Home - Beef Central

Feeder cattle market: Forward contracts hit new level as cattle prices hold firm

The feeder market is continuing its run of strong prices, with grids holding firm at 2022 levels and forward contract prices going up to accommodate the cattle prices…Read More

Eric Barker, 20/07/2026

Genetics

Online cattle sale bloodline claims being found-out, with rejection rates as high as 30pc

After a new verification system was introduced earlier this month, there’s been a significant rejection rate against claims made by vendors using online cattle marketing platform AuctionsPlus about bloodlines represented in commercial cattle listings…Read More

Jon Condon, 19/07/2026

Lotfeeding

Feedgrain Focus: Offshore heat kicks local market

Prices have jumped in response to Russia’s shipping problems and the heat-hit Europe crop, and Australian consumers are facing some competition on wheat as well as barley…Read More

Liz Wells, 20/07/2026

News

Full list of cattle transaction levy review meetings to be held across Australia

WA cattle producers are encouraged to register for upcoming face-to-face consultation meetings as part of the national Cattle Transaction Levy Review. Published here is the full list of 27 remaining town hall meetings being between tomorrow and the end of August. ..Read More

Beef Central, 20/07/2026

Marble High Wagyu Sale 2026: Celebrating excellence in Australian genetics

Marble High brings together the combined offering of four of Australia’s leading Fullblood Wagyu seedstock programs: Arubial Wagyu, Sahara Park Wagyu, HP Wagyu and Macquarie Wagyu. Rather than showcasing a single stud, the upcoming Marble High Sale offers commercial and stud breeders the opportunity to access proven genetics from four highly regarded breeding programs in one place…Read More

Zoetis’ planned acquisition of Neogen attracts ACCC scrutiny

The ACCC says the proposed acquisition of Neogen Genomics by Zoetis Holdings would combine the two largest suppliers of genomic testing services for cattle in Australia, and the merger will be subjected to an in-depth phase two assessment…Read More

Beef Central, 20/07/2026

Genetics

Last call for entries in Angus northern feedlot & carcase trial

There’s a little over a week left for entries in the inaugural Angus Australia/Teys Northern feedlot and carcase trial. The 120-day competition to be fed at Teys Condamine feedlot will recognise top-performing teams across feedlot performance, carcase quality and eating quality, with classes for 100pc, 75pc, and 50pc Angus content. ..Read More

Beef Central, 20/07/2026

News

Decision-making tools for producers in drought

When a drought hits, the pressure to sell stock fast is real. But sell too many, or sell the wrong ones, or not planning for the recovery, and you’re setting yourself up for a slower, harder rebuild…Read More

Beef Central, 07/07/2026

Markets

Wagga sale 20 July 2026: Numbers surge to 3640; lighter feeders lose ground

Leann Dax, 20/07/2026

Markets

Online offering surges to 17,265 head, pushing lighter steers and heifers lower

Beef Central, 17/07/2026

Live Export

SE Asia Report: El Nino moves from forecast to fact as the region starts pricing it in

Dr Michael Patching, 17/07/2026

News

Smithfield feedlot purchase sees Hughes/Shaw alliance rapidly expand

Jon Condon, 17/07/2026

Processing

EU drops hides from the deforestation list, beef still included

Eric Barker, 17/07/2026

Carcase weight still pays: Raff Angus 2026 Sale – bulls with a difference in a heavily saturated market……

Industry Dashboard

Carbon Trading Market

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

Today

37.95

Source: Jarden

$A / $US

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.6983

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

21 Jul 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

146985

Source: MLA's NLRS

EYCI

Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, c/kg

Today

1003.6

Source: MLA's NLRS

90CL Cow

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

Today

1108

Source: Steiner Consulting, MLA

Live Export

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

Today

400

Source: Trade contacts

SOI

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Today

-17.02

Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

Feeder Steer

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

Today

542

Source: Feeder Steer

What readers are saying

SE Asia Report: El Nino moves from forecast to fact as the region starts pricing it in

SE Asian report 17/7/26. A great report, extensive, informative. I really enjoyed reading it.....

Stephen Holt

SE Asia Report: El Nino moves from forecast to fact as the region starts pricing it in

Thank you. Great story this. It's the most comprehensive analysis of El Niño I've read in any Australian media.....

Kenrick Riley

Less is more: rethink stocking rates to reverse land condition decline in northern Australia

An excellent article which warrants serious consideration....

Peter Vincent

Consistency – not maximum growth – key to feedlot success, producers told

Well said Tony Fitz As Tony has indicated, daily gain is for those who want to skite Performance is measured by feed conversion and cost of gain. Thank goodness other....

Kev Roberts

Full list of cattle transaction levy review meetings to be held across Australia

Beef Central, 20/07/2026

Zoetis’ planned acquisition of Neogen attracts ACCC scrutiny

Beef Central, 20/07/2026

Decision-making tools for producers in drought

Beef Central, 07/07/2026

Smithfield feedlot purchase sees Hughes/Shaw alliance rapidly expand

Settlement has been reached this afternoon for the sale of the Shearer Smith family’s large Smithfield feedlot located near Proston in Queensland’s South Burnett region…Read More

Jon Condon, 17/07/2026

Markets

Wagga sale 20 July 2026: Numbers surge to 3640; lighter feeders lose ground

Numbers lifted to 3640 at Wagga this morning as paddocks begin to dry out after recent wet weather. Lighter feeders were cheaper in price, while some heavier descriptions were firm to dearer ..Read More

Leann Dax, 20/07/2026

Online offering surges to 17,265 head, pushing lighter steers and heifers lower

CATTLE listings lifted sharply this week, rising 29pc to 17,265 head – the largest offering seen since the NSW drought fuelled turnoff period in late April when yardings peaked..Read More

Beef Central, 17/07/2026

Dubbo sale 16 July 2026: Young cattle cheaper as numbers lift

Numbers were back by 670 for a mixed yarding of 2310. The few feeder steers yarded were close to firm while the feeder heifers were 10-20c/kg cheaper…Read More

David Monk, NLRS, 17/07/2026

Chris Howie: “Not all advice is good advice” – focus on small wins and cost control

Looking to historical trends, market analytics, season and opportunities is how most of us form an opinion on what we should do when buying and selling livestock, Chris Howie writes in this month’s column. “We can never have all the information, but a good ‘gut feel’ with a bit of science and focus on animal health tends to be about 80pc right most of the time,” he says…Read More

Chris Howie , 16/07/2026

New research and financial analysis have identified opportunities to increase herd profitability while reversing land condition decline in northern Australia. ..Read More

Beef Central, 15/07/2026

NSW sees large increase in cattle tick fever vaccine orders after a rise in outbreaks

Figures from the Queensland DPI show there has been a significant increase in the amount of cattle tick fever vaccine sold to New South Wales in the last 12 months. ..Read More

Lydia Burton, 14/07/2026

High-tech simulator boosting safety on Queensland farms

A machinery simulation unit will be deployed to schools and feedlots across Qld as AgForce Training works to boost farm safety…Read More

Beef Central, 08/07/2026

Processing

EU drops hides from the deforestation list, beef still included

Leather and hides are set to be carved out of the European Deforestation Regulation, with the continent’s new import laws for several commodities (including beef) set to come into play later this year. ..Read More

Eric Barker, 17/07/2026

Weekly kill: Mild winter holding back meatworks cattle, but a mini-surge looks likely

Every second conversation in the cattle industry this month seems to remark on the mildness of winter conditions this year, with many susceptible cattle areas yet to see a frost. The effect, in some cases, has been to push cattle processing commitments back, as cattle continue to gain weight at a time that they would normally be starting to slip…Read More

Jon Condon, 14/07/2026

Value adding hides: bovine hair an underutilised source of keratin

The need to address declining hide returns is fuelling a range of innovative research projects at AMPC and the latest has looked into bovine hair as an underutilised source of keratin…Read More

Beef Central, 14/07/2026

Program bringing teachers to ICMJ gaining traction

A one off program bringing school teachers to the Intercollegiate Meat Judging conference has been expanded, with hopes for it to become a regular fixture at annual conference…Read More

Eric Barker and Lydia Burton, 10/07/2026

Lotfeeding

Feeder cattle market: Forward contracts hit new level as cattle prices hold firm

The feeder market is continuing its run of strong prices, with grids holding firm at 2022 levels and forward contract prices going up to accommodate the cattle prices…Read More

Eric Barker, 20/07/2026

Feedgrain Focus: Offshore heat kicks local market

Prices have jumped in response to Russia’s shipping problems and the heat-hit Europe crop, and Australian consumers are facing some competition on wheat as well as barley…Read More

Liz Wells, 20/07/2026

An economy without feedlots – what’s the impact?

If the Australian feedlot industry were to be shut down or regulated out of existence how would the economy be impacted?..Read More

Beef Central, 17/07/2026

First ALFA BeefEx Pre-Conference tour offers unique feedlot access

For the first time ALFA is offering exclusive access to leading feedlots through its inaugural BeefEx Pre-Conference Tour, visiting a series of high profile Darling Downs yards…Read More

Beef Central, 16/07/2026

Live Export

SE Asia Report: El Nino moves from forecast to fact as the region starts pricing it in

NOAA has declared an El Nino, formed in June and tipped to strengthen into 2027, and across Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines governments have moved from watching to spending | A dry year’s feed and disease stress lands on the part of the Indonesian trade already squeezed between a capped feedlot price and dearer Australian cattle | Manila is building home-grown foot-and-mouth and swine fever vaccine capability…Read More

Dr Michael Patching, 17/07/2026

Why northern live export prices aren’t easing

Prices for northern live export feeder steers into Indonesia have remained resilient with rates of $4/kg liveweight ex Darwin and higher for premium lines continuing to hold despite the seasonal lift in supply…Read More

James Nason, 25/06/2026

SE Asia Report: Vietnam trade draws fresh interest | China recognises Brazil as FMD free

The big news this month came from outside the region, China recognising the whole of Brazil as free of foot-and-mouth disease and opening the world’s largest beef market fully to the world’s largest beef exporter. The reason it matters here is twofold…Read More

Dr Michael Patching, 11/06/2026

Beyond the feedlot: The Indonesian households relying on Australia’s live cattle trade

One feedlot in Indonesia, filled with Australian cattle, supports more than 12,000 Indonesian families. The large number of households the trade supports is often overlooked. ..Read More

Lydia Burton, 26/05/2026

Trade

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

Aussie beef takes centre stage with Soccer World Cup TV coverage

Millions of people have had a taste of Aussie beef during the FIFA World Cup, with an Australian Beef ad campaign by MLA scoring goals across SBS’s coverage…Read More

Beef Central, 09/07/2026

June beef exports to China slump in wake of tariff, but other markets absorbing the slack

Despite a dramatic decline in beef exports last month to China, other markets have stepped into the fold, absorbing much of the slack, latest trade data shows…Read More

Jon Condon, 02/07/2026

Genetics

Online cattle sale bloodline claims being found-out, with rejection rates as high as 30pc

Jon Condon, 19/07/2026

Zoetis’ planned acquisition of Neogen attracts ACCC scrutiny

Beef Central, 20/07/2026

Last call for entries in Angus northern feedlot & carcase trial

Beef Central, 20/07/2026

Weekly genetics review: Herd reduction doesn’t necessarily mean cheaper bulls

This week’s genetics review considers the recent seasonal conditions across northern NSW and southern Queensland and whether widespread herd reductions are likely to influence demand for bulls this spring. Rather than assuming weaker demand, it explores why quality genetics may remain strongly sought after despite smaller breeding herds..Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 14/07/2026

Ag Tech

Virtual fencing delivers 99pc sheep, 96pc cattle compliance in US grazing trial

A year-long grazing trial in the United States has demonstrated high rates of compliance for cattle and sheep managed with virtual fencing technology…Read More

James Nason, 08/07/2026

High-tech simulator boosting safety on Queensland farms

A machinery simulation unit will be deployed to schools and feedlots across Qld as AgForce Training works to boost farm safety…Read More

Beef Central, 08/07/2026

In-the-box solution harnesses solar power for remote agriculture

Charles Sturt University is trialling new technology that will allow equipment and infrastructure to be operated in remote areas where grid power is unavailable…Read More

Beef Central, 29/06/2026

Profitability is sustainability, in that order

Producers are being asked to care about emissions, but Collin Kramer argues chasing the wrong number could come at a real cost. In this opinion piece, he identifies the figure that really matters…Read More

Collin Kramer, C-Lock Inc, 03/06/2026

AgProperty Central

Weekly property review: What a $25m budget buys in different grazing country across Australia

From tightly-held improved pasture in the south to extensive natural pasture cattle country in the north and west, a budget of $25 million buys very different grazing assets depending on the location. This week’s property review compares the scale, carrying capacity, water security and infrastructure available at that price point across the nation…Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 15/07/2026

Rural Funds Group sells five choice agricultural assets for $255.6m

Managed agricultural investment trust, Rural Funds Group, has exchanged contracts for the sale of five important Queensland and New South Wales agricultural assets for a combined figure of $255.6 million…Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley and Jon Condon, 10/07/2026

Weekly property review: Recently completed sales

New Forests pays $20m for Southern Tablelands asset | SA’s picturesque Mt Freeling Station changes hands | Western Qld’s Lorne Station makes $8.4m | Neil Schembri adds the Bark Hut Inn to his NT holdings..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 08/07/2026

Movement at the station: Recent property listings in Qld

Lund Grain lists Burdekin irrigation & cattle operation | Widespread interest in two Gulf assets headed for auction | Strong inquiry for SE Qld fodder & background holding | Campbell family offers Thallon floodplain & grazing country | Gulf breeding property offered with livestock & plant..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 08/07/2026

AgCarbon Central

Scientists warn ‘carbon tunnel vision’ risks misguided climate policies on livestock

“Carbon tunnel vision” that over emphasises greenhouse gas emissions as the primary metric evaluating environmental impacts risks compromising reasonable pathways to reducing livestock emissions, a new scientific paper warns…Read More

James Nason, 16/07/2026

We’re counting cattle emissions wrong (and why it matters to every Australian)

Australia is taking responsibility for increased warming it is not causing, and the consequences stretch far beyond the farm gate, according to a recently published paper…Read More

Beef Central, 10/07/2026

New livestock ACCU method now in development

Work has started on a new livestock sector method to replace the terminated Beef Cettle Herd Magement scheme and allow producers to earn Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) for herd management practices that reduce methane emissions…Read More

James Nason, 15/06/2026

Debate emerges over plans to cut carbon market

Debate has emerged this week over the future of one of Australia’s longest standing climate policies, with One Nation and the Coalition planning to scrap a key part of carbon market if either of them come into Government at the next election…Read More

Eric Barker, 12/06/2026