Home - Beef Central

Authors of ‘unreliable’ global anti-red meat report miss deadline to defend their data

Two reports shine a telling light on the lack of evidence underpinning claims in an influential global report used to justify global dietary policies encouraging lower red meat consumption…Read More

James Nason, 27/01/2022

News

Record low female slaughter supports grainfed-heavy kill reports

Last week’s national slaughter report provides further evidence of a grainfed-heavy national beef kill at present, as processors navigate their way out of challenges presented by COVID-related staff absenteeism. While female slaughter has been generally low for the past 18 months as a consequence of herd rebuilding, last week’s slaughter result was exceptional…Read More

Jon Condon, 27/01/2022

Live Export

ASEL guidance for selection of livestock for export

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) has published guidebooks to support users of the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL)…Read More

Guest Author, 27/01/2022

Property

Weekly property review: What’s in store for the 2022 rural property market?

IN our first weekly property review for the year, industry experts look at what’s in store for 2022. The background trading environment is little changed from last year’s record settings, with commodity prices remaining at, or close to last year’s record highs, and seasonal conditions in many areas underpinning confidence on both the buy and sell side. Here’s what the experts think lies ahead …..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 25/01/2022

News

Rural achievers recognised in 2022 Australia Day honours list

Victorian meat processor Frank Herd, leading livestock breeder Jim Gough and former Meat & Livestock Australia regional manager for Japan, Melanie Brock, are among several Australians with connections to the agriculture sector to have been honoured with 2022 Australia Day Awards, announced today…Read More

James Nason, 26/01/2022

Weather

Weekly rainfall update + rain outlook 26 Jan 2022

A low pressure system over South Australia with an associated trough extending north brought widespread moderate falls over South Australia, particularly around the Eyre Peninsula, southern parts of the Northern Territory, and the Kimberley, while a monsoon trough across far northern Australia produced widespread showers and thunderstorms, with moderate falls across most of the northern tropics…Read More

Bureau of Meteorology, 26/01/2022

Markets

Roma sale 25 Jan 2022: Numbers ease to 3857

Prices continued to ease for steers and most heifers, however cows improved with strong restocker competition, and more regular processors operating…Read More

Beef Central, 26/01/2022

News

Calls for entrants in the 2022 rural ambassador competition

Show organisations have put the call our for entrants in the nation-wide competition, which aspiring rural leaders several networking and educational opportunities…Read More

Beef Central, 26/01/2022

Processing

Weekly kill: Slaughter numbers beginning to grow, as COVID absenteeism slows

Jon Condon, 25/01/2022

Lotfeeding

Grassdale ready to roll on 100,000t/yr fertiliser plant

Liz Wells, 25/01/2022

News

Inflation hits 3.5pc, but one high number won’t budge the Reserve Bank on interest rates

John Hawkins, University of Canberra, 25/01/2022

Processing

Larkin appointed to head Kimberley Meat Co processing business

Jon Condon, 25/01/2022

News

Extra $2 billion for “North to boom”

Guest Author, 25/01/2022

Opinion

68 million more reasons to buy Australian Beef

Guest Author, 25/01/2022

Property

Weekly property review: What’s in store for the 2022 rural property market?

Property editor Linda Rowley, 25/01/2022

Recruitment

Recruitment: Some sage advice for this season’s first year jackaroos

Ben Reardon, the head stockman at Stanbroke’s Kamilaroi Station in the Gulf, sends his new recruits each year a few words of wisdom which he has developed over the years from his experiences on cattle stations. He owes much of this advice to lessons learned and knowledge gained from previous managers and staff that have worked for him. Here are his collected thoughts …..Read More

Beef Central, 21/01/2022

News

Rural achievers recognised in 2022 Australia Day honours list

James Nason, 26/01/2022

News

New beef risk management tool set for February launch

A new beef industry supply chain risk management tool is drawing closer to commercial launch – likely around mid-February. Project developer StoneX is readying its new cash-settled Feeder Cattle Swaps product for launch, after 12 months of development and testing…Read More

Jon Condon, 21/01/2022

Processing

Larkin appointed to head Kimberley Meat Co processing business

High-profile meat and livestock industry identity David Larkin has joined Western Australia’s Kimberley Meat Cooperative as the business’s new chief executive officer. ..Read More

Jon Condon, 25/01/2022

News

Red tape hurdle as Indonesian feedlots eye Australian grain

The rising cost of stock feed in Asia is raising the unlikely prospect of feedlots in Indonesia importing feedgrain from Australia – a scenario that once seemed inconceivable in a country where large volumes of cheap feed has always been a major advantage…Read More

James Nason, 24/01/2022

News

Northern pastoral companies preparing for first season of COVID cases

With the Northern Australian mustering season set to start in the next two months, companies are preparing for their first season of COVID cases in their communities…Read More

Eric Barker, 21/01/2022

Lotfeeding

Grassdale ready to roll on 100,000t/yr fertiliser plant

Composted manure from Mort & Co’s Grassdale feedlot is being value added on site on the Darling Downs to produce up to 100,000t per annum of granular fertiliser. ..Read More

Liz Wells, 25/01/2022

Processing

Weekly kill: Slaughter numbers beginning to grow, as COVID absenteeism slows

There’s anecdotal evidence this week that the worst may now be behind the industry in some regions, in terms of COVID-related processor staff absenteeism and its impact on the cattle market…Read More

Jon Condon, 25/01/2022

News

Television shows highlighting unique skills of the cattle industry

Two ABC television shows highlighting the unique skills of livestock producers are set to kick off in the next fortnight. With Muster Dogs premiering this weekend and Outback Ringer starting next month…Read More

Beef Central, 21/01/2022

Industry Dashboard

$A / $US

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.7100

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

27 Jan 2022 (updated 10am daily)

Company	Price	Trending
Elders	$11.54
Australian Agricultural Co	$1.47
Graincorp	$7.42
Ridley	$1.49
Woolworths	$35.02
Wellard	$0.10

Source: ASX

Beef Kill

Eastern States, weekly

Last Week

72477

Source: MLA's NLRS

EYCI

Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, c/kg

Today

1148

Source: MLA's NLRS

90CL Cow

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

Today

Source: Steiner Consulting, MLA

Live Export

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

Today

500

Source: Trade contacts

SOI

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Today

12.84

Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

Feeder Steer

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

Today

Source: Feeder Steer

What readers are saying

Positive steps underway towards new, stronger peak industry council: Rathsmann

Marcus Rathsmann has accurately described a crucial turning point for the grassfed cattle industry and its members and he deserves great credit for leading the Cattle Council to this....

Jock Douglas

Cattle Council CEO position filled

Congratulations John. McGoverne. Duly respected by all.....

Bim+Struss

Red tape hurdle as Indonesian feedlots eye Australian grain

Credit to James Nason for this report, which contains four key messages- Indonesian Government policy is aimed at self -sufficiency through limited imports. The IA-CEPA trade agreement was put in....

Peter Dunn

Meat wholesalers’ chillers look threadbare, in face of beef supply chain challenges

Please do not blame producers for the price rise. They can supply all the meat that Australians want to buy.....

Val Dyer

Authors of ‘unreliable’ global anti-red meat report miss deadline to defend their data

James Nason, 27/01/2022

Record low female slaughter supports grainfed-heavy kill reports

Jon Condon, 27/01/2022

Rural achievers recognised in 2022 Australia Day honours list

James Nason, 26/01/2022

Calls for entrants in the 2022 rural ambassador competition

Show organisations have put the call our for entrants in the nation-wide competition, which aspiring rural leaders several networking and educational opportunities…Read More

Beef Central, 26/01/2022

Markets

Roma sale 25 Jan 2022: Numbers ease to 3857

Prices continued to ease for steers and most heifers, however cows improved with strong restocker competition, and more regular processors operating…Read More

Beef Central, 26/01/2022

Wagga sale 24 Jan 2022: Public holiday keeps numbers steady

There were very few domestic or export buyers at the rail however a bigger contingent of feedlot buyers attended after returning from the southern weaner sales…Read More

Leann Dax, 25/01/2022

Buyer caution evident in young steer listings online

Online commercial cattle sales continued to see a steady rise in offerings this week, with the first signs of some buyer caution evident through the young steer lines, with prices softer and clearance rates below late 2021 levels for the second consecutive week…Read More

Beef Central, 22/01/2022

Early-season EYCI picks up where it left off in 2021, hitting new records

Young cattle prices have well and truly picked up where they left off at the end of 2021, with the industry’s main barometer, the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, hitting new record highs on Tuesday and again yesterday…Read More

Jon Condon, 20/01/2022

Production

Change the conversation around managing drought – free RCS course

A unique drought preparedness course is being launched by agricultural training and education provider RCS with the support of the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund. ..Read More

Guest Author, 18/01/2022

‘Just keeps coming at us’ – Producer appeals for biological control of Heliotrope

Since the release of biological control agents over the past decade, Patterson’s Curse has all but disappeared from view on Peter Wallis’s cattle and sheep properties near Albury – now he is hoping Government support can help to break the spell of Heliotrope in a similar way.
..Read More

James Nason, 19/01/2022

Summer rain spurs three-day sickness outbreaks

Reports of three-day sickness are increasing in prominence following summer rainfall across parts of Queensland and New South Wales…Read More

James Nason, 12/01/2022

Closing the knowledge gap on impacts of wild dog predation on cattle

A study to assess cattle movements and behaviour in relation to wild dog activity is underway in the Western Australian rangelands.
..Read More

Beef Central, 11/01/2022

Processing

Weekly kill: Slaughter numbers beginning to grow, as COVID absenteeism slows

Jon Condon, 25/01/2022

Larkin appointed to head Kimberley Meat Co processing business

High-profile meat and livestock industry identity David Larkin has joined Western Australia’s Kimberley Meat Cooperative as the business’s new chief executive officer. ..Read More

Jon Condon, 25/01/2022

Weekly kill: COVID impacts make early season price-setting difficult, but some grids fall 30c/kg

The unfolding COVID impact on Australian processing capacity is making slaughter cattle price reporting difficult in the opening stages of 2022. Slaughter numbers collapsed last week under pressure from staff sickness, and some Queensland grids have fallen 30c/kg as a result ..Read More

Jon Condon, 18/01/2022

Woolworths to resume processing at Teys’ SA plant after COVID concern

Woolworths has announced it will resume processing at Teys’ Naracoorte plant after it temporarily suspended its deal earlier this week…Read More

Beef Central, 18/01/2022

Lotfeeding

Grassdale ready to roll on 100,000t/yr fertiliser plant

Composted manure from Mort & Co’s Grassdale feedlot is being value added on site on the Darling Downs to produce up to 100,000t per annum of granular fertiliser. ..Read More

Liz Wells, 25/01/2022

Feedgrain Focus: Grower mindset lifts south, sinks north

Prices for feedgrain have eased in the northern market this week as growers quit barley and SFW wheat to make room for a bumper sorghum harvest knocking on the door…Read More

Liz Wells, 21/01/2022

Feedgrain Focus: Market flattens as buyers weigh up options

Trade in the domestic market remains thin as prices flatten on solid export demand and limited grower selling…Read More

Liz Wells, 14/01/2022

Feedlots may be contributing to antibiotic resistance, research suggests

Feedlot manure carries antibiotic-resistant bacteria with the potential to amplify the growing crisis in human antibiotic resistance, new university research has found…Read More

Beef Central, 12/01/2022

Live Export

ASEL guidance for selection of livestock for export

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) has published guidebooks to support users of the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL)…Read More

Guest Author, 27/01/2022

Large line of live export steers offered by tender

The strength of pre-Ramadan demand for export feeder cattle and a shortage of suitable stock has prompted a Northern Territory livestock agent to use a sale-by-tender process to market one of the few remaining large lines of sought-after high-grade steers for shipment in the coming weeks…Read More

James Nason, 19/01/2022

SE Asia Report: Aus cattle prices continue to break all records

Australian cattle prices continue to break all records, exports to Indonesia surge out of Darwin as the monsoon approaches, Vietnam suffering more from the ravages of the pandemic, plus meet Scotland’s Luing breed – Dr Ross Ainsworth’s South East Asia Report.
..Read More

Dr Ross Ainsworth, 19/01/2022

Laporan Pasar : Industri Daging Sapi Asia Tenggara – Desember 2021

Edisi ke-97 : Desember 2021: Harga sapi Australia terus memecahkan rekor | Ekspor sapi dari Darwin ke Indonesia mengalami pelonjakan ketika musim hujan datang.
..Read More

Dr Ross Ainsworth, 19/01/2022

Trade

Indonesia will take a big step on the global stage this year – are Australians paying enough attention?

Many Australians are probably unaware that neighbouring Indonesia has assumed the G20 presidency and will host the crucial meeting of the world’s largest economies for the first time in October…Read More

Ian Kemish, The University of Queensland, 24/01/2022

Entries closing for RNA Paddock to Palate and Wagyu Challenge competitions

Entries for the 2022 Brisbane RNA Paddock to Palate Competition and 2023 Wagyu Challenge hosted by JBS Australia are about to close…Read More

Beef Central, 21/01/2022

Australian beef exports end 2021 year at 36-year low

Australia’s full 2021 calendar year beef exports have fallen well short of 900,000 tonnes – their lowest level in at least 36 years – as the accumulated effect of herd rebuilding after earlier continental scale drought took full effect…Read More

Jon Condon, 11/01/2022

Australia signs FTA with UK – “a big win for Aussie agriculture”

Australia has today signed the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which means the trade pact is now set to enter into force during 2022. ..Read More

Beef Central, 17/12/2021

Genetics

Exploring issues surrounding the fertilising capacity of beef bulls

Beef breeding advisor Dr Phil Holmes explores a range of issues surrounding the fertilising capacity of beef bulls. “We can get rid of this blight on the industry (penile deviation) so easily. We have a gene marker for the condition as a function of great research, but unfortunately the work was done with only one breed,” he says. “We need a tad more work to show that the marker crosses breed boundaries.”..Read More

Dr Phil Holmes* , 08/12/2021

Weekly genetics review: 2021 proved to be a year to remember for bull breeders

Attempting to describe the 2021 bull selling season without using adjectives like ‘unprecedented’ or ‘record-breaking’ is a very difficult task for agents, industry observers, bull breeders and cattle producers following the seedstock sector’s fortunes. In his final weekly genetics column for the year, genetics writer Al Rayner ponders whether there is a risk of bull breeders over-reacting to the extraordinary 2021 results, in delivering bulls in future years ..Read More

Guest Author, 10/11/2021

Weekly genetics review: Is there an opportunity to select for male fertility?

A quick look at the various EBVs which address fertility traits in cattle shows almost all relate to aspects of female fertility. But can there be some genetic selection for bull fertility, beyond the use of scrotal circumference measurements? It’s possible using BBSE earlier that Age at Puberty can actually be a good method, and longer-term, genomic data may also hold promise to help develop an EBV for conception rate, writes genetics editor Al Rayner..Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 03/11/2021

Weekly genetics review: Addressing cow reproduction through genetics

This week’s review looks at the value in enhancements to data and reference population work from the north to improve reproductive selection in cows. “Basically, the data we have now is enhancing reproductive EBVs such as Days to Calving to increase accuracy by almost 15pc in Brahmans – a significant shift forwards for producers to select earlier and with more confidence,” genetics editor Al Rayner says..Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 26/10/2021

Ag Tech

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

Farmbot water monitor sales boost, with more than 5000 units sold

Australian agtech brand Farmbot has now sold more than 5,000 water monitoring units, with the company saying the COP26 summit in Glasgow has boosted sales in recent weeks.
..Read More

Beef Central, 09/11/2021

Assisted reality goggles finding a place in lotfeeding and processing

While virtual reality and augmented reality have been all the talk in the Ag Tech sector in recent years, assisted reality has started to find a practical position in the beef industry…Read More

Eric Barker, 25/10/2021

Property

Weekly property review: What’s in store for the 2022 rural property market?

Property editor Linda Rowley, 25/01/2022

Prominent lotfeeders sell southern feedyard and property for at least $16m

Well-known lotfeeders Tess and Andrew Herbert have sold their southern Riverina-based Ladysmith feedlot for at least $16 million…Read More

Eric Barker, 19/01/2022

Prime NSW land earmarked for mining returns to local families

A massive north-western New South Wales portfolio of land once earmarked for a coal mine has been carved up between 12 local farming families and a corporate institution in a deal worth around $120 million…Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 10/01/2022

Weekly property review: Reflections on a vintage year for rural property

The extraordinary 2021 rural property transaction space once again saw an increasing number of Australian farming families looking to expand, with a scarcity of properties putting upward pressure on already booming land values. In today’s final weekly property review for the year, we asked a range of industry stakeholders to reflect on the year that was……Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 16/12/2021