Beef Central

AT the end of every weaning, beef producers across Australia have access to some very clear data on their herd’s overall performance. Weaning is when information can be collected on a range of factors, including the number of calves that have survived to weaning and the weight and age range of those weaners. These are all very useful data points. However, when there is a run of disappointing results, producers often look for a range of answers.

A SHARP contrast is emerging between slaughter cattle and feeder prices, relative to the lighter restocker descriptions which are currently falling rapidly in the saleyards system. MLA’s processor cow indicator (all cows sold via NLRS-reported yards sold to processors, using a seven-day rolling average) have meatworks cows today at 377c/kg liveweight, down only 12c from the recent peak around 389c in early September.

Dr Matt George and Melissa George from Bovine Dynamics with Jack Mayhew and ALFA’s Abbey Stuart at BeefEx 2026. Source: ALFA A FEEDLOT management app that allows pen riders to record daily tasks and maintenance issues was named the winner of the Australian Lot Feeders Association’s Innovation Award at last week’s BeefEx conference.

The 2000 head Chilwell Farms cattle operation near Esperance has reaped the benefits of vaccinating bulls for almost 20 years. Image supplied. LOSING young bulls to breakdown was once a major cost for an Esperance (WA) cattle producing family – but almost 20 years of vaccinating virgin bulls before joining has helped them reduce losses and improve their confidence in investing in better genetics.

THERE is a joke doing the rounds in farming circles that the average shed meeting looks less like a business planning session and more like a pension fund AGM. It is not far off the mark. Depending on which numbers you look at, close to 30 percent of the agricultural workforce is now aged 60 or over. Livestock enterprises skew even older, with the average sheep farmer pushing 62 and the average beef farmer closer to 64.

Edwin Cooke, from JBS, Caitlin Herbert from Gundamain Feedlot and MLA’s Dr Tony Battherham at BeefEx 2026. Source: ALFA PRE-ENTRY vaccination for respiratory diseases has been the biggest mover in cattle health in feedlots and is paying big dividends to lotfeeders, delegates at BeefEx 2026 were told last week. JBS was the first major company in Australia to mandate a pre-vaccination requirement for cattle entering its NSW feedlots to protect them against Bovine Respiratory Disease.

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A SLOW-moving low pressure system and upper-level trough led to scattered showers, rain and isolated thunderstorms, some severe, over southern Western Australia between the 26th and the 28th. A cold front and associated trough brought scattered rain and showers to parts of the south-west and southern Western Australia on the 24th. Another cold front crossed south-eastern Australia and moved up the New South Wales coast on the 26th.

File image: Selling action at the Gunnedah Saleyards. Yarding 2150 Change -1050 Gunnedah penned 1050 less to offer 2150 good quality cattle with all the regular buyers attending and operating to a dearer market. Light weaner steers to background 444c to 512c/kg. Light yearling steers to background 485c to 570c/kg with medium feeder steers 460c to 570c/kg. Similar background steers 450c to 480c/kg. Heavy feeder steers much dearer 518c to 568c/kg. Weaner heifers 376c to 492c/kg.

What can other intensive livestock industries teach cattle lotfeeders about responding to community expectations? Egg industry leader Rowan McMonnies provided some sage advice during last week’s BeefEx conference…. ALONG a road not far from Tamworth in northeastern NSW is a ‘big pile of dirt’ providing a visual barrier to passers-by about what lies behind it: a cattle feedlot.