Home - Beef Central

Sharp drop in supply sees lift in AuctionsPlus clearances

Weaner heifers saw the highest demand with a 78pc clearance and a rise of 24c/kg, while steers less than 200kg were up 42c/kg on AuctionsPlus this week…Read More

Beef Central, September 21, 2019

Lotfeeding

Feedgrain Focus: Prompt northern market lifts on short covering

With vanishing prospects of northern crops finishing for grain, the surge in hay and silage cutting has lit a fire under spot markets for southern Queensland delivered wheat and barley…Read More

Liz and Henry Wells, September 20, 2019

Live Export

Frustrations build over long delays with Independent Observer reports

Questions are being asked about why it is taking several months, and in some cases as long as a year, for reports from Independent Observers on livestock export journeys to be published…Read More

James Nason, September 20, 2019

Weather

Need for rain prompts interest in less-heeded climate science

Interest in non-conventional climate influencers is on the rise as conventional models watched by Australian agriculture continue to generate forecasts devoid of rain for drought-stricken areas…Read More

Liz Wells, September 20, 2019

Lotfeeding

Research reveals big lairage duration impacts on carcase quality

Pilot research into the effect of lairage timing and duration on Australian feedlot cattle has found time of transportation, slaughter and time off feed have significant effects on carcase yield and quality…Read More

Meat & Livestock Australia, September 20, 2019

Recruitment

Recruitment: Four behaviours that define leadership effectiveness

Global management advisory company, McKinsey & Co set out to discover what the top behaviours are that successful leaders consistently demonstrate. The survey found that just four kinds of behaviour accounted for 89 percent of leadership effectiveness. What are they?..Read More

Beef Central, September 19, 2019

Markets

Dubbo Sale 19 Sep 2019: Prices fall in smaller yarding

With 20mm plus of rain earlier in the week and the thought that the numbers may be starting to run out the yarding fell by almost 2400 for a yarding of 3160…Read More

David Monk, September 20, 2019

News

Kay’s Cuts: What will new EU and Japan trade deals mean for US beef?

Steve Kay, September 19, 2019

News

NAPCo board appoints new chief executive

Jon Condon, September 18, 2019

Trade

Korean beef safeguard imminent

Meat & Livestock Australia, September 19, 2019

Production

Victoria’s top MSA producers announced

Beef Central, September 18, 2019

News

MLA members’ final opportunity to secure full voting entitlements

Beef Central, September 19, 2019

Markets

Dalby sale 18 Sep 2019: Southern demand eases

Beef Central, September 19, 2019

Processing

Construction go ahead for Angus’ on-farm abattoir

IT’S official: Construction of the first significant greenfield beef processing plant to be built in Queensland in more than 20 years will begin on November 1…Read More

James Nason, September 16, 2019

News

NAPCo board appoints new chief executive

Experienced agribusiness manager and company director Richard Brimblecombe has been appointed the new chief executive officer for the North Australian Pastoral Co. ..Read More

Jon Condon, September 18, 2019

Trade

China drops pork/soybeans tariff, hog losses accelerate – estimated at 70pc by year end

The once estimated loss of China’s pig population of 50 percent by year’s end is now looking like a 70pc hog and a 60pc sow inventory loss, as China’s Africa Swine Fever problem accelerates…Read More

Simon Quilty, September 17, 2019

Property

Weekly property review: The ins and outs of due diligence in a property purchase

In this first part of a two-part series, valuer Frank Peacocke from Herron Todd White steps through the process of due diligence on northern beef property acquisitions…Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, September 18, 2019

Processing

Processors facing water supply issues as drought deepens

Several regional meat processing operations could soon be facing water supply challenges if there is no reprieve to the severe drought conditions gripping eastern and northern Australia…Read More

James Nason and Terry Sim, September 18, 2019

Live Export

SE Asia Report: Indonesia imports a massive 75,000 feeders in August

Also – frozen Indian buffalo back on shelves in Indonesia; China prices break through AUD$6/kg live weight; ASF disaster continues to sweep across Asia; plant-based burger takeover in New York; a very proud grandfather; some brave predictions and more in the latest South East Asia Report…Read More

Dr Ross Ainsworth, September 17, 2019

News

Ferocious debate erupts over ‘vegan terrorists’

A tempestuous political debate has zeroed-in on the rights of farmers to produce livestock for human food consumption, without suffering endangerment due to escalating threats and illegal intimidation driven by “vegan terrorists”…Read More

Colin Bettles, September 16, 2019

Production

Better animal welfare helps drive productivity on Birrindudu

Having seen the positive impact administering pain relief has made to animal welfare on Heytesbury Cattle Co’s Birrindudu Station in the Northern Territory, Kylie Hutley now describes it as ‘the only way forward’ for the cattle industry…Read More

Beef Central, September 17, 2019

News

Committee chosen to direct annual $100m drought resilience program

A committee of five people has been named by Minister for Drought David Littleproud to help deliver $100 million in drought resilience and preparedness programs to communities every year through the Future Drought Fund…Read More

Beef Central, September 17, 2019

Weather

Need for rain prompts interest in less-heeded climate science

Liz Wells, September 20, 2019

Industry Dashboard

$A / $US Graph

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.6787

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

22 Sep 2019 (updated 10am daily)

Company	Price	Trending
Elders	$6.51
Australian Agricultural Co	$1.00
Graincorp	$8.32
Ruralco	$4.40
Ridley	$1.02
Woolworths	$37.55
Wellard	$0.05

Source: ASX

Beef Kill

Eastern States, weekly

Last Week

145316

Source: MLA's NLRS

EYCI

Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, c/kg

Today

468.50

Source: MLA's NLRS

90CL Cow

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

Today

726.1

Source: Steiner Consulting, MLA

Live Export

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

Today

315

Source: Trade contacts

SOI Graph

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Today

-2.99

Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

Feeder Steer Graph

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

Today

315.4

Source: MLA's NLRS

What readers are saying

NAPCo board appoints new chief executive

The history of NAPCO chronicled in the excellent read " You Can't Make It Rain" should be compulsory reading for any new CEO. The book title originated from an....

Lee McNicholl

Weekly property review: The ins and outs of due diligence in a property purchase

Thank - you Frank Due diligence - actually going and talking to your prospective neighbors is an excellent place to start.....

Carina James

SE Asia Report: Indonesia imports a massive 75,000 feeders in August

A good and interesting report Ross. Also a nice photo - certainly better looking than her Grandfather....

ian mcIvor

SE Asia Report: Indonesia imports a massive 75,000 feeders in August

Interesting Report ....and well done Grandfather Regards David Crombie....

David Charles Crombie

Recruitment: Four behaviours that define leadership effectiveness

Beef Central, September 19, 2019

Kay’s Cuts: What will new EU and Japan trade deals mean for US beef?

The recently signed US-EU grainfed beef quota deal is unlikely to lead to a surge of US beef shipped to the EU, US columnist Steve Kay writes, but the yet-to-take-effect US-Japan trade deal is being welcomed as tremendous news for US farmers and ranchers…Read More

Steve Kay, September 19, 2019

NAPCo board appoints new chief executive

Experienced agribusiness manager and company director Richard Brimblecombe has been appointed the new chief executive officer for the North Australian Pastoral Co. ..Read More

Jon Condon, September 18, 2019

MLA members’ final opportunity to secure full voting entitlements

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) members are being reminded to return their Levies Notice online by 23 September 2019 to ensure they secure their full voting entitlements ahead of MLA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in November…Read More

Beef Central, September 19, 2019

Markets

Sharp drop in supply sees lift in AuctionsPlus clearances

Weaner heifers saw the highest demand with a 78pc clearance and a rise of 24c/kg, while steers less than 200kg were up 42c/kg on AuctionsPlus this week…Read More

Beef Central, September 21, 2019

Dubbo Sale 19 Sep 2019: Prices fall in smaller yarding

With 20mm plus of rain earlier in the week and the thought that the numbers may be starting to run out the yarding fell by almost 2400 for a yarding of 3160…Read More

David Monk, September 20, 2019

Dalby sale 18 Sep 2019: Southern demand eases

Quality cattle still sold well with lighter cattle feeling the pinch of the drought…Read More

Beef Central, September 19, 2019

Roma store sale 17 Sep 2019: Heavy steers lift

The yarding was dominated by a large single vendor line of steers and heifers, prices mostly eased however heavy weight lines of steers mostly improved…Read More

Beef Central, September 18, 2019

Production

Victoria’s top MSA producers announced

Beef producers from throughout Victoria have taken out the top awards at the 2019 Meat Standards Australia (MSA) Excellence in Eating Quality Awards for the State, presented at Lancefield on Tuesday night…Read More

Beef Central, September 18, 2019

Better animal welfare helps drive productivity on Birrindudu

Beef Central, September 17, 2019

Plan summer water needs now

Agriculture Victoria is urging livestock producers to take steps to assess on-farm stock water storage levels and make plans now for peak livestock demand periods over summer…Read More

Beef Central, September 17, 2019

Top MSA producers in New South Wales announced

Beef producers from throughout New South Wales have taken out the top awards at the 2019 Meat Standards Australia Excellence in Eating Quality Awards for the State, presented in Wagga Wagga last night…Read More

Beef Central, September 13, 2019

Processing

Processors facing water supply issues as drought deepens

Several regional meat processing operations could soon be facing water supply challenges if there is no reprieve to the severe drought conditions gripping eastern and northern Australia…Read More

James Nason and Terry Sim, September 18, 2019

Weekly kill: Easing trend in grids, north and south

Grassfed grid prices offered by processors have trended softer over the past week across large parts of eastern Australia, due to basic supply and demand factors caused by the weather. Some Qld grids eased 5c/kg on Monday, with boner type cows on one company’s schedules impacted more severely due to heavy supply, downgraded 10c/kg…Read More

Jon Condon, September 18, 2019

Construction go ahead for Angus’ on-farm abattoir

IT’S official: Construction of the first significant greenfield beef processing plant to be built in Queensland in more than 20 years will begin on November 1…Read More

James Nason, September 16, 2019

Weekly kill: Grainfed cattle prices fall out of step with US

A BIG drop in US fed cattle prices over the past month has opened up a gap worth up to $300 a head in comparisons with similar grainfed export cattle out of Australia. The move has added considerable competition headwinds for Australia in key grainfed export markets like Japan and South Korea, trade sources say…Read More

Jon Condon, September 10, 2019

Lotfeeding

Feedgrain Focus: Prompt northern market lifts on short covering

With vanishing prospects of northern crops finishing for grain, the surge in hay and silage cutting has lit a fire under spot markets for southern Queensland delivered wheat and barley…Read More

Liz and Henry Wells, September 20, 2019

Research reveals big lairage duration impacts on carcase quality

Meat & Livestock Australia, September 20, 2019

$42 loss forecast in September grainfed trading budget

A small downwards adjustment in 100-day grainfed cattle prices has taken the edge off profitability in Beef Central’s September monthly grainfed trading budget, calculated on Friday…Read More

Jon Condon, September 16, 2019

Feedgrain Focus: Shrinking supply lifts southern prices

Traders say it’s becoming a drought market again as frost, wind and heat are taking their toll on yield prospects and turning failed crops to fodder…Read More

Liz and Henry Wells, September 13, 2019

Live Export

Frustrations build over long delays with Independent Observer reports

Questions are being asked about why it is taking several months, and in some cases as long as a year, for reports from Independent Observers on livestock export journeys to be published…Read More

James Nason, September 20, 2019

SE Asia Report: Indonesia imports a massive 75,000 feeders in August

Dr Ross Ainsworth, September 17, 2019

Laporan Pasar: Industri Daging Sapi Asia Tenggara Edisi ke-69: Agustus 2019

Indonesia mengimpor 75.000 ekor sapi bakalan di bulan Agustus; Daging kerbau beku India kembali memenuhi rak penjualan di seluruh Indonesia; Harga sapi di China menembus batas AUD $6 per kg bobot hidup; Bencana wabah penyakit babi, African Swine Fever, terus berlanjut di seluruh kawasan Asia.
..Read More

Dr Ross Ainsworth, September 17, 2019

New footage rocks live trade as independent overseer Bill passes Senate

New footage showing four Northern Territory steers being roped, forced to the ground and having their throats cut without stunning has triggered fresh outrage against the live export trade and more questions about why exporters continue to lose control of Australian animals from supposedly secure customer supply chains…Read More

James Nason, September 12, 2019

Trade

Korean beef safeguard imminent

It is anticipated Australian beef exports to Korea will trigger the 2019 safeguard volume in the next three to five weeks, which will increase tariffs on Australian beef into the market from 24pc to 30 percent through until the end of the year. ..Read More

Meat & Livestock Australia, September 19, 2019

China drops pork/soybeans tariff, hog losses accelerate – estimated at 70pc by year end

Simon Quilty, September 17, 2019

Beef export growth for South America

Beef export growth from South America is expected to continue off the back of a strong 2019, Meat & Livestock Australia predicts…Read More

Meat & Livestock Australia, September 13, 2019

Beef leaders urge Parliament to ratify Indo-Aus FTA

Leading Australian beef industry figures have urged Federal Parliamentarians to work quickly to ratify Australia’s free trade agreement with Indonesia as soon as possible, stressing that shifting political dynamics mean Australia’s relationship with its near neighbour has never been more important…Read More

James Nason, September 10, 2019

Genetics

Weekly genetics review: Making a commitment to genomics

For the Shorthorn breed, the opportunity to access an international genetic database has led to the decision to move from BreedPlan herd recording to development of ShorGene underpinned by IGS. ..Read More

genetics editor Alastair Rayner, September 18, 2019

New GM for Droughtmaster Australia

The Droughtmaster Australia Board has announced the appointment of a new General Manager to take effect from October this year…Read More

Beef Central, September 16, 2019

Weekly genetics review: Selection considerations around birth weight

Many producers focus solely on Birth weight EBVs to address issues around poor calving, but may be overlooking the mature size of their cows, and not managing nutrition to get them in calf, or are managing pre-calving nutrition poorly. ..Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, September 10, 2019

Charolais cross and Angus claim RAS Beef Challenge domestic and 100-day titles + PICTURES

High-performing Charolais x Angus entries claimed the overall domestic market title, while straightbred Angus entries topped the 100-day grainfed class in the RAS of NSW 2019 Sydney Royal Beef Challenge finalised last week…Read More

Alastair Rayner, September 9, 2019

Ag Tech

Logged out: Farmers in remote areas are being left behind by the digital economy

Farming families and communities in Qld’s remote north are a good example of people in remote regional and rural areas of Australia being left behind by the digital economy, putting them at significant social and economic disadvantage. A report released this month details the impacts of low levels of “digital inclusion” among farmers, for whom reliable internet connection is not a given…Read More

Dr Amber Marshall, research fellow, QUT, August 28, 2019

Regional ag businesses harvest the fruits of broadband internet

When two large Qld lotfeeding operations invested in broadband internet, questions were posed around whether the service would really help the businesses increase productivity, and whether it was ‘only going be used for social media and Netflix by staff.’ But improved connectivity has not only boosted productivity and staff retention, but also reduced maintenance, service costs and labour costs…Read More

Beef Central, August 21, 2019

GPS tracking devices help underpin animal production claims

GPS tracking devices aren’t just revolutionising livestock monitoring and offering up a solution to cattle theft – they’re also delivering guaranteed best practice certifications for consumers. Farming technology company IDS Australasia’s ‘GFARM’ tracker, which works hand-in-hand with livestock management tools to draw on real-time information, is now commercially available to producers…Read More

Beef Central, August 12, 2019

CQUni agtech tested for Argentinean farming systems

CQUniversity researchers are investigating Argentinean beef production systems with a view to opening markets for emerging agtech company, DataMuster…Read More

Beef Central, August 8, 2019

Property

Weekly property review: The ins and outs of due diligence in a property purchase

In this first part of a two-part series, valuer Frank Peacocke from Herron Todd White steps through the process of due diligence on northern beef property acquisitions…Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, September 18, 2019

Weekly property review: Recent sales of note

Chareville’s historic Gowrie makes more than $10m | Riverina’s Cooloon is carved up | Post auction: Mount Falcon on the market for more than $13.5m..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, September 11, 2019

Movement at the Station – Recent property listings

Strong interest in RIFA Salutory’s grazing portfolio | Augathella’s Gladys Downs listed for more than $20.5m | Well-watered Lancewood | Neighbouring Orange cattle properties hit the market | Grassed-up Waterview | Myrrlumbing offered as a going concern
..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, September 11, 2019

Weekly Property Review: Market heating up in the Top End

Over the last four years, an enormous amount of land has transacted in the Northern Territory. The figures, relative to the long-term averages, have surprised industry experts who claim the market is still on its way up. To date, 11 NT properties have sold in 2019, valued at well above $200 million – many at unprecedented prices, property editor Linda Rowley reports ..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, September 4, 2019