The Week in Beef

The Beef Central team has hit the road this week for some of the beef industry’s premiere get togethers.
Cattle Australia’s Cattle Connect is embedding itself as the national beef industry get together and Roma Young Beef Producers’ Forum continues its popularity in its 21st year. Plus:
Sports dietician Peta Carige tells us how science is backing a push to have beef in a healthy diet
Young Beef Producers chair Tom Copley gives his thoughts on the forum
The number of the week talks mustering contracting, giving blood and why beef and beer go together
Available every Thursday afternoon on the Beef Central website, or via YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, I Heart Radio, Podbean and other podcast platforms. Search for: The week in beef and click subscribe.

Feedlot capacity is continuing to surge in Australia, with pen space to support hundreds-of-thousands of cattle either recently come online or currently under construction.
Beef Central has been on the phones trying to find who is behind the current expansions and this episode the Week in Beef will explore some of the learnings from the exercise.
Also on the show:
Beef Central publisher Jon Condon unpacks the sale of Kimberly Meat Company and prospects of more processing in the north.
Riverina producer Michael Gooden explains how he plans to build carbon in his soil.
The number of the week looks at the Melbourne Cup, cattle prices and a surge in value of foetal blood.
Available every Thursday afternoon on the Beef Central website, or via YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, I Heart Radio, Podbean and other podcast platforms. Search for: The week in beef and click subscribe.
 

More feedlot news has emerged this week, with one of Australia’s largest lotfeeders announcing plans to sell two of its feedlots.
Mort & Co has officially listed Yarranbrook and Pinegrove feedlots, along with the license for its proposed Gogango feedlot in Central Queensland. Beef Central publisher Jon Condon gives an insight into how that listing emerged.
Also, on the Week in Beef:
Meat & Livestock Australia Wagga Wagga market reporter Leann Dax gives an insight into the season in the south states, with cattle heading back to the area after a drought-induced sell-off earlier this year.
A new survey of 158,000 tertiary education students has found that students studying agriculture degrees were the most satisfied with their degrees.
The number of the week looks at bull selling season, Australian Beef Sustainability Framework, controversy on the dietary guidelines and European Deforestation.
Available every Thursday afternoon on the Beef Central website, or via YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, I Heart Radio, Podbean and other podcast platforms. Search for: The week in beef and click subscribe.

The Week in Beef team this week look into Australia’s largest ever feedlot transaction, the legacy of the sellers and how it fits in with the buyers.
Japanese-owned Rangers Valley was purchased by Stanbroke last week for what is believed to be $400m. The property has a feedlot, beef brands and extensive farming and grazing country. Plus:
Meat & Livestock Australia managing director Michael Crowley explains how consumer survey respondents are saying they want to eat more beef.
Josh Rich from Central Queensland-based Wagyu supply King River talks about his family’s journey towards branded beef success
The number of the week talks rain in Victoria, country speed limits and fuel security.
Available every Thursday afternoon on the Beef Central website, or via YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, I Heart Radio, Podbean and other podcast platforms. Search for: The week in beef and click subscribe.

THE dynamics of Australia’s cattle market have shifted quickly in recent weeks, from big shifts of cattle into southern feedlots, a bit of rain in Queensland and more permits issued for live export ships.
In this episode of the Week in Beef, the Beef Central team give a quick wrap up of markets across the country. Plus:
Why one feedlot operator has offered $250,000 for an operations manager. Rimfire Resources Mick Hay explains why the job is in hot demand
Darling Downs beef battle event shows the possibilities of putting beef on share plates. Meat & Livestock Australia's Sam Burke and Dnat Catering's Rob Smithson talk carcase utilisation.
Number of the week looks at World Iron Awareness week, International Rural Women's Day, state of the industry and Beyond Meat shares tanking.
The Week in Beef is sponsored by Rabobank.

A Lack of detail being provided by the Federal agriculture department on the impact of the Government’s net zero emissions by 2050 target was the source of frustration in this week’s Senate Estimates hearings.
Nationals’ senator Matt Canavan led the charge, with a series of questions about how much land was going to be taken up by tree plantings.
Read this week’s article for more information: https://www.beefcentral.com/carbon/federal-ag-dept-vague-on-how-much-land-is-needed-for-reforestation/
In the is Episode of the Week in Beef:
Jon Condon gives an insight in the Anuga food trade show, which is one of the biggest in the world and had a clear message for the Australian beef industry
James Nason talks about some promising varieties of lucaena that have disappeared in recent years
The number of the week looks at a push towards plant-based diets, the Advancing Beef Leaders program and the record low American herd.

Following a trip through Western Queensland watching the dozens of trucks transporting cattle through the area, the Week in Beef gives an insight into the newest display at the Longreach Stockman’s Hall of Fame.
Alongside the induction of Beef Central’s Jon Condon and ABC Landline’s Peter Lewis into the Rural Press Club Hall of Fame, a display was unveiled for late industry leader Zanda McDonald who tragically passed away in 2013.
The Week in Beef plays some of the audio you can hear at Zanda McDonald’s display. Plus:
Jon Condon talks about the import of United States beef into Australia for the first time in 22 years.
North Qld butcher Doug Cross tells us about his plans with Innisfail abattoir, which has been out of action for almost 20 years.
The number of the week looks weather forecasts, drunk cows and processing capacity in Qld.
The Week in Beef is sponsored by Rabobank.

The slow but relentless build of paperwork Australian cattle producers are required to do has been creating plenty of frustration, with Australia allowing the import of beef from the United States and Europe trying to implement a ban on goods linked to deforestation.
Central Queensland producers, lotfeeder and processor Josie Angus has been raising concerns about the amount of compliance the industry is putting on itself – arguing that that it should be pushing back on some regulations.
Plus:
Beef Central publisher James Nason explains the increasing prices of live export cattle
Grain Central editor Liz Wells gives insight into the upcoming harvest and the prospect of cheap grain ending up in feedlots
And, the number of the week looks at kill numbers, climate targets, telecommunications commitments and the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame.

Australia's growing lotfeeding sector has gathered in Toowoomba this week to help support the future of the sector.
The Future Feeders’ Network was set up earlier this year, with its conference opening the event yesterday and a research focused day taking over today.
In this episode of the Week in Beef:
Future Feeders Network chair and Condabri procurement manager Tim Mitchell talks lotfeeding careers and where he sees the cattle market going
ALFA president and Teys general manager feedlots Grant Garey talks feedlot innovation
James Nason runs us through producers responsibilities when transporting goods off farm
Lotfeeders give numbers of the week – ranging from cattle on feed to probiotic trials

FOLLOWING a trip to Mount Surprise in North Queensland, this week’s podcast follows the livestock transport industry’s call for producers to up their standards with cattle loading.
In a showcase of what can be done, former producer and livestock transporter John Lethbridge has used his retirement to create the perfect loading ramp. In this episode:
John Lethbridge explains how the ramp works and his nephew Russell Lethbridge says it is time for the industry to follow suit
Public Service Association assistant secretary Troy Wright says hundreds of job cuts in the NSW ag department will have a huge impact on the industry
Qld assistant minister for primary industries Sean Dillon urges southern producers to keep a look out for ticks
The number of the week looks at the value of a 40-foot container of beef, virtual fencing collars and the numbers heading through Australia’s biggest selling centre.
The Week in Beef is sponsored by Rabobank, Australia's most recommended agri bank in 2025.