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Weekly genetics review: Are you breeding cows that your feedbase can support?

This week’s genetics review looks at whether breeding cows are matched to the feedbase available, drawing on the Sweet Spot, CashCow and Beef CRC research projects. It considers how cow size, body condition and feed requirements should be balanced with fertility and production when setting breeding objectives…Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 18/08/2026

Genetics

Is cattle gestation really 283 days?

While 283 days is widely accepted as the gestation length for beef cattle – regularly used for planning decisions – research has shown considerable variation based on breed, gender and other traits.
However, most producers also know that gestation can vary, with shorter and longer pregnancies occurring within most breeding herds…Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 18/08/2026

Genetics

Queensland stud takes bull sale online with its own 24-hour platform

A long-established Queensland stud is trialling a different selling method for its 2026 bull sale, in which it will conduct the entire sale over a 24-hour period through its own online bidding platform…Read More

James Nason, 18/08/2026

Processing

Weekly kill: Lower price trend takes a breather

After a series of downwards adjustments over the past six or eight weeks – producing falls of 70-80c/kg carcase weight in some regions – direct consignment slaughter cattle grids are mostly unchanged this week, with supply and demand in reasonable equilibrium…Read More

Jon Condon, 18/08/2026

News

Agriculture under threat from pause on working holiday visas

The Federal Government has paused the processing of Working Holiday Maker visas from 24 countries, a move that threatens agriculture and regional communities according to industry bodies…Read More

Beef Central, 18/08/2026

News

Report finds Govt spent $2.2b on activist groups over five years

A new report has highlighted the depth of Government support for activist groups, with a sample of 100 organisations receiving a collective $2.2b over the past five years – some of them environmental groups who regularly lobby against the beef industry…Read More

Eric Barker, 18/08/2026

Processing

Processors sound alarm on rising costs, deteriorating market access

As Australia’s agriculture industry celebrates a $100 billion production milestone, the country’s meat processors are warning the commercial viability parts of their sector may be seriously tested…Read More

Beef Central, 18/08/2026

Live Export

Livestock industry unites behind 10-year Live Cattle Growth Plan

Australia’s live cattle industry has united behind an ambitious 10-year blueprint to strengthen one of the nation’s most important agricultural industries…Read More

Beef Central, 18/08/2026

Prosperity Vs Adversity – unlocking genetic progress for your herd

Renders to focus on renewable fuels, global trade and sustainability issues reshaping the sector

Beef Central, 18/08/2026

News

Pork industry businesses caught up in alleged $40m financial crime operation

Beef Central, 18/08/2026

Weather

Weekly rainfall update + rainfall outlook 17 August 2026

Bureau of Meteorology, 18/08/2026

Lotfeeding

Feeder cattle market: Grids down as more rain builds

Eric Barker, 17/08/2026

News

US beef exports to Australia barely raise a blip on the radar

Jon Condon, 17/08/2026

Industry Dashboard

Carbon Trading Market

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

Today

Source: Jarden

$A / $US

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.7105

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

18 Aug 2026 (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

142624

Source: MLA's NLRS

EYCI

Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, c/kg

Today

920.9

Source: MLA's NLRS

90CL Cow

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

Today

1068

Source: Steiner Consulting, MLA

Live Export

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

Today

440

Source: Trade contacts

SOI

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Today

-27.88

Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

Feeder Steer

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

Today

482

Source: Feeder Steer

What readers are saying

Official reports tell different story on reef health to anti-beef activism campaigns

Thanks guys, it is certainly wonderful to know that all our work from producers, scientists and NRM groups is working and we are now the best managers in the....

Mick Alexander

Grower perspectives on the adoption, establishment and management of leucaena

Jeff Watson is correct. Leucaena can be found along coastal Queensland from Cairns to Brisbane. However, the origins of these infestations is not grazier plantings. As mentioned in my....

Max Shelton

Heavy vehicle regulator issues plea after jump in deaths on Australian rural roads

You don’t have to be Einstein to work out why there are so many accidents. The majority of our rural road network is a disgrace. Increased heavy vehicle loads and....

Rob Atkinson

Opinion: The other side of the trade

Thanks for a great, well written yarn. The best way to look after a customer is to always let them know they are important. Highlighting these end users in....

Kenrick Riley

Agriculture under threat from pause on working holiday visas

The Federal Government has paused the processing of Working Holiday Maker visas from 24 countries, a move that threatens agriculture and regional communities according to industry bodies…Read More

Beef Central, 18/08/2026

Report finds Govt spent $2.2b on activist groups over five years

Eric Barker, 18/08/2026

Pork industry businesses caught up in alleged $40m financial crime operation

Four people have been charged following allegations that the business owners or representatives within the pork meat industry engaged in significant trade-based financial offending across Queensland and New South Wales…Read More

Beef Central, 18/08/2026

US beef exports to Australia barely raise a blip on the radar

Social media hysteria in Australia earlier this year over the re-admission of imported beef from the United States after a 20-year ban has proven unfounded, with total trade over the past 13 months barely enough to fill a tray-back utility…Read More

Jon Condon, 17/08/2026

Markets

Chris Howie: Markets changing gears

At a time of the year when supply naturally starts to increase, Chris Howie is urging producers to do their sums on chasing extra weight amid easing prices, and to get forward pricing locked if contracts are not already signed…Read More

Chris Howie , 17/08/2026

Online numbers fall to 9800, with young cattle prices mixed

Online cattle listings eased further this week, falling another 28pc to 9800 head. Offerings on Friday were down more than 8500 head from just a fortnight ago. Steer and heifer weight categories were erratic in c/kg price movements – some up, some down…Read More

Beef Central, 16/08/2026

Wagga sale 17 August 2026: Big surge in numbers to 4360 head,

Numbers offered rose significantly this week, reaching 4360 head. Lightweight steers experienced strong competition, resulting in a price increase of 36c/kg..Read More

Leann Dax, 17/08/2026

Dubbo sale 13 August 2026: Restocker demand kicks with rain

Following the good falls of rain over the last couple of days young cattle to the restockers were 30-50c dearer with the young steers selling from 425c to 576c/kg…Read More

David Monk, NLRS, 14/08/2026

Emerald based livestock agent Lachlan Spry has taken out the 2026 Queensland Young Auctioneers Competition at the Ekka. ..Read More

Lydia Burton, 05/08/2026

Qld Government to adopt recommendations from cattle tick review

The Queensland Government has announced changes to the state’s cattle tick management system for the first time in 10 years, following a review into an outbreak in the state’s tick-free zone earlier this year…Read More

Lydia Burton, 29/07/2026

Latest gross margin figures show encouraging signs for most NSW beef producers

New beef gross margin budget calculations show that returns from all NSW beef enterprises have improved since July 2025, driven by rising cattle prices and strong performance in the feedlot sector. ..Read More

Beef Central, 23/07/2026

Processing

Weekly kill: Lower price trend takes a breather

Jon Condon, 18/08/2026

Processors sound alarm on rising costs, deteriorating market access

Beef Central, 18/08/2026

Renders to focus on renewable fuels, global trade and sustainability issues reshaping the sector

With annual exports valued at about $1.5 billion, the Australian rendering industry is increasingly central to conversations around renewable fuels, circular manufacturing and sustainable livestock production. These and other topics will come together as the Australian Renderers Association holds its International Symposium in Melbourne next month. ..Read More

Beef Central, 18/08/2026

AI-powered manufacturing pilot delivers early wins for Kilcoy Global Foods

A research pilot project using digital twins and generative AI to identify, diagnose and resolve beef production issues in real time has delivered strong early results for Queensland beef processor Kilcoy Global Foods…Read More

Beef Central, 12/08/2026

Lotfeeding

Feeder cattle market: Grids down as more rain builds

Feeder cattle grids have continued to drop this week as supply increases and pressure mounts from processors who are selling into tough meat market…Read More

Eric Barker, 17/08/2026

Feedgrain Focus: North firms as cutting starts

Time is up for some struggling wheat and barley crops on the Downs, while in the south, yield prospects for many crops are looking stellar after recent rain…Read More

Liz Wells, 17/08/2026

Cattle numbers on feed notch up another record, topping 1.66 million head

NUMBERS of cattle on feed in Australian feedlots continued its recent trajectory in the June quarter, setting a new record of 1.66 million head – up another 30,000 head..Read More

Beef Central, 14/08/2026

Vote for the feedlot industry’s best innovation

Vote for the best innovation in the feedlot industry through the ALFA Innovation Competition, which celebrates the clever ideas and innovations that are incorporated into day-to-day feedlot operations…Read More

Beef Central, 12/08/2026

Live Export

Livestock industry unites behind 10-year Live Cattle Growth Plan

Australia’s live cattle industry has united behind an ambitious 10-year blueprint to strengthen one of the nation’s most important agricultural industries…Read More

Beef Central, 18/08/2026

What’s in store for the live cattle trade for the rest of 2026?

During the Ekka last week, Beef Central asked several people close to the northern live cattle trade – Australian exporters, northern producers and Indonesian importers – what they see in store for the sector for the remaining five months of 2026…Read More

James Nason, 13/08/2026

Opinion: The other side of the trade

A recent visit to Indonesia showed Jessie Daniels what the live cattle trade means at the other end of the northern cattle supply chain…Read More

Jessie Daniels , 13/08/2026

Opinion: Over-charged, over-regulated and over it

The Australian National Audit Office’s (ANAO) damning audit of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s (DAFF) biosecurity cost recovery program has severely eroded industry confidence in the department’s ability to deliver a fair, transparent and credible outcome through its current review of export cost recovery arrangements…Read More

ALEC CEO Mark Harvey-Sutton, 11/08/2026

Trade

Export cow beef prices continue to deteriorate, as trade winds blow

Prices for Australian export lean beef trimmings and cow beef used for burgers, tacos and other popular ground beef items have continued to deteriorate, as global beef trading conditions adjust to recent tariff headwinds…Read More

Jon Condon, 28/07/2026

Booming slow-cook BBQ movement explores fusion, secondary cuts

Some of the world’s most acclaimed competition BBQ chefs gathered in Brisbane for a Low & Slow BBQ festival on the weekend, attracting around 8000 meat-loving patrons. The talent on hand provided the perfect opportunity to get a handle on where the American BBQ movement is heading and what’s new…Read More

Jon Condon, 14/07/2026

Manufacturing meat markets under pressure, as Brazilian challenge mounts

There’s plenty of evidence of ‘tougher going’ on the export beef sales front as the new financial year unfolds – especially at the manufacturing meat end…Read More

Jon Condon, 10/07/2026

Aussie beef takes centre stage with Soccer World Cup TV coverage

Millions of people have had a taste of Aussie beef during the FIFA World Cup, with an Australian Beef ad campaign by MLA scoring goals across SBS’s coverage…Read More

Beef Central, 09/07/2026

Genetics

Weekly genetics review: Are you breeding cows that your feedbase can support?

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 18/08/2026

Is cattle gestation really 283 days?

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 18/08/2026

Queensland stud takes bull sale online with its own 24-hour platform

James Nason, 18/08/2026

Cattle producers set to gain from targeted genetics tech investment

The QLD Government has invested $2 million in a Brisbane-based cattle breeding technology startup through its Sowing the Seeds of Farming Innovation Fund. The investment in embryo transfer technology company Nbryo will enable the company to expand its technology to improve access to superior livestock genetics, reducing production costs and improving productivity for beef producers…Read More

Beef Central, 11/08/2026