Home - Beef Central

Federal Budget “shot in the arm” for ag

The 2021 Federal Budget has been described by the National Farmers Federation as “a shot in the arm for agriculture and regional Australia”, with welcomed investment in biosecurity, infrastructure, trade, telecommunications, climate change adaptation and health services…Read More

Beef Central, 12/05/2021

Lotfeeding

Feed additive found to reduce methane emissions by 90pc in feedlot trial

Participants in a webinar being staged today heard results from a feedlot trial where the new feed additive Bovaer was found to reduce methane in Australian feedlot cattle by up to 90 percent…Read More

Beef Central, 12/05/2021

Genetics

Half a century of Big Data for livestock software pioneer ABRI + PICTURES

A Big Data pioneer and licence-holder of the world’s most widely-used livestock performance analysis software is this week celebrating 50 years of operation. Established at the University of New England by Arthur Rickards in 1970, the Agricultural Business Research Institute has been an integral part of Australia’s beef cattle performance analysis since 1972…Read More

Beef Central, 12/05/2021

Beef 2021

JBS adds to Queensland’s certified grassfed brand momentum

Momentum continues to grow in certified grassfed branded beef programs in Queensland, with JBS the latest to join the list of suppliers. The nation’s largest processor provided first details of its new Right to Roam Queensland farm-assured grassfed program during a seminar session at Beef 2021 last week…Read More

Jon Condon, 11/05/2021

Beef 2021

Meat Alliance aims to galvanise global industry response to anti-meat lobby

The anti-meat movement is one of the key challenges facing the global meat industry, and the strategic solution lies in collaboration among red meat interests around the world to create a compelling, positive narrative to defend the industry’s position. That’s the view red meat industry advocate Laura Ryan, the UK-based co-founder of the Global Meat Alliance…Read More

Jon Condon, 11/05/2021

Beef 2021

Beef 2021: 20 minute DNA profile tests possible within two years, forum told

A test which would allow producers to know the fertility of young females within 20 minutes should be available within two years, a Beef 2021 genetics forum was told…Read More

Fiona Myers, 11/05/2021

The Weekly Grill

Episode 10: Where to for the Australian cattle market?

Once-in-a-lifetime cattle prices, and where they may trend over the remainder of 2021, was a constant topic of discussion among the thousands of industry stakeholders attending Beef 2021 last week. In this episode of The Weekly Grill, host Kerry Lonergan talks to Thomas Elder Markets’ Matt Dalgleish and a bunch of everyday cattle producers attending the event, over where they see the slaughter and store cattle markets going in coming months…Read More

Beef Central, 11/05/2021

Beef 2021

Beef Central’s beef quiz – The Beef 2021 Edition

Beef Central, 11/05/2021

Beef 2021

Beef 2021: Shorthorns, Charolais and Brahmans share interbreed crowns

Fiona Myers, 10/05/2021

Markets

Wagga sale 10 May 2021: Biggest gains in cow market

Leann Dax, 11/05/2021

Beef 2021

Beef 2021: ‘The week beef needed’

James Nason and Jon Condon, 10/05/2021

Lotfeeding

Beef 2021: Lotfeeders ‘double whammy’ not over yet

Fiona Myers, 10/05/2021

News

Kay’s Cuts: Debunking anti-meat’s absurd claims

Steve Kay, 10/05/2021

Beef 2021

Beef 2021: ‘The week beef needed’

Before the dust settles now the week is over, everyone who revelled in the Rocky beef bonanza should spare a moment to consider just how fortunate they were that the nine members of the Beef Australia Board had the courage way back in November last year to roll the dice and commit to the event going ahead, then still a distant six months later…Read More

James Nason and Jon Condon, 10/05/2021

Beef 2021

Beef 2021 trade displays: The smell of money, as producers enjoy the ‘goldilocks zone’

Walking through Beef 2021’s vast commercial trade exhibits area this week, the smell of money was palpable, as cashed-up cattle producers go on what amounts to a buying frenzy…Read More

Jon Condon, 07/05/2021

Beef 2021

Beef 2021: Black Box Company wins Pitch in Paddock crown

A system which turns the huge amount of data collected by beef producers and turns it into something they can act on has won Beef 2021’s entrepreneur award…Read More

Fiona Myers, 06/05/2021

Beef 2021

JBS adds to Queensland’s certified grassfed brand momentum

Jon Condon, 11/05/2021

News

Beef 2021: Arcadian steps into carbon-credit aggregation

Arcadian has branched into aggregating carbon credits on behalf of Australian grassfed beef producers, including some from its base of 80 organic suppliers…Read More

Guest Author, 06/05/2021

Lotfeeding

Beef 2021: Lotfeeders ‘double whammy’ not over yet

The feedlot industry looks set to face the double whammy of high cattle prices and high feedgrain prices for some time yet…Read More

Fiona Myers, 10/05/2021

The Weekly Grill

Episode 9: Rural property values with Tim Lane and Rawdon Briggs

What’s ahead for property market amid an unprecendented period of super heated cattle prices, super low interest and improved seasonal conditions in many areas?..Read More

Derek Tan, 07/05/2021

Beef 2021

Beef 2021: Farm Babe fires hope for proactive communication

An Iowa farmer who took Burger King to task over its portrayal of beef has urged the Australian industry to amplify its own voice in a proactive way to counter public misconceptions about red meat…Read More

Liz Wells, 07/05/2021

News

Kay’s Cuts: Debunking anti-meat’s absurd claims

Steve Kay’s latest monthly Kay’s Cuts column for Beef Central on developments in the US meat and livestock industry reflects many of the sentiments expressed about the anti-meat movement last week during Beef 2021 in Rockhampton..Read More

Steve Kay, 10/05/2021

News

Beef Central’s Jon Condon inducted into Rural Journalism Hall of Fame

Beef Central publisher and co-founder Jon Condon has been honoured for a distinguished 40-year-career in rural journalism at the Beef 2021 in Rockhampton…Read More

Beef Central, 07/05/2021

Industry Dashboard

$A / $US Graph

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.7840

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

12 May 2021 (updated 10am daily)

Company	Price	Trending
Elders	$11.58
Australian Agricultural Co	$1.13
Graincorp	$5.26
Ridley	$1.00
Woolworths	$40.94
Wellard	$0.06

Source: ASX

Beef Kill

Eastern States, weekly

Last Week

97589

Source: MLA's NLRS

EYCI

Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, c/kg

Today

902

Source: MLA's NLRS

90CL Cow

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

Today

702.4

Source: Steiner Consulting, MLA

Live Export

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

Today

410

Source: Trade contacts

SOI Graph

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Today

0.28

Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

Feeder Steer Graph

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

Today

413.2

Source: MLA's NLRS

What readers are saying

Cattle Council of Australia offering free memberships at Beef 2021

Hi Lindi, Please sign up at https://cattlecouncil.com.au/join-today and use the code 'BEEFWEEK' to get a free membership.....

Cattle Council

Beef Central’s Jon Condon inducted into Rural Journalism Hall of Fame

Congratulations Jon – so well deserved!! I can remember back to the early days of MSA when (as others have commented) you showed a great and objective interest....

John Webster

Beef Central’s Jon Condon inducted into Rural Journalism Hall of Fame

Congratulations Jon, a well deserved recognition for your achievements. I remember well your start 40 years ago, and what a great contribution to industry you have....

Jim Lindsay

Beef 2021: Beef industry must align against powerful attacks

The fight against the plant based/vegan/Adventist church combo has to be worldwide. This issue affects all meat producing countries . A worldwide organisation has to be created like the....

Alvaro Salvo

Federal Budget “shot in the arm” for ag

Beef Central, 12/05/2021

JBS adds to Queensland’s certified grassfed brand momentum

Jon Condon, 11/05/2021

Meat Alliance aims to galvanise global industry response to anti-meat lobby

Jon Condon, 11/05/2021

Beef 2021: 20 minute DNA profile tests possible within two years, forum told

A test which would allow producers to know the fertility of young females within 20 minutes should be available within two years, a Beef 2021 genetics forum was told…Read More

Fiona Myers, 11/05/2021

Markets

Wagga sale 10 May 2021: Biggest gains in cow market

All good quality slaughter cattle sold to dearer prices, with the cow market experiencing the biggest gains after softening prices in recent weeks…Read More

Leann Dax, 11/05/2021

Online sales: Breeding stock fall in value in smaller 16,425 head AuctionsPlus offering; replacement heifers $2125 on Stocklive

Breeding stock fell in value, while young cattle results were mixed in a smaller 16,425 head offering on AuctionsPlus this week, where numbers were down eight percent on the week before…Read More

Beef Central, 08/05/2021

No letup in Wodonga prices as supply swells + VIDEO

All classes of restocker cattle were again in high demand at Victoria’s NVLX Wodonga saleyards on Thursday when a larger than normal yarding of 2626 was penned…Read More

Murray Arnel, 07/05/2021

Dalby sale 5 May 2021: Heavy rain falls on 3139 head yarding

All the regular export processors were present and operating along with the usual feeder buyers and local and interstate restockers who were very active in the market…Read More

Beef Central, 06/05/2021

Production

Awards for excellence in the Southern Australian livestock industries are open

The Southern Australia Livestock Research Council (SALRC) has announced the call for nominations for the 2021 Awards for Excellence in Southern Australian Livestock Industries…Read More

Guest Author, 06/05/2021

Building a highly profitable grazing business around climate change

The story behind a single $6.2 million cattle trade involving 2508 Angus heifers completed earlier this year helps to illustrate why Nigel and Kate Kerin changed their grazing strategy just over a decade ago…Read More

James Nason, 30/04/2021

Favourable start for forage oats crops

Prospects for forage oats plantings are looking promising this year with crops in New South Wales and western Queensland well up and away, while plantings on the inner Downs are just getting under way…Read More

James Nason, 27/04/2021

Vic dairy farmer fined $40,000 for animal cruelty

A northern Victorian dairy farmer was fined $40,000 in the Shepparton Magistrates Court recently for animal cruelty to his dairy herd during two separate periods in 2017 and 2018 at his property near Invergordon…Read More

Beef Central, 27/04/2021

Processing

Local cattle producers offered share deal in Kimberley Meat Co operations

Australia’s most remote beef processing operation in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, is in discussion with local cattle producers over a shareholding option on its future slaughter operations, after deciding not to open the plant during the 2021 season…Read More

Jon Condon, 01/05/2021

Weekly kill: Signs of life in export beef trade lifts hopes

A moderate, but encouraging lift in demand and prices for Australian beef in some export markets is starting to rein-in some of the big losses experienced by beef processors this year…Read More

Jon Condon, 27/04/2021

Weekly kill: Supply remains tight, as producers with green grass seek to add weight before despatch

‘Weight beats rate,’ as the old saying goes, and it’s becoming increasingly evident heading towards May that producers with green grass in front of them across eastern Australia are holding cattle back, in order to maximise the result over the scales. It means the normal seasonal rise in production seen around April might be a month or two late this year ..Read More

Jon Condon, 20/04/2021

Meat yield and potential traceability gains in Nolan Meats’ new $20m boning room

Queensland export and domestic beef processor Nolan meats yesterday unveiled its expanded and modernised boning room, featuring technology that is already delivering results in increasing carcase yield, and laying a platform for individual cuts traceability…Read More

Jon Condon, 16/04/2021

Lotfeeding

Feed additive found to reduce methane emissions by 90pc in feedlot trial

Beef Central, 12/05/2021

Beef 2021: Lotfeeders ‘double whammy’ not over yet

The feedlot industry looks set to face the double whammy of high cattle prices and high feedgrain prices for some time yet…Read More

Fiona Myers, 10/05/2021

Grain fed beef sector launches grassroots campaign

The Australian grainfed beef sector is about to launch a new platform to showcase the quality attributes of grainfed beef production in Australia, allowing the sector to tell its authentic story on how its members nourish cattle, land and communities…Read More

Beef Central, 30/04/2021

Feedgrain Focus: Sorghum shorts pre-occupy north

Prices for feedgrain have rallied as growers switch attention to planting rather than selling grain, and domestic consumers have to bid up for tonnage as the market remains fixed on filling export cargoes…Read More

Liz Wells, 23/04/2021

Live Export

New sheds have NT live export trade covered

One and a half metres of rain over three months during the 2020-21 wet season provided the first true test for two Ridgeback sheds built to cover the Berrimah pre-export quarantine facility in Darwin three years ago…Read More

Beef Central, 01/05/2021

Up to $10 million available for innovative live export health solutions

Innovative solutions to improve monitoring and reporting of livestock health and welfare at critical export supply chain points are being sought by the Australian Government…Read More

Beef Central, 27/04/2021

SE Asia Report: Live exports numbers decline | Sam Burke feeds the masses in Alice

Live export numbers continue to decline while closer to home MLA’s Sam Burke has demonstrated how to feed the masses in style armed with two barbies in a shed at Alice Springs.
..Read More

Dr Ross Ainsworth, 21/04/2021

Laporan Pasar: Industri Daging Asia Tenggara Edisi ke-88 Maret 2021

Harga sapi Australia tetap bertahan di rekor tertinggi dalam sejarah | Jumlah ekspor langsung terus menurun | Petugas stok kapal Greg Smith tewas secara tragis saat pelepasan ternak di pelabuhan Indonesia…Read More

Dr Ross Ainsworth, 20/04/2021

Trade

US beef price rally augurs well for grinding meat exports

There’s a more positive mood emerging in export beef trade circles this week, as a strong rally in US grinding meat prices lifts spirits somewhat, after what has been a particularly bleak trading period. Imported grinding beef prices have hit levels unseen since panic buying in the US in May last year, when up to 40pc of US processing capacity was knocked out due to COVID measures…Read More

Jon Condon, 13/04/2021

Holy Cow beef rinds turn cattle hides into snacks

Two business partners in the US have begun repurposing cow hides into a snack product…Read More

Beef Central, 13/04/2021

March beef exports hit ten-year lows

Continuing a trend seen since late last year, Australia’s March beef exports totalled just 83,438 tonnes – down 11pc year-on-year, and hitting a ten-year in-month low…Read More

Jon Condon, 07/04/2021

Modern-day ‘Suez Crisis’ disrupts world trade

The six-day blockage of the Suez Canal by the MV Ever Given is expected to put upward pressure on bulk and container sea freight as shipping lines factor in wait times for some vessels and lengthened routes for others…Read More

Grain Brokers Australia, 30/03/2021

Genetics

Half a century of Big Data for livestock software pioneer ABRI + PICTURES

Beef Central, 12/05/2021

Capturing the opportunity to provide more accurate genetic information in northern Australia

The opportunities for productivity and meat quality gains in beef production in northern Australia was a key genetics theme across many of the Beef Australia symposiums and seminars last week, genetics editor Al Rayner reports. Integral to the messages of opportunity were the themes of data capture, accuracy of information and a clear focus on production outcomes. ..Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 10/05/2021

Weekly genetics review: Autumn bull sales results showcase the confidence in industry

THE most common expression to be heard across the country at present is, ‘It’s a great time to be in cattle!” It’s a sentiment that underpins the confidence many producers..Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 27/04/2021

Strong recovery in stud cattle registrations, post-drought

There has been a sharp rise in seedstock cattle registrations across Australia over the past 12 months, data recorded by the Australian Registered Cattle Breeders Association shows. Driven by a return to more favourable seasonal conditions and the start of herd rebuilding after drought – as well as the confidence-driven commercial cattle market – seedstock registrations for the 2020 year rose by more than 5pc to 145,806 head…Read More

Beef Central, 25/04/2021

Ag Tech

Major forum to bring together agrifood innovators

Toowoomba will host a major agrifood innovation forum in June, which will help drive the adoption of AgTech…Read More

Beef Central, 29/04/2021

How Isis Downs has tackled remote water monitoring

The manager of a large western Queensland cattle station has described how a significant company investment in remote water monitoring has led to a series of not only expected but also unexpected benefits for the large operation…Read More

James Nason, 19/04/2021

Mustering safely with drones at Beeac + VIDEO

Victcorian farmers Tom and Bill Alston use drones to take some of the stress and injury risk out of mustering sheep and cattle on their Beeac property in the state’s south-west…Read More

Beef Central, 16/04/2021

Levy funded research from 15 RDCs now searchable in one place

Farmers, researchers and businesses can now see levy funded research from all the Research and Development Corporations in one location…Read More

Beef Central, 12/04/2021

Property

Weekly property review: Are producers re-valuing northern forest country?

Good quality forest breeding country in Queensland’s north and north west is in high demand, and calculating buyers are doing their sums to determine what they can pay for it…Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 05/05/2021

Weekly property review: Recently completed sales

Top dollar for two standout Central QLD properties – Duaringa district record for Newlands – Asking price paid for Premier South Burnett cattle country – Heavy carrying capacity in southern QLD makes $8.42m – Queenslander pays $7m for prime NSW cattle holding..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 28/04/2021

Movement at the Station: recent property listings

Strong interest in Hancock’s northern assets – Acton family CQ property up for grabs – NSW Northern Tablelands offers scale for breeding – High-capacity grazing near Noosa – FNQ’s Timaru returns to the market – SA prime pastoral country should achieve $4m+ – Breeding block in NSW’s New England – Mixed farming on offer in Central QLD..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 28/04/2021