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Weekly genetics review: Which cows need your best country? The case for calving segregation

This week’s genetics review looks at how pregnancy testing, foetal ageing and lactation status can be used to group breeder cows and better match their nutritional demands to available country and supplementation…Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 25/08/2026

Genetics

When weight hides genetic merit in replacement heifers

This article examines how selecting replacements mainly on size and weight can overlook genetically valuable daughters of younger cows, drawing on Dr Alex Ball’s recent research project and its implications for maternal genetic progress…Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 25/08/2026

Processing

Weekly kill: Prospect of rain may slow supply, but some grids continue to slide

Forecasts of 15-50mm of rain in coming days across the eastern half of NSW, Victoria and southern Queensland may slow slaughter cattle supply for a period, however some Queensland direct consignment grids have shed-off another 10c/kg this week…Read More

Jon Condon, 25/08/2026

News

Channel Country turn-off begins, with trucks booked until November

Big numbers of cattle are starting to move out of the Channel Country this week, nearly two months later than usual after a huge wet season. ..Read More

Lydia Burton, 25/08/2026

Why livestock monitoring is moving beyond “finding cattle” to managing performance

For many producers, the first generation of livestock monitoring technology solved a simple but important problem: knowing where cattle were without having to physically locate them. Today, the conversation has shifted…Read More

AgForce demands water, biosecurity and landholder protections be written into law

AgForce is calling for significant amendments to Queensland’s proposed Critical Minerals Bill amidst growing concerns that its provisions could permit State-backed land access and compulsory acquisition for projects far beyond critical minerals, including wind farms and data centres…Read More

Beef Central, 24/08/2026

Live Export

Global dairy heifer live export demand grows

Australian dairy farmers could be in the box seat to capitalise on a looming global shortage of high-quality dairy heifers, with demand growing across a range of international markets…Read More

Beef Central, 25/08/2026

Weather

Weekly rainfall update + rainfall outlook 24 August 2026

Rainfall totals of 15-100mm were recorded across parts of southern Western Australia and much of the south-east over the seven days ended 9am this morning. Falls totalling 10-50mm extended from the west of the NT and northern South Australia, across south-western Queensland and through inland NSW…Read More

Bureau of Meteorology, 25/08/2026

Carbon

NFF raises concerns about proposed changes to soil carbon

Beef Central, 25/08/2026

News

Mounting pressure on farmers threatens Australia’s food security

Beef Central, 25/08/2026

Community and Lifestyle

Changes to Private Health Insurance for +65 year olds a ‘disaster-in-waiting’

Beef Central, 25/08/2026

Markets

Gunnedah 25 August 2026: Offering plunges to 1200 on prospect of rain

Beef Central, 25/08/2026

News

Trump announces 90-day tariff-free ground beef imports, designed to curb US meat prices

Jon Condon, 22/08/2026

News

US cautiously reopens Mexican cattle trade as screwworm threat persists

James Nason, 24/08/2026

Industry Dashboard

Carbon Trading Market

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

Today

38.8

Source: Jarden

$A / $US

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.7171

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

26 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

958.33

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

When weight hides genetic merit in replacement heifers

Good points and a chance to learn ideas to improve my herd, thanks .....

Bill Robertson

Cattle levy review: History offers lessons for what comes next

The issue missing from David Palmer’s levy account is that the grassfed cattle producer is the person or entity compelled to pay the levy but does not have a....

Jock Douglas

How a feedlot became the next step for a growing family farming business

Well done fellas, a great read on the early stages of what will no doubt be a successful business going forward.....

Doug Knight

Saleyards should be recognised and funded as nationally significant infrastructure

HI Matthew. The model actually makes the case for saleyards moving towards commercial models. You can't have a facility that generates millions in income competing for budget alongside the....

Charles Boog

Channel Country turn-off begins, with trucks booked until November

Big numbers of cattle are starting to move out of the Channel Country this week, nearly two months later than usual after a huge wet season. ..Read More

Lydia Burton, 25/08/2026

AgForce demands water, biosecurity and landholder protections be written into law

Beef Central, 24/08/2026

Mounting pressure on farmers threatens Australia’s food security

New report warns of potential farmer exodus, as two in five consider leaving the industry…Read More

Beef Central, 25/08/2026

Changes to Private Health Insurance for +65 year olds a ‘disaster-in-waiting’

The Albanese Government’s breach of faith on two decades of making private health insurance more achievable for those using it the most, is a disaster waiting to happen, says the Australian Private Hospitals Association…Read More

Beef Central, 25/08/2026

Markets

Gunnedah 25 August 2026: Offering plunges to 1200 on prospect of rain

It was an overall dearer market for a much smaller offering of 1200 head at Gunnedah this morning…Read More

Beef Central, 25/08/2026

Young cattle see prices lift in 9975 head national online offering

Most young cattle weight categories showed improvement in pricing in online trading on Friday, after a series of recent declines. Breeding female categories continued to show softer trends ..Read More

Beef Central, 23/08/2026

Wagga sale 24 August 2026: Feeder heifers face stronger competition

A significant number of heifers weighing between 400-500kg, carried substantial fat cover, attracting processors but ultimately a fair portion were snapped up by feedlots…Read More

Leann Dax, 24/08/2026

Saleyard prices lift as rain builds across Southern Australia

After a steep decline in recent weeks, saleyard prices are again on the rise as numbers hit lowest point since February and rain continues to fall in Southern Australia…Read More

Beef Central, 21/08/2026

Veteran leucaena researcher Dr Max Shelton recently completed a 1400km trip through Central Queensland to assess the establishment and management of the browse legume and to identify key issues affecting its adoption and use. Here’s what he found…Read More

Dr Max Shelton, 13/08/2026

Emerald agent takes out Qld Young Auctioneer Competition at 150th Ekka

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

Processing

Weekly kill: Prospect of rain may slow supply, but some grids continue to slide

Jon Condon, 25/08/2026

Nuffield: Improving access to beef grading technology for smaller abattoirs

Third-generation processor Calian Byrnes has researched beef grading eating quality technology around the world to find ways for smaller processors to implement it…Read More

Lydia Burton, 20/08/2026

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

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

Lotfeeding

Feedgrain Focus: North softens to defy logic, south firms

Northern bids for wheat and barley have dropped by up to $15/t this week, despite production prospects for the region sliding as harvest nears…Read More

Liz Wells, 24/08/2026

How a feedlot became the next step for a growing family farming business

For the Dearden and Durack families buying an established feedlot near Roma four years ago offered a pathway to reducing market volatility, capturing more value and building a more integrated family farming business…Read More

James Nason, 21/08/2026

Three grand finalists named in Young Lot Feeder of the Year awards

Three outstanding young grainfed beef industry stakeholders have been named grand finalists for the Australian Lot Feeders Association’s Young Lot Feeder of the Year Award…Read More

Beef Central, 21/08/2026

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

Live Export

Global dairy heifer live export demand grows

Australian dairy farmers could be in the box seat to capitalise on a looming global shortage of high-quality dairy heifers, with demand growing across a range of international markets…Read More

Beef Central, 25/08/2026

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

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

Genetics

Weekly genetics review: Which cows need your best country? The case for calving segregation

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 25/08/2026

When weight hides genetic merit in replacement heifers

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 25/08/2026

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

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