Understanding the red meat industry’s secret weapon: The Maillard reaction

Every beef-lover has experienced it: the deeply-satisfying sensory experience of eating the burnt ends on a piece of slow-cooked brisket, or the crispy edge on a well-barbecued T-bone steak. Both are examples of one of the true miracles of food science – the Maillard reaction…Read More

Jon Condon, 28/08/2026

Dubbo sale 27 August 2026: Yarding falls to 1300, prices trend higher

The market sold to stronger trends at Dubbo yesterday, where a smaller yarding of 1300 head was offered, following the pattern seen across eastern Australia over the past week…Read More

David Monk, NLRS, 28/08/2026

US imported beef tariff relief plan gains some clarity

The White House has overnight provided some greater detail about President Donald Trump’s announcement last Saturday about tariff relaxation on imported beef…Read More

Jon Condon, 27/08/2026

EYCI lifts 35c/kg this week, as recent rally continues

The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator has continued its climb this week, closing Wednesday 35.78c/kg higher than last week and over 200c above its recent low point set back in April…Read More

Lydia Burton, 27/08/2026

NT cattle producers raise serious concerns over buffel grass economic assessment

The Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association says it has identified serious concerns with the methodology, calculations, assumptions, stakeholder balance and quality assurance processes underpinning a recently released Economic Impact Assessment of Buffel Grass…Read More

Beef Central, 27/08/2026

Podcast: Channel Country turn-off begins | Latest tariff changes explained | EYCI rallies

In this episode: What is driving up the EYCI? How will changes to tariffs in the US impact Australian beef? And big numbers of cattle are starting to move out of the Channel Country this week. ..Read More

Lydia Burton, 27/08/2026

Sampling cattle helps ‘superbug’ battle

A Queensland feedlot is helping an Australian start-up with antimicrobial resistant expertise to fight a common cattle disease…Read More

Sue Webster, 27/08/2026

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

Sponsored Content, 24/08/2026


Weekly property review: Recently completed sales
Property editor Linda Rowley, 26/08/2026
Properties for sale – King Island, Tasmania, Victoria
Property editor Linda Rowley, 26/08/2026

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

28 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

150172
Source: MLA's NLRS

EYCI

Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, c/kg

Today

971.4
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

NT cattle producers raise serious concerns over buffel grass economic assessment

Büffel grass and ponded pasture land forming were the basis of wind erosion control works around Alice Springs that started well before my career in soil science began in....

Ian Hollingsworth
More
When weight hides genetic merit in replacement heifers

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

Bill Robertson
More
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
More
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
More

News

Understanding the red meat industry’s secret weapon: The Maillard reaction

Every beef-lover has experienced it: the deeply-satisfying sensory experience of eating the burnt ends on a piece of slow-cooked brisket, or the crispy edge on a well-barbecued T-bone steak. Both are examples of one of the true miracles of food science – the Maillard reaction…Read More

Jon Condon, 28/08/2026

US imported beef tariff relief plan gains some clarity

The White House has overnight provided some greater detail about President Donald Trump’s announcement last Saturday about tariff relaxation on imported beef…Read More

Jon Condon, 27/08/2026

NT cattle producers raise serious concerns over buffel grass economic assessment

The Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association says it has identified serious concerns with the methodology, calculations, assumptions, stakeholder balance and quality assurance processes underpinning a recently released Economic Impact Assessment of Buffel Grass…Read More

Beef Central, 27/08/2026

Podcast: Channel Country turn-off begins | Latest tariff changes explained | EYCI rallies

In this episode: What is driving up the EYCI? How will changes to tariffs in the US impact Australian beef? And big numbers of cattle are starting to move out of the Channel Country this week. ..Read More

Lydia Burton, 27/08/2026

Markets

Dubbo sale 27 August 2026: Yarding falls to 1300, prices trend higher

The market sold to stronger trends at Dubbo yesterday, where a smaller yarding of 1300 head was offered, following the pattern seen across eastern Australia over the past week…Read More

David Monk, NLRS, 28/08/2026

EYCI lifts 35c/kg this week, as recent rally continues

The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator has continued its climb this week, closing Wednesday 35.78c/kg higher than last week and over 200c above its recent low point set back in April…Read More

Lydia Burton, 27/08/2026

Dalby sale 26 August 2026: Strong feeder demand

Strong demand from feeder operators continued for a quality offering of yearling heifers with average prices increasing by up to 40c/kg from the previous sale…Read More

Beef Central, 27/08/2026

Roma sale 25 August 2026: Market 10-30c dearer across the board

With the anticipation of some showers, Roma agents yarded 5684 head yesterday. The market dearer by 10-30c/kg across the board…Read More

Beef Central, 26/08/2026

Sponsored Content

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

Sponsored Content, 24/08/2026

Prosperity Vs Adversity – unlocking genetic progress for your herd

Breeding Shorthorn cattle in the heat and ticks of Central Queensland automatically sets the Marellan herd apart. But for principals, Lincoln and Lisa Jobs, this location is just the beginning of their breeding program…Read More

Sponsored Content, 17/08/2026

Still feeding the hard way?

Unlike traditional supplementation, which depends on cattle visiting a feeding point, water supplementation works with an animal’s natural daily behaviour. Every drink becomes an opportunity to deliver consistent nutrition…Read More

Sponsored Content, 10/08/2026

How much cow can your country afford?

Two dry seasons have put maternal efficiency under the microscope at Chalambra in Victoria’s Western District. Their experience, alongside commercial results across other systems, is building a wider case for Speckle Park as a complementary crossbreeding option…Read More

Sponsored Content, 03/08/2026

Production

How to make every millimetre of rain count

The Treloars share their experience, having spent the past decade building a more resilient grazing operation capable of withstanding both flood and drought.
..Read More

Beef Central, 19/08/2026

Grower perspectives on the adoption, establishment and management of leucaena

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

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

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

Sampling cattle helps ‘superbug’ battle

A Queensland feedlot is helping an Australian start-up with antimicrobial resistant expertise to fight a common cattle disease…Read More

Sue Webster, 27/08/2026

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

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

More questions than answers in Trump’s latest tariff announcement

US President Donald Trump has left the red meat industry with more questions than answers following his latest imported beef tariff relief announcement on Saturday morning, Australian time…Read More

Jon Condon, 24/08/2026

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

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

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

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

Ag Tech

Technology to bolster on-farm biosecurity compliance

For biosecurity plans to be successful, they must be followed by everyone who enters a property. Technology has been developed to help make this easier…Read More

Lydia Burton, 07/08/2026

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

AgProperty Central

Weekly property review: Recently completed sales

CW Qld family expands with NQ’s Woodhouse Station | Prime NSW Marra Creek country makes $15m | Nebo brothers pay $14.7m for Carnemore | Two NT depots sell separately..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 26/08/2026

Movement at the Station: Properties for sale in QLD and the NT

NQ beef operation with Gilbert River frontage | Paroo watershed country heads to auction | 50,000ha of freehold land on offer in NT..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 26/08/2026

Properties for sale – King Island, Tasmania, Victoria

$23m+ for King Island cattle portfolio | EOIs for Tasmania’s historic Woolnorth | McBrides relaunch SA/Vic Telopea Downs aggregation..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 26/08/2026

Northern cattle and irrigated cropping demand prompts Legune listing

Growing investor interest in large-scale Northern pastoral and irrigated cropping assets has prompted AAM to explore options for the future of its Legune Station asset in the western region of the Northern Territory…Read More

Beef Central, 24/08/2026

AgCarbon Central

NFF raises concerns about proposed changes to soil carbon

The National Farmers Federation has raised concerns about proposed changes to Australia’s soil carbon methodology…Read More

Beef Central, 25/08/2026

Modelling suggests carbon farming could generate $5.5b for industry

The company behind one of the country’s most prominent carbon faming investors says the carbon market could remove half of Australia’s annual emissions without taking a hectare out of food production, while putting $5.5b into agriculture…Read More

Beef Central, 07/08/2026

Soil carbon projects get green light as long-awaited review handed down

A periodic review of Australia’s soil carbon methodology has been handed down this week, with a few minor changes recommended…Read More

Beef Central, 29/07/2026

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
Get Beef Central's news headlines emailed to you -
FREE!