Category: Livestock

Prices for a number of classes of young cattle continued to improve, with any downward price changes due to quality. Source: Beef Central Dalby sale 4 Aug 2021: Market firm for smaller yarding

The retail price for the NLIS cattle ear tags for Victorian producers has fallen again with the tag prices reduced when ordered online. Late last year, Agriculture Victoria tendered for the supply of eartags in Victoria to be used for the electronic identification of cattle, as part of NLIS. Source: Beef Central VIC cattle… Read more »

In the search to get more production traits, it is important does not erode an animal’s environmental adaptation. As a result, new research EBVs such as coat type in Angus or tick scores in Brahmans when released, may help ensure these adaptation traits are not lost or wasted in the focus on production traits … Read more »

As the number of genetic traits that have EBVs available increases, the complexity of the data on offer has also increased. For many people, the amount of data on offer can become overwhelming. Unfortunately, this feeling of data overload can result in a number of reactions that can lead to less desirable outcomes, genetics editor… Read more »

Buyer competition intensified despite a much bigger yarding of 2300 cattle. Price gains  were recorded across the board with trade and light weight steers  enjoying the greater rate lift. Source: Beef Central Wagga sale 2 Aug: Soaking rains boost prices

After years of drought depleting livestock numbers and with continued high prices in the saleyard and online auctions many producers are faced with some difficult decisions about restocking. Source: Beef Central To restock or not: making good decisions when livestock prices are high

A recent spate of dog deaths in Victoria has been traced to a consignment of horses transported from the Northern Territory to be processed for pet meat, according to Primesafe and Agriculture Victoria. Source: Beef Central Dog deaths linked to contaminated horse meat

Horse meat from the Northern Territory is being investigated as the cause of 21 pet dog deaths in Victoria amid a worsening scandal which now includes up to 30 Melbourne retailers. Source: ABC Livestock Pet food crisis deepens with spotlight on NT horse meat, questions over recalls

It’s a trading of tools that few of us can fathom: from manning the wheel of mega yachts cruising around the French Riviera to where Warwick Hill is today, kneeling under a giant, cranky camel named Honey, attempting to attach a milking device. Source: ABC Livestock ‘Say yes to everything at least once’: Couple uproots glamorous lifestyle… Read more »

The search is on to uncover talented young individuals in the livestock industries, with applications for the 2022 Zanda McDonald Award opening on Sunday. Source: Beef Central Applications open for next Zanda McDonald trans-Tasman agriculture award

Police believe the mob of mixed bred flat back steers went missing or were stolen sometime between 4.30pm on Tuesday, 27 July, and 8am Wednesday, 28 July. Source: Beef Central Qld police seek help to find missing cattle

The deadline for the Senate Enquiry into Definitions of Meat and other Animal products has been extended to the 13th of August providing a great opportunity for all cattle producers to make a statement on the issue.  Source: Beef Central Definitions of Meat inquiry submission deadline extended, producers urged to speak up

Cattle producers are expected to experience the best spring in recent memory, according to Meat & Livestock Australia’s (MLA) latest Australian Cattle Industry Projections. Source: Beef Central Cattle producers set for bumper spring: MLA Projections

Rockhampton’s CQLX Gracemere selling centre easily retained its mantle as the largest stud cattle selling facility in the southern hemisphere last year, accounting for 2628 head of bulls and registered females, spread across 15 sale fixtures and eight major breeds. This year, another 14 sales are scheduled between August and October, as the northern Australian… Read more »

There’s been strong reader comment response to last week’s genetics item discussing advantages of a shorter gestation length (click here to view). Here’s a second item from genetics editor Alastair Rayner on the cost of an extended calving period and related topics…. Source: Beef Central The cost of an extended calving period

At a time when many forecasters seem to opt for the vague and timid “mainly fine with a chance of rain” approach, allowing sufficient wriggle room to claim success whatever the outcome while offering information of no value to anyone, it’s refreshing to find analysts still prepared to stick out their necks and make bold,… Read more »

The National Farmers’ Federation and Red Meat Advisory Council is seeing red at the United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) and has urged the Government to do its best to stop uninformed and alarmist outcomes being supported. Source: Beef Central Farmers concerned about “anti-meat UN talkfest”

Industrial hemp has shown promise as a potential high yielding, multi-purpose, summer feed option for livestock following results of a pilot project. Source: Beef Central High promise shown in industrial hemp livestock trial

The record high prices on offer across all categories again attracted more cattle online this week, with the AuctionsPlus offering up 34 percent to 18,617 head. This comes on top of a 33pc increase the week before. Source: Beef Central Record prices push online offerings to 18,617 head

Just 12 months ago, a 1000c/kg Eastern Young Cattle Indictor was an inconceivable figure, but overnight the nation’s primary indicator of the state of the store cattle market powered into four digits for the first time in history. The EYCI has been threatening to crash through the barrier for most of this week, after more… Read more »

Make no mistake, vaccines work and work very well, writes veterinarian Dr Ross Ainsworth, drawing on decades of experience working across Australia’s livestock sector. Source: Beef Central Vaccines work!

WILD dog baits have been dropped across more than 10 million hectares in one of the largest baiting exercises in New South Wales’ Western Division. Source: Sheep Central Wild dogs baited over huge area in western NSW

A NEW award to encourage emerging talent has been added to the prestigious Helen Newton Turner awards this year. Source: Sheep Central Emerging talent sought for Helen Newton Turner awards

Impressive weightgain performance on marginal far north Queensland and Northern Territory grazing country has reinforced the benefits of investment in leucaena-grass pastures across Northern Australia. Source: Beef Central Browse legume leucaena proves it’s worth across Northern Australia

An outback environmental group calls in camels to suppress the spread of a woody weed that costs governments and landholders millions of dollars a year. Source: ABC Livestock Camels to help fight a losing battle with prickly acacia weed, under trial

Across the bull sales underway this spring, a lot of buyer attention will be given to traits such as Birth Weight and Calving Ease EBVs. These traits will have a direct impact on next year’s calving rates, and with more than the usual number of heifers being joined, there is rightly a lot of focus… Read more »

A Gippsland meatworks linked to a dozen dog deaths and at least 50 illnesses has issued a recall on raw meat sold throughout Victoria. Source: ABC Livestock Knackery breaks silence on dog deaths

A perfect storm is driving feeder steer prices to unprecedented record highs, but some big lifts in slaughter cattle pricing may be necessary to justify current price levels, some lotfeeders say. Source: Beef Central ‘Perfect storm’ drives feeder steer prices to unprecedented record highs

Twelve organisations representing farmers and companies who make the vast majority of America’s meat, poultry, and dairy, as well as animal feed and ingredients, have unveiled the Protein PACT for the People, Animals, and Climate of Tomorrow – the first joint initiative of its kind designed to accelerate momentum and verify progress toward global sustainable… Read more »

The accused owned five cattle confined to yards on his property, which were observed in poor condition and without access to water or adequate food which resulted in dehydration. Source: Beef Central Farmer disqualified from owning livestock for life

A record 19 entries have been received for the Australian Lot Feeders Association’s Young Lot Feeder of the Year 2021 Award, to be announced at the upcoming ALFA SmartBeef conference to be held at Dalby in October. Source: Beef Central Six finalists from four states to contest 2021 Young Lotfeeder award

The best working dogs from NSW compete under COVID-19 restrictions. Source: ABC Livestock Working dog championships

In an Australian first, JBS Australia has introduced a mandatory BRD pre-vaccination requirement for feeder cattle entering the company’s three NSW feedyards. Source: Beef Central JBS grainfed supply chain introduces first mandatory BRD vax program

About 200 camel calves are expected to be born at Megan Williams’ farm in central Victoria over the next few weeks in what she says is her largest calving to date. Source: ABC Livestock Hundreds of ‘cute’ baby camels due to be born on farm in just weeks

A sharp jump in cattle numbers offered through AuctionsPlus this week had only a minor impact on the record prices of recent weeks, with clearance rates remaining high. The 13,936 head offered this week was up 33pc, with some of the additional numbers offered undoubtedly being drawn out by the “once-in-a-lifetime” prices being returned. … Read more »

Police say thieves may have got more than they bargained for when they stole a number of beehives in NSW’s far west. Source: ABC Livestock Bee thieves find themselves caught up in sting operation

Queensland courts have convicted two men over what police say was one of the state’s biggest cattle theft cases in recent decades. Source: Beef Central Two men jailed following major Queensland cattle theft

Kept out of Australia for decades, a potentially deadly disease spread swiftly through ticks now has a foothold in urban Northern Territory. Patricia Powell’s Staffordshire-cross, Leo, is just one victim lucky to be alive.  Source: ABC Livestock This once-rare dog disease appeared in the outback last year. Now it’s arrived in the city

Special bees from Holland are being imported into Australia to fight a deadly pest that has ravaged bee colonies around the world.   Source: ABC Livestock Dutch defenders: The queen bees helping to safeguard Australia’s honey bees

The Kempsey Regional Saleyards gets a $6.3 million boost to upgrade the facility, with hopes it will become a key player in regional New South Wales’ livestock trade.  Source: ABC Livestock Kempsey saleyards get a multi-million-dollar boost

The Kempsey Regional Saleyards has received a $6.3 million boost to upgrade the facility, with hopes it’ll become a key player in regional New South Wales’ livestock trade.  Source: ABC Livestock Kempsey saleyards recieve multimillion dollar boost

Promoting discussion on current issues and giving sheep and beef producers insight into new research to boost their bottom-line is the focus of an online Forum being hosted by the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation. Source: Beef Central Graham Centre Livestock Forum moving online

Cattle producers have a new online resource with the latest information on control of ticks, buffalo fly, worms and lice. Source: Beef Central New website takes fight to cattle parasites

A group of 35 agriculture curriculum teachers and their assistants got a better appreciation of how a typical Australian grainfeeding business operates during a visit to Smithfield feedlot near Proston in southern Queensland this morning. Source: Beef Central Ag teachers get a taste of feedlot life at Smithfield

The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator continues its near-vertical climb towards the magic 1000c/kg barrier this week, reaching yet another record high of 988.11c/kg (dressed weight equivalent) yesterday. In what amounts to the most extraordinary rally in the indicator’s 25-year history, the EYCI has risen almost 37c/kg over the past week, and the best part of… Read more »

Slaughter cattle direct consignment price grids have surged deeper into record territory this week, driven by a rise in international beef demand in some countries as COVID confidence grows, at a time when mid-winter supply becomes chronically tight across large parts of eastern Australia. Source: Beef Central Weekly kill: Slaughter cattle grids surge deeper… Read more »

A 16-year-old ringer has been praised for alerting the victim and police of a cattle stealing operation in remote north-west Queensland. Source: ABC Livestock Second man jailed over one of largest cattle thefts in decades

The Batchelor abattoir is an important asset for NT industry, so after a number of delays to its seasonal reopening musterers are relieved it is processing animals not suitable for export. Source: ABC Livestock Buffalo industry relieved as NT’s only major meatworks reopens

A synopsis of five significant, recent and broad-scale scientific investigations on the health risks and health benefits of red meat consumption indicates that there is no convincing scientific evidence for assertions about harmful health effects of unprocessed red meat intake. Source: Beef Central Review finds no convincing scientific evidence red meat harmful to human… Read more »

Wendy Mayne has had kelpies and border collies, but it is koolies leaving a lasting paw print on her heart. Source: ABC Livestock The understated dog winning over hearts with its affection, loyalty and can-do attitude

Prices rose again in most young steer and heifer weight categories in online trading this week Source: Beef Central Young cattle prices head north in online trading

A feature run of premium Fenech Brahmans females broke the Central Queensland Livestock Exchange (CQLX) Prime and Store Sale price per kilo record for commercial heifers at 655.2c/kg on Wednesday, smashing the previous figure by more than 113c/kg. Source: Beef Central Record for heifers smashed as price hits 655c/kg at CQLX Gracemere

Red meat processors have reduced water intensity by nine percent in their operations since 2009, mostly through water efficiency actions. The next big challenge is advanced water recycling, using reverse osmosis. Source: Beef Central Red meat R&D: Working towards greater sustainability in water use

A Victorian absentee farmer has been fined $5000 after 32 unattended cattle died during a six-day period of extreme heat when the cattle’s water source pump failed. Source: Beef Central Absentee farmer fined for after failed water pump leads to 32 cattle deaths

Cattle Council of Australia has welcomed news that Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has started the development of a Levy Payer Register for cattle producers, but has also stressed that it is vital the register be made available for important democratic work on behalf of levy payers. Source: Beef Central Cattle Council welcomes levy… Read more »

As the court battle between the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association and its former CEO Ashley Manicaros heats up, claims of poor treatment of staff, misappropriated meat and unapproved salary sacrificing are made.  Source: ABC Livestock Court told ex-NTCA CEO treated staff poorly, appropriated meat

TOP young meat sheep judges from across Australia and New Zealand will compete at Queensland’s Ekka show next month. Source: Sheep Central Top young meat sheep judges head to Brisbane’s Ekka

AUSTRALIA’S beef industry is potentially compromised by other red meat industries unable to meet national traceability performance standards, according to Cattle Council of Australia president Markus Rathmann. Source: Sheep Central Red meat sectors must meet livestock traceability standards

Areas of heavy unseasonal winter rain across parts of Central and eastern Queensland, plus NSW and Victoria have disrupted processing operations over the past week. Last week’s national kill fell 10pc from the week before, as saturated paddocks and flooded creeks made consignment challenging in some areas. Source: Beef Central Weekly kill: Mid-winter rain… Read more »