucher

We want your feedback! Tell us what you think about Beef Central and enter the draw to win a $200 voucher from Barbeques Galore…Read More

Beef Central, May 25, 2020

Markets

Roma store sale 26 May 2020: Southern demand adds to competition

Cattle were mostly drawn from the local supply area but included a fair number from Western & North Western Queensland in a yarding where steers and heifers were present in similar numbers…Read More

Beef Central, May 27, 2020

Wagga sale 25 May 2020: Strong run into winter continues

Cattle prices at Wagga continued their stellar run leading into the winter, gaining 15-28c/kg…Read More

Leann Dax, May 26, 2020

Steer prices trend higher in 19,186 head AuctionsPlus offering

Young steer prices trended higher in another large commercial cattle offering of 19,186 head on AuctionsPlus this week. Cow and calf and PTIC cow prices softened but clearance rates firmed, hitting 92pc for both…Read More

Beef Central, May 24, 2020

Dalby sale 20 May 2020: Strong market for 4403 head yarding

A large panel of export buyers and feeder operators was present, and all were operating in a generally dearer market…Read More

Beef Central, May 21, 2020

Production

Scientists understand cattle not climate villains, but media still missing message

James Nason, May 25, 2020

Webinar: Phosphorous supplementation for better performance in northern Australia

A producer webinar focusing on the benefits in phosphorous supplementation in northern Australia will be held on Monday…Read More

Beef Central, May 22, 2020

Research finds best bait rate for wild dogs

Newly published research results have shown the optimum 1080 aerial delivery rate of 40 baits per linear kilometre will successfully eliminate more than 90 per cent of wild dogs, to reduce their impact on agriculture, native wildlife, the environment and community…Read More

James Nason, May 21, 2020

Trucking company, driver fined after ticky cattle move

A transport company and a driver have been fined $25,000 and $5000 respectively for failing to take reasonable actions to prevent a cattle tick infestation in the free zone…Read More

Beef Central, May 16, 2020

Processing

Weekly kill: Some northern grids lift, while southern cow market on fire

Jon Condon, May 26, 2020

Weekly kill: Southern rates lift, in response to saleyards price surge

Direct consignment slaughter cattle rates lifted another 20c/kg in places in southern states over the past week, in response to surges in saleyards prices…Read More

Jon Condon, May 19, 2020

Most Cedar Meats staff expected to be cleared of COVID-19

Melbourne lamb, mutton and veal exporter Cedar Meats is expecting most of its staff will have been cleared from COVID-19 quarantine before its scheduled re-opening on 18 May…Read More

Terry Sim, May 13, 2020

Weekly kill: Grids surge 20-30c/kg, as US beef production stalls

THE rapid decline in US beef production since COVID-19 forced large numbers of meat plants to close or reduce throughput is an underlying factor in a sharp rise in Australian direct consignment slaughter cattle grid prices this week…Read More

Jon Condon, May 12, 2020

Lotfeeding

Application to allow beta agonist use in feedlot cattle in Australia is polarising industry

AN application to register a beta agonist medicated pre-mix product for use in Australian grainfed beef cattle for the first time is polarising views within the industry…Read More

Jon Condon, May 26, 2020

Feedgrain Focus: Barley firms after China announcement

Liz and Henry Wells, May 22, 2020

Feedlot numbers fall 12pc, as COVID pressures mount

Cattle on feed for the March quarter across Australia declined by 12 percent or 152,000 head from the record highs seen in December, according to results of the latest Australian Lot Feeders Association and Meat & Livestock Australia industry survey…Read More

Beef Central, May 19, 2020

Feedlot numbers likely to fall 30pc by mid-year, analyst says

Cattle numbers on feed in Australia could fall by as much as 30 percent by June this year, independent meat and livestock analyst Simon Quilty told a webinar audience last week. ..Read More

Jon Condon, May 18, 2020

Live Export

Six crew members on livex vessel test positive to COVID-19

Six crew members from a livestock export vessel docked in Fremantle have tested positive for COVID-19…Read More

Beef Central, May 26, 2020

Live export prices regain ground to $3/kg

The Darwin live export price has regained ground to settle around the $3/kg mark after the recent short-lived drop to a two-year low of $2.60kg amid panic selling in late April…Read More

James Nason, May 18, 2020

The road from Mandalay: Myanmar’s rise as key Chinese cattle supplier

Four years ago Ross Ainsworth wrote that Myanmar could become an important supplier of cattle to neighbouring China by 2026. Returning in January, he found things have happened much faster than he predicted.
..Read More

Dr Ross Ainsworth, May 15, 2020

April cattle export figures released

Australian cattle exports to all major markets remained relatively strong throughout April according to the official monthly shipment data for the month…Read More

Beef Central, May 15, 2020

Trade

Food service providor hit hard by COVID-19 impact

Beef Central, May 22, 2020

Australia to hold the line on rules-based trade in China dispute: Birmingham

Australia will continue to apply the principles of a rules-based global trading system in response to recent moves by China to impose a tariff on Australian barley imports and suspend four Australian meat processing plants…Read More

Neil Lyon, May 21, 2020

Trump’s suggestion to halt live cattle imports rejected by US beef producers

A suggestion made this week by US president Donald Trump that his country should consider banning live cattle imports surprised many across the US beef industry, and has been dismissed by the National Cattlemens Beef Association…Read More

Beef Central, May 21, 2020

China puts 80pc tariff on Australian barley

After warning of its intention to do so last week China last night imposed an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley, effective immediately and set to last for five years. ..Read More

Grain Central, May 19, 2020

Genetics

Registered females sell to $105,000 in Elite Wagyu sale

Registered females sold to $105,000 and bulls to $47,500 in the 2020 Elite Wagyu Sale held online last week, which attracted buyers from across Australia, plus the US, Switzerland and the UK…Read More

Beef Central, May 5, 2020

Weekly genetics review: What have we learnt from 2020’s autumn bull sales?

No one would have predicted on the back of drought, fire and now Covid that averages in many autumn bull sales this year would be up on last year’s results, writes genetics editor Alastair Rayner in this week’s column. The transition to on-line interface has opened up more competition and interest, which means more than ever, producers must have a relationship with the breeder and vice versa, he says…Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, April 28, 2020

Weekly genetics review: Key questions to ask your bull breeder before making 2020 spring purchases

As an advisor, I am often asked by clients to help find breeders who may have bulls that could suit their program. A common theme in these conversations focusses around the questions commercial producers should ask their bull breeders. Ahead of this year’s spring bull sales, it may be an opportunity for producers to reflect on what they know about their bull breeder, and to perhaps ask some questions to underpin their breeding choices…Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, April 21, 2020

Weekly genetics review: Selling bulls amid COVID-19

As the autumn bull sales wind to a close, the COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings have possibly not been as significant as some may have first feared. However, with the spring bull selling season now fast approaching, many bull breeders and commercial cattlemen are wondering what changes will be required in order to promote the animals and hold sales, either on-farm or online…Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, April 14, 2020

Ag Tech

AgTechCentral/Agrihive webinar: Ag tax time tips with BDO

Tax time is fast approaching – and there are plenty of things for rural businesses to consider in their tax planning following a year of challenge and change…Read More

Beef Central, May 27, 2020

EvokeAg agtech event pushed back to 2022

Beef Central, May 27, 2020

360-degree camera images take property marketing to another level

Technology continues to penetrate the rural property marketing field, with the latest addition being the use of 360-degree viewer-controlled aerial camera footage of a property for sale. ..Read More

Jon Condon, May 6, 2020

Agtech plays a bigger role in measuring competition’s paddock to plate performance

Technology will play a larger role in measuring performance and animal behaviour from paddock to plate during western Queensland’s 2020 Westech Steer Challenge…Read More

Beef Central, April 21, 2020

Property

Weekly property review: Pre-auction sales – a bird in the hand?

Property editor Linda Rowley, May 27, 2020

Movement at the Station: Properties for sale

$30m expected for Kimberley station with cattle | Historic Qld aggregation listed for $18m | Versatile NT fodder operations to test the market | Scenic Victorian grazing likely to make more than $10m | $10.4m for Maranoa backgrounding country | Well-watered south western Qld country | Breeding, backgrounding and fattening on Qld’s Langlo River | Diverse Bollon property fully exclusion fenced | Tightly-held Diamantina Channel Country goes to auction | Low-cost breeder operations at Bingara..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, May 20, 2020

Weekly property review: Recently completed sales

More than $11m paid for a southern Qld trophy property | $7.5m buys established NT breeder property | Victorian sub-alpine pastoral portfolio exceeds expectations | Locals secure tightly held NSW New England block..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, May 20, 2020

$38.5m purchase of three properties expands Alice Springs aggregation to 1.1m ha

Central Australian beef producers Tim and Emily Edmunds have completed the acquisition of three adjoining cattle stations in the Alice Springs district, creating a certified organic cattle aggregation totalling more than 1.1 million hectares…Read More

Beef Central, May 14, 2020