Home - Beef Central

Victoria’s troubled Tabro beef processing plant may have found a buyer

A deal is understood to be close over a change of ownership for the troubled Tabro Meats Lance Creek beef processing facility in Victoria’s South Gippsland region…Read More

Jon Condon, February 27, 2020

Lotfeeding

Feedgrain Focus: Wheat-to-barley spread widens

Barley values have eased to where they now appear to be buying demand, while a tightening balance sheet has seen wheat trade steady to higher in most markets…Read More

Liz and Henry Wells, February 27, 2020

Property

Property: Qld buyer for Gulf’s Chinese-owned Wollogorang

An un-named Queensland buyer has signed contracts to purchase large-scale Gulf of Carpentaria district grazing properties Wollogorang and Wentworth, owned for the past four years by wealthy Chinese businessman Xingfa..Read More

Beef Central, February 27, 2020

Live Export

$2.1m half-year loss for Wellard as charter transition continues

Wellard Ltd has reported a net loss after tax of $2.1 million for the six months to 31 December 2019…Read More

Beef Central, February 27, 2020

Weather

BOM releases autumn rainfall outlook

Rainfall is likely to be above average in some southern regions in March and April and below average in parts of the north in March, according to the Bureau of Meteorology’s outlook for autumn released today. ..Read More

Bureau of Meteorology, February 27, 2020

Trade

Coronavirus dents beef demand, but China will still dominate 2020 imports, says Rabo

The Australian beef industry faces reduced export demand from China as a result of coronavirus, according to a Rabobank report. Rabo expects China to again dominate beef imports in 2020, albeit at a far slower rate than the heady 60pc increase in imported volume recorded in 2019…Read More

Beef Central, February 27, 2020

Property

Weekly property review: Recently completed sales

Clarke & Tait sales exceed expectations | Greenvale’s Marionvale makes more than $11m | Roma’s Iona rewrites the record books | Bymount district’s Croydon makes $3.54m..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, February 26, 2020

Property

Movement at the Station – Property listings surge after recent rain

Property editor Linda Rowley, February 26, 2020

Property

$14m+ expected for New England showcase, Inverell Station

Property editor Linda Rowley, February 26, 2020

Ag Tech

Reality check for agtech startups

James Nason, February 26, 2020

Ag Tech

EvokeAG: Remote monitoring technology makes the leap into full commercial uptake

Jon Condon, February 26, 2020

Production

Feedback sought on new draft loading ramp standard

Beef Central, February 26, 2020

Genetics

Better business management for seedstock producers

Beef Central, February 26, 2020

Markets

Record AuctionsPlus offering produces all-time highs for young steers

New c/kg records were set for young cattle on AuctionsPlus this week, where a record offering of 17,849 head was catalogued across commercial sales…Read More

Jon Condon, February 22, 2020

Markets

Ballarat steer sale: ‘take no prisoners’ bidding in record sale

A “take no prisoners” bidding attitude described the intense competition that ensued at Ballarat on Friday, where agents offered a very high quality yarding of 5200 steers…Read More

Peter Kostos, February 24, 2020

Markets

Supermarket grainfed contracts hit record 680c/kg, but may go higher

Domestic grainfed forward contracts have shot to unprecedented levels this month, as supermarket groups like Coles and Woolworths battle to maintain beef supply in a dynamic and rapidly evolving 2020 cattle market…Read More

Jon Condon, February 25, 2020

Markets

AuctionsPlus numbers hit all-time record, as market goes into overdrive

Driven by the rain-fuelled boom in cattle prices, cattle numbers offered on AuctionsPlus have hit an all-time record this week, as vendors seek to cash-in on buyer momentum…Read More

Jon Condon, February 21, 2020

Ag Tech

Cattle producers size up agtech opportunities at EvokeAg

Several groups of North Queensland cattle producers travelled from one end of the country to the other last week to find out first-hand what is happening in the agtech space. What did they find?..Read More

Beef Central, February 24, 2020

Property

Weekly property review: Recently completed sales

Clarke & Tait sales exceed expectations | Greenvale’s Marionvale makes more than $11m | Roma’s Iona rewrites the record books | Bymount district’s Croydon makes $3.54m..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, February 26, 2020

Processing

Victoria’s troubled Tabro beef processing plant may have found a buyer

A deal is understood to be close over a change of ownership for the troubled Tabro Meats Lance Creek beef processing facility in Victoria’s South Gippsland region…Read More

Jon Condon, February 27, 2020

Property

$14m+ expected for New England showcase, Inverell Station

More than $14 million is expected for the blue-ribbon northern NSW grazing enterprise Inverell Station, being offered for sale under an expressions of interest campaign…Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, February 26, 2020

Live Export

Live export prices push back toward record highs

Northern export prices are nudging back toward record levels as cattle supplies run scarce ahead of the first mustering round of the season, likely to still be a month away…Read More

James Nason, February 21, 2020

Property

Movement at the Station – Property listings surge after recent rain

Well-watered country in Central QLD | Fertile soils and quality herd near Townsville | Two grazing blocks on offer in NSW’s far west | Productive New England country for auction..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, February 26, 2020

Industry Dashboard

$A / $US Graph

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.6540

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

27 Feb 2020 (updated 10am daily)

Company	Price	Trending
Elders	$8.08
Australian Agricultural Co	$1.11
Graincorp	$7.97
Ridley	$0.90
Woolworths	$40.22
Wellard	$0.07

Source: ASX

Beef Kill

Eastern States, weekly

Last Week

133165

Source: MLA's NLRS

EYCI

Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, c/kg

Today

718

Source: MLA's NLRS

90CL Cow

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

Today

686.1

Source: Steiner Consulting, MLA

Live Export

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

Today

370

Source: Trade contacts

SOI Graph

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Today

0.1

Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

Feeder Steer Graph

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

Today

311.1

Source: MLA's NLRS

What readers are saying

Australia world’s highest value beef exporter in 2019

The numbers look lovely - definitely something to crow about. I don't mean to rain on the parade, but, just from looking at the graph, the spread between....

Miriam Blythe

Weekly genetics review: How has genomics changed the breeder’s landscape?

Why are the carcase trait B values the same (except CW)? As with most traits recorded it is crucial to look at accuracy levels. 64% accuracy also means that the....

Peter Bishop

Supermarket grainfed contracts hit record 680c/kg, but may go higher

When your business model dictates what lotfeeders margins are and persist in keeping prices for finished grainfed cattle lower than they should be you have to expect it is....

Mike Introvigne

Transporters push for own FMD-style income smoothing scheme

The truth is, it's not just the transport industry - it's any business that is inevitably linked to the cycles of rural income and its disbursement. Income averaging would....

Jennifer Wainwright

Beef news roundup mid-Feb 2020

Keeping up with the never ending stream of beef news headlines, blogs and social media posts rolling out 24/7 is no easy task for busy people – here’s a wrap of some items of relevance or interest to the beef sector from around the web you may have missed in recent weeks…Read More

Beef Central, February 24, 2020

Transporters push for own FMD-style income smoothing scheme

Calls for the Australian Government to establish an income smoothing scheme for rural transport businesses, similar to the Farm Management Deposit scheme used by farming businesses across the country, are being led by the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association…Read More

Beef Central, February 21, 2020

Recruitment & HR: Labor appointees dominate Fair Work Commission ranks

Coalition Government appointees to the Fair Work Commission have been overwhelmingly frozen out of significant Full Bench determinations over the past three years, according to new analysis…Read More

Beef Central, February 21, 2020

EvokeAg speakers explore barriers to agtech uptake

Challenges surrounding the adoption of ag technologies by producers surfaced during discussion at a number of panel sessions held during Melbourne’s EvokeAg event this week…Read More

Jon Condon, February 20, 2020

Markets

Supermarket grainfed contracts hit record 680c/kg, but may go higher

Jon Condon, February 25, 2020

Wagga sale 24 Feb 2020: Northern buyers add strength

Weaner steers returning to the paddock sold 20-40c dearer, the dearer price trend aided by stronger competition from northern store buyers…Read More

Leann Dax, February 25, 2020

Ballarat steer sale: ‘take no prisoners’ bidding in record sale

A “take no prisoners” bidding attitude described the intense competition that ensued at Ballarat on Friday, where agents offered a very high quality yarding of 5200 steers…Read More

Peter Kostos, February 24, 2020

Record AuctionsPlus offering produces all-time highs for young steers

New c/kg records were set for young cattle on AuctionsPlus this week, where a record offering of 17,849 head was catalogued across commercial sales…Read More

Jon Condon, February 22, 2020

Production

Feedback sought on new draft loading ramp standard

Livestock industry participants and farming communities are being invited to provide feedback to a draft national standard being developed for the design and construction of livestock ramps. ..Read More

Beef Central, February 26, 2020

Rain event sparks three-day, buffalo fly, anthrax outbreaks

Cattle in areas of Queensland, NSW and the Northern Territory that have been exposed to solid rain over the past month are already being impacted by heavy external parasite and disease challenges…Read More

Jon Condon, February 14, 2020

Rangeland weeds in splatter gun scope

Splatter gun technology testing is successfully attacking several rangeland weeds, minimising chemical usage and better targeting weed outbreaks…Read More

Beef Central, February 11, 2020

Producers urged to join Phosphorus Challenge

Northern beef producers have a fortnight remaining to sign up for Meat & Livestock Australia’s 2020 Phosphorus Challenge. The Challenge not only provides participating producers with insights about the P status of their mobs, but also helps build a fuller picture of the P status of northern herds and demonstrate the benefits of testing and P supplementation…Read More

Beef Central, February 7, 2020

Processing

Victoria’s troubled Tabro beef processing plant may have found a buyer

A deal is understood to be close over a change of ownership for the troubled Tabro Meats Lance Creek beef processing facility in Victoria’s South Gippsland region…Read More

Jon Condon, February 27, 2020

Weekly kill: Southern grids rise 20c/kg, drawing closer to QLD offers

Direct consignment slaughter cattle prices in parts of southern Australia have lifted 20c/kg in the past week, drawing closer to rates being seen in Queensland as the rain effect continues to impact cattle prices and supply…Read More

Jon Condon, February 25, 2020

Weekly kill: Processors trim schedules as supply squeeze grows

Larger beef processors are talking cutbacks on slaughter in coming weeks, as the effects of recent leaps in cattle price and short supply start to weigh more heavily on processor profitability…Read More

Jon Condon, February 18, 2020

Weekly kill: Processors face growing supply challenge as rain impact soaks in

More substantial rain across the eastern half of NSW and QLD in the past seven days has made beef processing a day-to-day proposition this week, with plenty of large export plants planning to cancel shifts due to challenges in accessing stock. Wet weather money is being splashed around, with one QLD processor’s grid this week offering an unprecedented 580c/kg…Read More

Jon Condon, February 11, 2020

Lotfeeding

Feedgrain Focus: Wheat-to-barley spread widens

Barley values have eased to where they now appear to be buying demand, while a tightening balance sheet has seen wheat trade steady to higher in most markets…Read More

Liz and Henry Wells, February 27, 2020

Feedgrain Focus: Barley eases but wheat, sorghum hold ground

Barley values have come under pressure this week from increased supply to the domestic market, but wheat and sorghum have traded steady to slightly higher as traders and consumers endeavour to figure out where new-crop prospects are heading…Read More

Liz Wells, February 21, 2020

Larger losses seen in grainfed trading budget, as feeder prices skyrocket

Dramatic price rises for feeder cattle since January and early February rain have kept results in Beef Central’s first 100-day grainfed trading budget for 2020 in significant loss territory, despite a sharp rise in slaughter cattle offers yesterday…Read More

Jon Condon, February 18, 2020

Is plant-based meat all it’s cracked up to be?

Plant-based meat substitutes available in Australian supermarkets may have the appearance of being a healthful option, but on average contain six times more sodium than meat…Read More

Beef Central, February 17, 2020

Live Export

$2.1m half-year loss for Wellard as charter transition continues

Wellard Ltd has reported a net loss after tax of $2.1 million for the six months to 31 December 2019…Read More

Beef Central, February 27, 2020

Live export prices push back toward record highs

Northern export prices are nudging back toward record levels as cattle supplies run scarce ahead of the first mustering round of the season, likely to still be a month away…Read More

James Nason, February 21, 2020

SE Asia Report: Viral issues have disruptive potential

In today’s South East Asian beef market report: Indonesian cattle prices weaker but currency much stronger; Thai slaughter prices push through AUD$5 for the first time, and African Swine Fever moves to infect Mindanao in southern Philippines..Read More

Dr Ross Ainsworth, February 20, 2020

SE Asia Report: Viral issues have disruptive potential (Bahasa edition)

Dr Ross Ainsworth, February 20, 2020

Trade

Coronavirus dents beef demand, but China will still dominate 2020 imports, says Rabo

Beef Central, February 27, 2020

US cattlemen rally against return of Brazilian meat imports

Cattle producer representatives in the US are resisting moves to allow Brazilian beef to again re-enter the US market…Read More

Beef Central, February 24, 2020

Australia world’s highest value beef exporter in 2019

Australia’s was the world’s top exporter in terms of value of beef exports in 2019…Read More

Beef Central, February 24, 2020

Manufacturing beef prices continue to soften, as China trade slows

LEAN manufacturing beef export prices continue to decline, on the back of moderate demand out of the US, and the lack of competitive tension from Chinese buyers as a result of the recent coronavirus event and the passing of Chinese New Year demand…Read More

Jon Condon, February 17, 2020

Genetics

Better business management for seedstock producers

Well-known agribusiness advisors Ian McLean and Phil Holmes are planning to establish a business skills development group specifically tailored for seedstock producers, with a focus on genetics and marketing. ..Read More

Beef Central, February 26, 2020

Weekly genetics review: How has genomics changed the breeder’s landscape?

The rapid uptake of genomics is creating big changes for breeders of Angus, Hereford, Brahman and Wagyu cattle, which have adopted the system. “It basically means increased accuracy for many cattle, better confidence in the breed averages, and a chance to more effectively rank sires within breeds/herds at selection time,” genetics editor Alastair Rayner writes in this week’s genetics review..Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, February 25, 2020

Adelaide to host 2020 Livestock Genetics Forum

Genetics as a tool to help tackle variable climate – including what new traits are being investigated and how producers are changing their breeding programs – is just one of the topics for discussion at MLA’s 2020 Livestock Genetics Forum being held in Adelaide next month. ..Read More

Beef Central, February 24, 2020

Weekly genetics review: Better data to drive breeding and buying decisions

A useful and often overlooked search option when screening bulls on BreedPlan is the Herd Completeness of Performance Rating. The rating is designed to quickly show how much data a breeder has been contributing to BreedPlan from their herd. “It’s often overlooked by bull buyers and can be a useful way to narrow searches down for high accuracy sires,” genetics editor Al Rayner says. ..Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, February 18, 2020

Ag Tech

Reality check for agtech startups

Amidst the hype, polished pitches and slick branding of agtech startups at EvokeAG last week also came some words of wisdom from experience, and the reality check that any new innovation must still meet a genuine need if it is to become a commercial success…Read More

James Nason, February 26, 2020

EvokeAG: Remote monitoring technology makes the leap into full commercial uptake

While there was a bewildering array of promising technologies on show at the EvokeAg event in Melbourne last week, many remain in start-up, development or pre-commercial stage. Harder to find were products or services that could be described as being in full-blown commercial use, but an exception was the Farmbot water monitoring technology, which is now well-entrenched in livestock production right across the continent…Read More

Jon Condon, February 26, 2020