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Australian slaughter grids across eastern Australia have steadied after a sharp 30‑40 c/kg dip last week, with most direct consignment offers holding steady. Rising fuel and freight costs are adding up to 70 c/kg to purchase prices, squeezing processor margins. Easter‑shortened weeks and public holidays have reduced kill capacity, prompting backlogs and extra Saturday shifts. Processors are prioritising grain‑fed cattle ahead of China’s 55% tariff quota, while drought‑stricken herds from New England swell waiting lists, creating regional price gaps.
Australia faces a fuel crunch as global oil supplies dip 20% and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. The government has secured enough refined fuel to last until May, but without sizable domestic stockpiles it must lean on alternative sources,...
The Bureau of Meteorology’s April‑to‑June 2026 outlook predicts below‑average rainfall for most of Australia, with a 60 %‑80 % chance of drier conditions. Far northern Queensland is an exception, showing a 60 %‑80 % likelihood of above‑average precipitation, while parts of Western Australia and...
Clearance on AuctionsPlus fell to 49%, a 21‑point weekly decline, as the offering shrank to 9,219 head – a 62% drop from the prior two weeks’ 26,000‑head listings. Prices slipped across most weight categories, with light steers under 200 kg losing...
Australian grain markets are being reshaped by soaring diesel costs and a tight urea supply linked to the Persian Gulf conflict, prompting growers to hold grain on‑farm and favour local sales. This cost pressure has eroded new‑crop market liquidity, with...
In‑vitro fertilisation now produces roughly 87 % of all cattle embryos worldwide, signalling a decisive industry shift. Wagyu producers such as 3D Genetics, Arubial Wagyu and Booth Creek report pregnancy rates between 49 % and 57 % and markedly faster genetic turnover. By...
