Home - Beef Central

Methane is ‘a wasted energy opportunity’

One of Australia’s largest Wagyu progeny testing programs is demonstrating that selecting cattle for improved feed efficiency can simultaneously boost profitability and reduce methane emissions…Read More

James Nason, 09/07/2026

News

Beef, lamb prices to stay high in the face of high demand and tightening global supply, says US analyst

The current run of high beef, lamb and mutton prices could extend for up to three years despite global quota restrictions and tariffs, as red meat supplies stay limited globally. That’s the message from Global AgriTrends analyst Brett Stuart to a large livestock producer audience attending the LambEx conference in Adelaide yesterday,..Read More

Terry Sim, 09/07/2026

The Week in Beef - Podcast

Podcast: Feeder market red hot | Ekka winner’s simple strategy | Do virtual fences pay?

Eric Barker takes a deep dive into the viability of virtual fencing with some of the technology’s early adopters, they take a look at feeder prices and talk to successful Ekka Prime section participant Ken Knudson…Read More

Beef Central, 09/07/2026

Lotfeeding

Feed conversion advantages in methane inhibiting feed additive, US trials show

Three recently-completed cattle trials in the US have supported claims made around feed conversion efficiency using a popular feed supplement fed for methane inhibition…Read More

Beef Central, 09/07/2026

Vytelle backs next generation of beef industry talent ahead of Ekka national championships

Vytelle has announced the state and territory finalists set to compete in the national beef cattle paraders and young judges contests at this year’s Agricultural Shows Australia National Young Judges and Paraders Championships..Read More

Divergent views over adoption of multi-breed genetic evaluation, as Angus Australia seeks industry feedback

Angus Australia is this week seeking feedback from members and the broader Angus supply chain on what it sees as a significant strategic issue relating to the future of genetic evaluation in Australia. Divergent views are emerging over the question of adoption of multi-breed genetic evaluation in the Australian beef industry…Read More

Beef Central, 09/07/2026

Trade

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

Markets

Dalby sale 8 July 2026: Numbers lift to 6000, as feeder and cow prices lift

Numbers increased to 6052 at Dalby yesterday, as feeder and cow prices showed a stronger trend…Read More

Nikki Nason, 09/07/2026

Markets

Charters Towers 8 July: 1823 head offering sees heavy cows averaging 344c/kg

Heavy cows attracted good demand, averaging 344c/kg at Charters Towers sale yesterday, 09/07/2026

Property

Weekly property review: Recently completed sales

Property editor Linda Rowley, 08/07/2026

Property

Movement at the station: Recent property listings in Qld

Property editor Linda Rowley, 08/07/2026

Property

Recent property listings – NSW

Property editor Linda Rowley, 08/07/2026

Property

NSW, western Victorian property market in more cautious mode

Beef Central, 08/07/2026

News

Can an invisible fence really control 1000 cattle? Inside Australia’s largest virtual fencing trial

James Nason and Eric Barker, 08/07/2026

Industry Dashboard

Carbon Trading Market

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

Today

37.85

Source: Jarden

$A / $US

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.6930

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

10 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

156553

Source: MLA's NLRS

EYCI

Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, c/kg

Today

1020.1

Source: MLA's NLRS

90CL Cow

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

Today

1106

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

507

Source: Feeder Steer

What readers are saying

High-tech simulator boosting safety on Queensland farms

This is a wonderful initiative for farm safety. Can it be extended to include 4 wheelers. It would also be a valuable tool in road safety particularly for new....

Bronwyn

Video: Inside Australia’s largest virtual fencing cattle trial

Great to see meaningful progress in this technology.....

Tony McCormack

Weekly genetics review: “The data was accurate; but the bull still failed”

Great response to a readers comment Alistair. I agree, the program or back story on the herd of where the bull comes from carries a lot of weight in....

Jim Lindsay

Perspective: Public debate deserves a more honest conversation about land management

I’ve lived in Central Queensland all my life& people with practical experience like Ian McCamley are the people the environmentalists should be listening to!!!....

Murray Smith

Methane is ‘a wasted energy opportunity’

James Nason, 09/07/2026

Beef, lamb prices to stay high in the face of high demand and tightening global supply, says US analyst

Terry Sim, 09/07/2026

Podcast: Feeder market red hot | Ekka winner’s simple strategy | Do virtual fences pay?

Beef Central, 09/07/2026

Can an invisible fence really control 1000 cattle? Inside Australia’s largest virtual fencing trial

More than 100 cattle producers travelled to Champion Station near Blackall last week to inspect one of Australia’s largest commercial virtual fencing trials…Read More

James Nason and Eric Barker, 08/07/2026

Markets

Dalby sale 8 July 2026: Numbers lift to 6000, as feeder and cow prices lift

Numbers increased to 6052 at Dalby yesterday, as feeder and cow prices showed a stronger trend…Read More

Nikki Nason, 09/07/2026

Charters Towers 8 July: 1823 head offering sees heavy cows averaging 344c/kg

Yarding 1823 Change +666 A return to a Combined prime and store sale attracted 1873 mixed quality cattle. All regular operators..Read More

Heavy cows attracted good demand, averaging 344c/kg at Charters Towers sale yesterday, 09/07/2026

Roma sale 7 July 2026: Market solid to dearer in 9700 head offering

The market was solid to dearer for all categories in a yarding of 9700 at Roma yesterday..Read More

Nikki Nason, 08/07/2026

Gunnedah 7 July 2026: Dearer market in 1640 head market

It was a better quality yarding of 1640 head at Gunnedah this morning, made up predominately yearling and weaner cattle. All major buyers competed in a mostly dearer market…Read More

Beef Central, 07/07/2026

The next scheduled Beef Connect webinar on 16 July will take a deep dive into the topic of ‘shrink’ in slaughter cattle during transit. Transporting cattle over long distances can be a stressful process for both animals and producers. Without access to feed and water, cattle can experience significant weight loss – known as ‘shrink’-which can impact their health, productivity, and value…Read More

Beef Central, 07/07/2026

What is a resilient feeder animal, and how can genetics play a part in its delivery?

Building resilience into feeder cattle is one of the components that can help deliver greater efficiency, productivity and profitability in grainfed systems, beef producers attending last week’s Feeder Steer MasterClass held in Ballarat heard…Read More

Jon Condon, 30/06/2026

New $6m focus on cattle and sheep performance in Victoria

On-farm performance and profitability is the focus of new $6 million partnership between MLA and Agriculture Victoria, launched at the BetterBeef conference and Feeder Steer Masterclass held in Ballarat yesterday. The initiative is designed to help producers use on-farm data through proven tools to improve their decision making…Read More

Beef Central, 25/06/2026

Processing

Weekly kill: Southern processing activity in sharp winter decline

While it’s not particularly unusual for this time of year, southern states beef processors are showing clear signs of putting the cue in the rack for the timebeing. Rates of production in Victoria, SA and NSW are now well back on operations levels seen only a few weeks ago, as sourcing well-finished local cattle becomes challenging…Read More

Jon Condon, 07/07/2026

University of Sydney claims top honours at National meat judging competition

For the first time since 2002, the University of Sydney has taken first place at the ICMJ national competition in Wagga Wagga. ..Read More

Beef Central, 07/07/2026

Hundreds gather for National ICMJ Conference + PICS

Hundreds are gathered in Wagga Wagga this week for the National ICMJ conference to hear from industry participants from around the world, before competing in beef, lamb and pork carcase competitions. ..Read More

Lydia Burton, 01/07/2026

Weekly kill: northern grids continue downwards trend

Under pressure from softening export meat markets due to tariff and trade flow pressures, northern direct consignment slaughter cattle grids have continued to decline in value this week…Read More

Beef Central, 30/06/2026

Lotfeeding

Feed conversion advantages in methane inhibiting feed additive, US trials show

Three recently-completed cattle trials in the US have supported claims made around feed conversion efficiency using a popular feed supplement fed for methane inhibition…Read More

Beef Central, 09/07/2026

Feeder cattle market: Special sales shine as grids surge again

Feeder cattle grids have again risen significantly as supply tightens on the back of storms passing through large parts of the Eastern Seaboard…Read More

Eric Barker, 06/07/2026

Feedgrain Focus: Northern catch-up pressures prices

Grower selling remains thin as markets soften under the pressure of carry-out from last year’s harvest, and brightened prospects for the new crop…Read More

Liz Wells, 06/07/2026

Feedgrain Focus: North firms as planting nears end

Prices are firm in the north as seeding slows, and wheat is under pressure in the south from what is shaping up to be a bumper crop…Read More

Liz Wells, 29/06/2026

Live Export

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

Leaked review finds “no definitive evidence” for daylight-only livestock vessel inspections

Several years after the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry ceased night-time biosecurity inspections for returning vessels – a move that industry has estimated has cost live cattle exporters up to $26,000 per shipment – an independent report prepared for the Department has found no definitive scientific evidence supporting the daylight-only inspection policy…Read More

James Nason, 25/05/2026

Trade

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

UK signals its intent to align with EU’s Deforestation Regulations

The United Kingdom is looking like adopting regulations similar to the European Union’s Deforestation Regulations (EUDR), that could potentially impact Australian red meat exports into the UK market…Read More

Beef Central, 02/07/2026

Australia hits 90pc of its Korean quota, as tariffs loom

Australia will face further tariff pressure on red meat exports in coming weeks, as South Korea looks set to activate its Safeguard mechanism designed to protect its own domestic beef industry…Read More

Beef Central, 26/06/2026

Genetics

Divergent views over adoption of multi-breed genetic evaluation, as Angus Australia seeks industry feedback

Beef Central, 09/07/2026

Weekly genetics review: “The data was accurate; but the bull still failed”

This week’s column was prompted by a reader comment following last week’s article, and explores what EBVs and other selection tools are designed to predict, why good data doesn’t guarantee the outcome from every individual bull, and why the breeding program behind the data remains just as important…Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 07/07/2026

Setting a framework for heifers – what northern and southern research shows

Producers who manage joining weight, maintain body condition and make balanced selection decisions are building the foundation for more productive breeding herds over the long term, research across northern and southern Australia shows…Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 07/07/2026

Weekly genetics review: Avoiding common mistakes at this year’s bull sales

Ahead of the upcoming spring bull sales it is worth reflecting on past experiences at sales and how these can prepare producers for a better result this year. Over recent selection workshops, and as part of an online poll, I have asked producers to identify what they believe are the more common mistakes they have seen at bull sales. It’s been an interesting experience to take these results and look at the common themes and trends ..Read More

Genetics editor Alastair Rayner, 30/06/2026

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: 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

Recent property listings – NSW

New England’s Gleneagles returns to the market | Western Division country offers breeding, finishing & carbon | Negotiations underway for Packsaddle’s Pulgamutrie Station..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, 08/07/2026

NSW, western Victorian property market in more cautious mode

THE property market in NSW and Western Victoria for the first half of 2026 had transitioned into a cautious, if stabilise phase, with mixed seasonal conditions and tighter margins driving..Read More

Beef Central, 08/07/2026

AgCarbon Central

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

Carbon farming: The side of net zero running out of friends

Looking at One Nation’s continually soaring popularity in the polls, it is fair to say scrapping Australia’s target to reach net zero emissions by 2050 is a popular plan. The Coalition has joined in scrapping the target, meaning one side of the net zero target has lost another friend…Read More

Eric Barker, 10/06/2026