Search

10 June 2022
The national cattle herd rebuild will proceed as a result of lower slaughter volumes and the continuation of strong seasons in most cattle regions across the country, according to the latest Cattle Industry Projections update from Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).

25 March 2021
There is an optimistic outlook in US foodservice for the second half of the year, however, challenges remain for Australian exporters to capitalise.

25 September 2018
Intensifying poor conditions across many of Australia’s key sheep production areas have seen a significant upward revision of sheep slaughter forecasts for 2018 in Meat & Livestock Australia’s (MLA) Sheep Industry Projections September update.

21 May 2020
COVID-19 continues to impact US cattle slaughter capacity, with unpredictability remaining the largest challenge for Australian beef exporters.

15 December 2016
So the question is, will the downward price trajectory continue, or will the market turnaround in the early stages of 2017? In the past, the cattle indicators have increased by an average 2% from January through to March, reflecting the general contraction in cattle availability. Considering the early stages of herd rebuilding are evident, and considering the significant rise in cattle on the market in the final quarter of 2016, the same supply pattern will more than likely follow again in 2017. The two factors at play that will more than likely constrain the price potential for this period are competition for finished cattle, and restocker demand. Restockers specifically have shown considerable intent over the past eight months to replenish depleted herds, and with the likelihood of a hot and dry three months ahead, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, this will probably cool the competition on that front. For finished cattle prices, the Queensland over-the-hook indicators have dropped to a similar degree as young cattle prices, yet while restockers may be competing a little less fiercely, the competition between processors for the limited pool of cattle will continue to be of assistance to the market. In short, the young cattle market could be impacted by the summer heat, while the demand for finished cattle in the first quarter of 2017 is likely to remain strong. Beyond this period though and as is often the case, whether or not the recent decline is simply seasonal or a correction will be heavily influenced by the weather. A prolonged bout of dry conditions will more than likely result in a market correction, or falls greater than what would normally occur through seasonal patterns. The EYCI finished 2016 at 634.5¢/kg cwt, up 47.5¢ from the same time last year.

29 January 2019
National herd contracts as dry conditions continue

10 September 2020
Although both young and finished cattle prices remain elevated on year-ago levels, a favourable weather outlook could sustain the premium the EYCI currently holds to heavy indicators.

12 August 2021
The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) has broken the 1,000¢/kg cwt mark again this week, after retreating into the 980¢/kg and 990¢/kg territory for the last three weeks. The result was achieved on the back of smaller yardings – this week there were only 11,000 cattle included in the EYCI.