Home - Beef Central

Huge opportunity for chilled Aussie grainfed beef into US, during herd rebuilding

Big changes taking place in the US beef industry next year due to drought impact on domestic US beef production have opened up exciting prospects for export of much larger volumes of higher quality Australian chilled grainfed cuts, trade sources believe…Read More

Jon Condon, 05/12/2023

Processing

Weekly kill: Slaughter season almost sown-up, as attention starts to focus on 2024

Save for a few saleyards cattle and replacing some cancellations due to rain, most export and domestic beef processors have now closed their books on procurement for the 2023 season, and are now starting to think about 2024. ..Read More

Jon Condon, 05/12/2023

News

Two small changes that could make a big difference with fires

A Queensland producer is calling for some “small changes that would make a difference” in the management of fires, asking authorities to allow for bigger breaks along fence lines and loosening the rules on backburning…Read More

Eric Barker, 05/12/2023

News

ABARES forecasts 12pc fall in value of livestock production

ABARES’ December Agricultural Commodities Report released today forecasts a 12 percent fall in the value of production of livestock and livestock products in 2023-24 to $31.9 billion…Read More

Beef Central, 05/12/2023

News

NFF urging Federal Government to finally settle live cattle case

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) says it has welcomed a counter offer made to the Commonwealth Government to hopefully close the long-running class action of those left devastated by the unlawful closure of the live cattle export trade in 2011…Read More

Beef Central, 05/12/2023

Weather

Weekly rainfall update + rainfall outlook 5 December 2023

Severe thunderstorms and showers over much of eastern Australia continued with the heaviest rainfall across South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria where a number of locations set new records for both their wettest November day and their wettest day of any month…Read More

Bureau of Meteorology, 05/12/2023

News

Lift in global animal protein production likely in 2024, despite unavourable market conditions

Animal protein production growth will slow as margins remain tight in 2024, with producers and processors needing to adapt to sustain success, according to Rabobank’s annual Global Animal Protein Outlook report…Read More

Beef Central, 05/12/2023

Markets

Wagga sale 4 Dec 2023: Price lifts 20-50c/kg

Rising demand, fuelled by the impending Christmas break and widespread rainfall in NSW and Queensland, led to a substantial surge in both cattle numbers and prices…Read More

Leann Dax, 05/12/2023

News

Chris Howie: Return of the Phantom herd

Chris Howie , 04/12/2023

News

Online livestock marketing space heats-up, with launch of innovative new competitor

Jon Condon, 04/12/2023

News

China demand questions raised during JBS investor briefing

Jon Condon, 04/12/2023

News

Industry groups welcome senate inquiry into supermarket food pricing

Eric Barker, 04/12/2023

Carbon

COP28: Australia joins Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture

Beef Central, 04/12/2023

Carbon

Opinion: The challenge to change as new facts come to light

George King, 04/12/2023

Markets

Wagga sale 4 Dec 2023: Price lifts 20-50c/kg

Rising demand, fuelled by the impending Christmas break and widespread rainfall in NSW and Queensland, led to a substantial surge in both cattle numbers and prices…Read More

Leann Dax, 05/12/2023

News

Chris Howie: Return of the Phantom herd

The Ghost Herd phenomenon walks among us again, Chris Howie writes in this month’s wrap of latest cattle and sheep market trends and insights across Australia. ..Read More

Chris Howie , 04/12/2023

Markets

Dalby sale 29 Nov 2023: Yarding lifts in response to rain, prices

The market responded to the rain with light weight yearling steers returning to the paddock lifting in price by over 70c/kg…Read More

Trevor Hess, NLRS, 30/11/2023

Weather

Weekly rainfall update + rainfall outlook 5 December 2023

Bureau of Meteorology, 05/12/2023

Markets

EYCI continues its surge, topping 550c/kg for the first time since July

The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator reached another important milestone this week, passing above 550c/kg dressed weight equivalent as the dramatic rain-driven turnaround in livestock prices continues…Read More

Beef Central, 01/12/2023

News

Who’s next for red meat’s top job?

It hasn’t taken long for news of Jason Strong’s decision to call time on his term as managing director of Meat & Livestock Australia for speculation to begin about who might replace him in the high-profile role. Who are some potential contenders?..Read More

Beef Central, 01/12/2023

News

Jason Strong to finish as MLA managing director after five years

After nearly five years as Managing Director at Meat & Livestock Australia, Mr Jason Strong has resigned and will leave the organisation on December 22…Read More

Beef Central, 30/11/2023

News

Jason Strong’s five-year legacy leading MLA

WHAT will Jason Strong’s legacy to industry be as the operational head of Meat & Livestock Australia? How will history view his contribution to industry progress? Set out here are some key points that characterised and influenced the Strong era of MLA industry service delivery operations…….Read More

Beef Central, 30/11/2023

News

Online livestock marketing space heats-up, with launch of innovative new competitor

The online livestock marketing space dominated for decades by AuctionsPlus is about to heat-up, with the launch today of an innovative, user-friendly new national competitor…Read More

Jon Condon, 04/12/2023

News

Wagyu branded beef entries exposed to unprecedented analysis

They’re arguably the most heavily-analysed samples of beef ever seen in a commercial branded beef taste test competition held anywhere in the world. ..Read More

Jon Condon, 01/12/2023

Industry Dashboard

Carbon Trading Market

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

Today

Source: Jarden

$A / $US

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.6620

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

06 Dec 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

128454

Source: MLA's NLRS

EYCI

Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, c/kg

Today

556.7

Source: MLA's NLRS

90CL Cow

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

Today

795.7

Source: Steiner Consulting, MLA

Live Export

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

Today

280

Source: Trade contacts

SOI

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Today

-8.15

Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

Feeder Steer

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

Today

292.6

Source: Feeder Steer

What readers are saying

“It was going to bloody roar wasn’t it”: ‘Fear of litigation’ undermining fire response

Get this article in the Herald and the Australian - this needs to be heard.....

Josh Phelps

“It was going to bloody roar wasn’t it”: ‘Fear of litigation’ undermining fire response

Great article this is an Australia-wide issue. The so-called government land managers are not accountable. for their inaction! my entire herd was incinerated in 2006, it took 12 years....

Mark Coleman

“It was going to bloody roar wasn’t it”: ‘Fear of litigation’ undermining fire response

You are so bloody right James S, Only problem James N is who else reads this except us! How do you get this in front of the average city....

Andrew Walsh

MLA’s Jason Strong explains retail meat pricing disparity

I understand it’s a tough time for us farmers. What I don’t understand is the personal attacks from readers on one of our greatest representatives in Jason Strong -....

Erica Halliday

Huge opportunity for chilled Aussie grainfed beef into US, during herd rebuilding

Jon Condon, 05/12/2023

Two small changes that could make a big difference with fires

Eric Barker, 05/12/2023

ABARES forecasts 12pc fall in value of livestock production

ABARES’ December Agricultural Commodities Report released today forecasts a 12 percent fall in the value of production of livestock and livestock products in 2023-24 to $31.9 billion…Read More

Beef Central, 05/12/2023

NFF urging Federal Government to finally settle live cattle case

Beef Central, 05/12/2023

Markets

Wagga sale 4 Dec 2023: Price lifts 20-50c/kg

Rising demand, fuelled by the impending Christmas break and widespread rainfall in NSW and Queensland, led to a substantial surge in both cattle numbers and prices…Read More

Leann Dax, 05/12/2023

Online numbers grow, on back of rain impetus

THE recent rally in the cattle market has sparked higher levels of online vendor interest last week, with AuctionsPlus recording an offering of 15,104 head, lifting 47pc from the previous week – its largest catalogue since early June…Read More

Beef Central, 04/12/2023

EYCI continues its surge, topping 550c/kg for the first time since July

Beef Central, 01/12/2023

Dalby sale 29 Nov 2023: Yarding lifts in response to rain, prices

The market responded to the rain with light weight yearling steers returning to the paddock lifting in price by over 70c/kg…Read More

Trevor Hess, NLRS, 30/11/2023

Sensors could provide key to more effective cattle supplementation

Simple on-animal sensors could be a game changer for Australian beef cattle nutrition, according to research being conducted at University of Queensland…Read More

Beef Central, 17/11/2023

GrainCorp’s Performance Feeds takeover creates liquid supplement giant

GrainCorp has announced its purchase of feedlot and pasture-based liquid feed supplement manufacturer Performance Feeds, in a move which will create a colossal footprint in the livestock industry nutrition field…Read More

Beef Central, 15/11/2023

Vaccine protects sheep and cattle from anthrax in high-risk areas

Livestock producers who manage properties in NSW where anthrax has previously occurred and in areas bordered by Bourke and Moree in the north, to Albury and Deniliquin in the south, are being reminded to vaccinate their cattle and sheep against anthrax…Read More

Beef Central, 15/11/2023

Processing

Weekly kill: Slaughter season almost sown-up, as attention starts to focus on 2024

Jon Condon, 05/12/2023

Greenham’s Tom Maguire elected chair of Australian Meat Industry Council

Experienced red meat processing industry identity Tom Maguire was elected today as the new chairman of the Australian Meat Industry Council…Read More

Beef Central, 01/12/2023

WA departments investigating Kimberley cattle deaths and waste dumping allegations

Two Western Australian Government departments are conducting investigations into a Kimberly region pastoral company and abattoir following allegations that hundreds of cattle died in station yards and abattoir waste was illegally dumped in breach of environmental regulations…Read More

Beef Central, 30/11/2023

Weekly kill: Rain impact being seen in sharply higher slaughter pricing and lower availability

There’s been some quite dramatic late-season rises in direct consignment slaughter cattle prices this week, as the full impact of recent rain starts to take effect. But what does it mean for early 2024? ..Read More

Jon Condon, 28/11/2023

Lotfeeding

Shadow of earlier high feeder cattle prices has lifted for lotfeeders – with one big exception

The nature of lotfeeding cattle means that during periods of substantial livestock price decline, operators are left with animals on their books that can inevitably look very ‘expensive.’ How do the numbers stack up this week for domestic, 100-day and longfed cattle? ..Read More

Jon Condon, 22/11/2023

September quarter cattle on feed steady at 1.258m head

Cattle numbers on feed in Australian feedlots remained steady in the September quarter, but are still the second highest on record, results from the September quarterly grainfed industry survey show…Read More

Beef Central, 14/11/2023

Feedgrain Focus: Small tonnage limits new-crop sales

Modest yields from the harvest to date are limiting traded volume as consumers sit on their hands and wait for bigger crops further south to hit the bins…Read More

Beef Central, 12/11/2023

Cottonseed prices itself out of summer rations

Cottonseed has priced itself out of rations in the near term for feedlots not covered at cheaper prices booked months ago, with canola meal the go-to alternative…Read More

Liz Wells, 10/11/2023

Live Export

Can WA processing sector absorb extra sheep under livex ban?

Department of Agriculture advice claiming Western Australia’s meat processing sector can “readily absorb” additional sheep numbers if a live export phase out eventuates has been challenged as “total rubbish” by WA sheep industry representatives…Read More

James Nason, 01/12/2023

Cattle exports to Indonesia and Vietnam show improvement

Australian cattle exports totalled 55,127 head in October, 26 percent below the five-year-average for the month and about 10,000 less than October 2022…Read More

Beef Central, 28/11/2023

Legislation passes to establish Inspector-General of Animal Welfare and Live Animal Exports

Legislation to establish a new Inspector-General of Animal Welfare and Live Animal Exports was passed in Parliament on Monday…Read More

Beef Central, 28/11/2023

Live ex report remains elusive, with multiple requests for it denied

An independent report into the proposed phase out of live sheep exports by sea looks like it will remain behind closed doors for the foreseeable future – after multiple Freedom of Information requests for it were denied…Read More

Beef Central, 24/11/2023

Trade

Most red meat exports go into free trade agreement countries

Almost all Australia’s red meat exports are being realised into countries the nation had free trade agreements with, producers were told at the Meat & Livestock Australia Update in Bendigo yesterday…Read More

Terry Sim, 24/11/2023

Beef supply chain, exporter announce commercial partnership

Vertically-integrated beef company Argyle Foods Group and export meat trading company, Sure Good Foods have entered into a commercial partnership…Read More

Beef Central, 21/11/2023

Whats driving the meat eating habits of generation Z?

In this contributed article, US-based market research organisation Midan Marketing gives some insight into the meat eating trends of generation Z…Read More

Danette Amstein, 17/11/2023

Govt raises hopes of China beef trade access progress by Christmas

Canberra is optimistic that China will lift its remaining trade blocks on Australian beef and other commodities by Christmas as relations stabilise following Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to Beijing earlier this month…Read More

Beef Central, 15/11/2023

Genetics

Weekly genetics review: Reflecting on a challenging 2023 bull selling year

Weather and beef and live export market uncertainty have served to undermine demand and prices for bulls sold during the 2023 year, genetics editor Al Rayner writes in his final weekly commentary for the year ..Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 31/10/2023

Weekly genetics review: Who pays for the data needed for genetic improvement?

Who should pay for genetic improvement into the future? At present the industry uses data collected on-farm, at cost to the bull breeder. Seedstock producers only get 5-10pc of the value of their animals’ contribution to the beef supply chain – small, when we think of how much the industry needs them to collect and provide it. As genomics comes into play, who will pay for the maintenance of reference populations? genetics editor Al Rayner asks……Read More

Beef Central, 24/10/2023

Weekly genetics review: Is navel gazing impacting your herd’s fertility?

Are looser navels detrimental to production in tropically-adapted beef breeds? There are some useful research results from the Beef CRC and Northern Repronomics projects which may help producers rethink this topic…Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 17/10/2023

Weekly genetics review: Understanding the risks of trichomoniasis in a beef breeding herd

Trichomoniasis is an important inclusion on MLA’s list of major disease challenges faced by the beef industry updated last year. It represents a warning for beef producers, particularly those in northern and extensive regions…Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 10/10/2023

Ag Tech

Sunshine Coast business wins Ag category award at Innovate with nbn 2023

A company helping butchers to monitor the cooking and cooling temperatures of all cooked/dried products was named as the Agriculture category winner of the 2023 Innovate with nbn Grants Program awards announced last night in Sydney…Read More

Beef Central, 27/11/2023

Drone survey a positive step towards better regulations for ag

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is calling on producers using or intending to use drones for activities like mustering and spraying to help improve the regulatory framework…Read More

Beef Central, 01/11/2023

Prime time for drones on feral pig watch in NT

A Charles Darwin University (CDU) study has identified early evening, or a wet season morning, as the prime time for surveying feral pigs from sky-high drones, which could help land rangers to improve management of the stealthy and invasive animals…Read More

Beef Central, 20/10/2023

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

AgProperty Central

Weekly property review: Recently completed sales

New ag investment vehicle pays $50m for NSW’s Burmah Station | Historic Cootamundra country sells to European family | Chinese add $80m Victorian estate to impressive portfolio | Sought-after CQ cattle country sells at auction for $16.5m | Local producers relocate to CQ breeding block | Butcher secures Atherton Tablelands breeding country | North QLD finishing depot sells for $5.2m | Wagyu breeders secure additional NSW mid-north coast country..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 29/11/2023

Movement at the station: Recent property listings

Grazing & irrigation assets tipped to raise $30m | Historic New England property offered after 123 years ownership | New England grazing block to be auctioned | Picturesque grazing & irrigation near Gunnedah listed for $6.3m | Riverina high-rainfall block could make $7m | NT depot relists for $4.5m..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 29/11/2023

AIMCo, New Agriculture buy Kimberley Cattle Portfolio

Canada’s AIMCo and partner New Agriculture have announced plans to buy the 2.9Mha Kimberley Cattle Portfolio as their first foray into Australian beef production…Read More

Beef Central, 29/11/2023

Hancock adds to its backgrounding capacity with purchase of Northern NSW property

Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Agriculture has expanded its backgrounding capacity, with the purchase of a New South Wales property…Read More

Beef Central, 27/11/2023

AgCarbon Central

COP28: Australia joins Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture

Australia has joined the Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate action at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP28…Read More

Beef Central, 04/12/2023

Opinion: The challenge to change as new facts come to light

Unless we get on the front foot and direct the conversation Australian Agriculture will go from being a point of difference to a point of confusion in the marketplace, NSW cattle producer George King writes in this contributed opinion piece. ..Read More

George King, 04/12/2023

Carbon case: small scale, high value the key for reef catchment cattle property

This is the third of a series of articles AgCarbon Central is profiling producers undertaking carbon and other environmental projects. Today’s article is on Queensland Wagyu producer Michael Dempsey, who has an avoided clearing project on his property in the North Burnett region…Read More

Eric Barker, 30/11/2023

GWP* measures methane right, now it’s up to us to use it right

There’s a lot of debate about the metrics used to quantify methane, a potent greenhouse gas, with GWP* often at the center of the arguments. Heated discussions arise over the fact that GWP* may be scientifically correct but nevertheless unfair to use. To be fair, there’s quite a bit to unravel…Read More

Frank Mitloehner, University of California, Davis, 29/11/2023