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Trial shows dehumidification not yet practical for livestock vessels

A UNIQUE research trial has demonstrated that dehumidification technology can reduce temperature and humidity on a livestock export vessel, but does not yet present a practical solution for improving the welfare of exported stock, a Senate Estimates hearing in Canberra was told yesterday…Read More

James Nason, October 23, 2019

Growth in airfreight shipments for Australian red meat exports

SHEEP meat and beef exporters have recorded substantial growth in the use of airfreight as a means of moving product in recent years. Sheep meat exports by air have grown by 45 percent in the past five years, while beef exports by air have risen 42pc over the same period…Read More

Jon Condon, October 22, 2019

Texas Downs to start with sheep under Bozzi

VERSATILE Lower Darling property Texas Downs at Menindee has sold privately to Mildura-based transport operator Vito Bozzi for an undisclosed sum. The south-west New South Wales property covers 5278 hectares..Read More

Liz Wells, October 22, 2019

Sheep CRC-fostered researchers to continue industry transformation

THE influence of Australia’s now defunct Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation in the sector’s transformation is set to continue, according to former Sheep CRC chief executive Professor James Rowe…Read More

Sheep Central, October 22, 2019

AWI culture concerns after Merriman proxy vote decision

FORMER Australian Wool Innovation chairman Wal Merriman and his supporters have won AWI board backing for a share of the undirected proxies at the company’s 2019 director election, sparking fears of a lack of desire for culture change at the company…Read More

Terry Sim, October 21, 2019

NZ researchers are developing a sheep facial recognition system

COULD facial recognition of sheep eliminate the need for electronic ear tag identification in your ewe or goat flock, or even in a beef herd?..Read More

Sheep Central, October 21, 2019

World-first sheep sustainability framework group to meet this week

AUSTRALIAN sheep producers, processors and researchers will this week start working on the world’s first national sustainability framework for sheep and wool…Read More

Sheep Central, October 21, 2019

Grass to Gas sheep project aims to reduce environmental impacts

Sheep Central, October 21, 2019

Strong commitment to SA dog barrier fence after Queensland tour

Sheep Central, October 21, 2019

Strong online demand for Merino and crossbred ewe lambs

Sheep Central, October 21, 2019

NFF Leaders Program graduates honoured in Canberra

Sheep Central, October 21, 2019

Merino Superior Sires includes MLPP ram data for first time

Sheep Central, October 21, 2019

Chick tells Australian Wool Innovation he is ’99 not out’

Terry Sim, October 18, 2019

AWI culture concerns after Merriman proxy vote decision

FORMER Australian Wool Innovation chairman Wal Merriman and his supporters have won AWI board backing for a share of the undirected proxies at the company’s 2019 director election, sparking fears of a lack of desire for culture change at the company…Read More

Terry Sim, October 21, 2019

Chick tells Australian Wool Innovation he is ’99 not out’

NEW South Wales wool grower and former Australian Wool Innovation director Chick Olsson will ask Australia’s corporate regulator to investigate AWI’s treatment of his nomination to stand in the company’s 2019 director election…Read More

Terry Sim, October 18, 2019

Live sheep exporter reports above average survival rates

MAJOR live exporter Rural Export and Trading WA has reported above average survival rates for multiple shipments involving more than 700,000 sheep in the past 12 months…Read More

Sheep Central, October 18, 2019

NZ researchers are developing a sheep facial recognition system

COULD facial recognition of sheep eliminate the need for electronic ear tag identification in your ewe or goat flock, or even in a beef herd?..Read More

Sheep Central, October 21, 2019

World-first sheep sustainability framework group to meet this week

AUSTRALIAN sheep producers, processors and researchers will this week start working on the world’s first national sustainability framework for sheep and wool…Read More

Sheep Central, October 21, 2019

Meat & Livestock Australia director nominees announced

TWO current Meat & Livestock Australia directors and a new nominee have been endorsed for three director positions to be filled at the service company’s upcoming annual general meeting in Tamworth on 20 November 2019…Read More

Sheep Central, October 18, 2019

Seasonal climate outlook October-December 2019

RAINFALL is likely to be below average for most of the country for the remainder of October and November. However, north-west Western Australia has roughly equal chances of being wetter or drier across most outlook periods, with a slightly increased chance of being wetter than average in December…Read More

Guest Author, October 18, 2019

China-US trade war continues to dampen wool demand

CONTINUED tariffs on Chinese woollen garment imports into the United States are contributing to subdued wool textile chain sentiment…Read More

Sheep Central, October 18, 2019

Grass to Gas sheep project aims to reduce environmental impacts

SCOTTISH scientists are leading an international research project to find new ways of feeding and breeding sheep to reduce their impact on the environment…Read More

Sheep Central, October 21, 2019

Strong commitment to SA dog barrier fence after Queensland tour

SOUTH Australia’s Dog Fence Board has returned from a Queensland fat-finding tour with a strong commitment to the state’s barrier fence…Read More

Sheep Central, October 21, 2019

Industry Dashboard

$A / $US Graph

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.6900

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

23 Oct 2019 (updated 10am daily)

Company	Price	Trending
Elders	$6.12
Australian Agricultural Co	$1.01
Graincorp	$7.59
Ridley	$1.07
Woolworths	$37.45
Wellard	$0.05

Source: ASX

ESTLI

Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator. Ac/kg cwt

Last Week

781

Source: MLA's NLRS

EMI

Eastern Market Indicator. c/kg clean

Today

1517

Source: Australian Wool Exchange

SOI Graph

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Today

-12.72

Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

Goat Graph

Eastern States 12.1-16kg c/kg cwt

Today

880

Source: MLA

What readers are saying

AWI culture concerns after Merriman proxy vote decision

A great result for the lamb industry, hopeless for wool. With record sheep meat prices, AWI will continue to have less relevance for growers. It's a pity the lame duck agriculture....

Martin Oppenheimer

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AWI culture concerns after Merriman proxy vote decision

The proxy votes are the power behind his throne. The board backed the board, snouts in the trough, vested interests, deals on wheels, plus ça change. Only the minister can stop....

Donald Cameron

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AWI culture concerns after Merriman proxy vote decision

It's a waste of time writing criticism and guidance as I did previously, unpublished. Media doesn't want facts, it wants controversy and dispute. Here's one concerning quote (presumably sic)....

Jack Cleary

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Volatility of the wool market is simple and logical – Small

Peter Small, you are right to say if the consumer stops spending we are in trouble. I maintain that if your wool sold for $1 per kg greasy or....

Edward H Wymer

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News

Texas Downs to start with sheep under Bozzi

VERSATILE Lower Darling property Texas Downs at Menindee has sold privately to Mildura-based transport operator Vito Bozzi for an undisclosed sum. The south-west New South Wales property covers 5278 hectares..Read More

Liz Wells, October 22, 2019

Sheep CRC-fostered researchers to continue industry transformation

THE influence of Australia’s now defunct Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation in the sector’s transformation is set to continue, according to former Sheep CRC chief executive Professor James Rowe…Read More

Sheep Central, October 22, 2019

AWI culture concerns after Merriman proxy vote decision

FORMER Australian Wool Innovation chairman Wal Merriman and his supporters have won AWI board backing for a share of the undirected proxies at the company’s 2019 director election, sparking fears of a lack of desire for culture change at the company…Read More

Terry Sim, October 21, 2019

NZ researchers are developing a sheep facial recognition system

COULD facial recognition of sheep eliminate the need for electronic ear tag identification in your ewe or goat flock, or even in a beef herd?..Read More

Sheep Central, October 21, 2019

Markets

AuctionsPlus wool clients sell on market upswing

ONLINE wool sellers took advantage of the market upswing last week, selling 617 bales on Australia’s digital trading platform AuctionsPlus…Read More

Sheep Central, October 16, 2019

Sheep meat markets put solid base to Deniliquin sheep sale + VIDEO

IT was a case of spot the agent through the dust when Deniliquin’s Landmark, Elders and Rodwells agencies conducted their annual spring sheep sale last Friday…Read More

Murray Arnel, October 14, 2019

AuctionsPlus sheep and lamb sale clearance rate lifts

A COMPLETE clearance of first cross ewe lambs, Merino wethers and shedding breed lambs was achieved in AuctionsPlus online sales last week…Read More

Sheep Central, October 14, 2019

No choking on Merino ewe prices at a very dusty Deniliquin sale

EWE buyers choking on dust were undeterred to pay up to $276 for young Merino ewes at the Deniliquin ewe sale today…Read More

Murray Arnel, October 11, 2019

Lamb Production

Brands force Authentico scheme to drop wool from mulesed flocks

AUSTRALIA’S arm of international luxury fibre processor The Schneider Group has decided to accept only wool from non-mulesed or ceased mulesed flocks for branding under its Authentico integrity scheme…Read More

Terry Sim, October 16, 2019

Sheep CRC story ‘a road map for high-impact research’

A HISTORY of Australia’s Sheep CRC has been lauded as a potential road map for other industries to deliver high-impact research…Read More

Sheep Central, October 14, 2019

Sheep producers sought to value lamb benefits of native vegetation

AUSTRALIAN sheep producers can help researchers put a property value on the lamb survival benefits of native vegetation through a nationwide survey…Read More

Sheep Central, October 11, 2019

NSW anthrax vaccination initiative has federal support

VICTORIA and Queensland are yet to follow New South Wales’ lead in urging statewide vaccinations against anthrax by livestock producers, despite heightened awareness of an increased infection risk nationally…Read More

Terry Sim, October 11, 2019

Wool Production

AWI culture concerns after Merriman proxy vote decision

FORMER Australian Wool Innovation chairman Wal Merriman and his supporters have won AWI board backing for a share of the undirected proxies at the company’s 2019 director election, sparking fears of a lack of desire for culture change at the company…Read More

Terry Sim, October 21, 2019

Pressure for transparency on AWI committee’s election picks

PRESSURE is continuing on Australian Wool Innovation and its board nomination committee to release documents and information relating to a recommendation to re-elect former AWI chairman Wal Merriman and fellow director David Webster next month…Read More

Terry Sim, October 16, 2019

Brands force Authentico scheme to drop wool from mulesed flocks

AUSTRALIA’S arm of international luxury fibre processor The Schneider Group has decided to accept only wool from non-mulesed or ceased mulesed flocks for branding under its Authentico integrity scheme…Read More

Terry Sim, October 16, 2019

Former AWI chairman Merriman recommended for re-election

FORMER Australian Wool Innovation chairman Wal Merriman and fellow long-serving director David Webster have been recommended for re-election through a process being questioned for its lack of independence and transparency…Read More

Terry Sim, October 14, 2019

Processing

Kiwi shearers beat Aussie blades to retain trans-Tasman supremacy

NEW ZEALAND has reinforced its world blade shearing champion status by keeping its unbeaten trans-Tasman record with a win over Australia at the Waimate Shears New Zealand Spring shearing and..Read More

Doug Laing, Shearing Sports New Zealand, October 14, 2019

SA livestock carrier convicted and fined $5000 for sheep cruelty

A SOUTH Australian livestock transporter who threw live and dead sheep off his truck into a pile has been convicted on animal cruelty charges and fine $5000 in the Horsham Magistrate’s Court…Read More

Sheep Central, October 8, 2019

WA shearer Damien Boyle shows Kiwis how to shear Merinos..again

WESTERN Australian shearer Damien Boyle has made the best of a holiday with the family in New Zealand by winning the New Zealand Merino Shears Open shearing title in Alexandra – for the eighth time in 10 years…Read More

Doug Laing, Shearing Sports New Zealand, October 7, 2019

Proposed new processing developments: Port Pirie update

MEETING demand for niche red meat processing and service kill capacity in South Australia is a key driver behind a proposed new $70 million abattoir development at Port Pirie…Read More

James Nason, October 4, 2019

Trade

Trial shows dehumidification not yet practical for livestock vessels

A UNIQUE research trial has demonstrated that dehumidification technology can reduce temperature and humidity on a livestock export vessel, but does not yet present a practical solution for improving the welfare of exported stock, a Senate Estimates hearing in Canberra was told yesterday…Read More

James Nason, October 23, 2019

Growth in airfreight shipments for Australian red meat exports

SHEEP meat and beef exporters have recorded substantial growth in the use of airfreight as a means of moving product in recent years. Sheep meat exports by air have grown by 45 percent in the past five years, while beef exports by air have risen 42pc over the same period…Read More

Jon Condon, October 22, 2019

Brands force Authentico scheme to drop wool from mulesed flocks

AUSTRALIA’S arm of international luxury fibre processor The Schneider Group has decided to accept only wool from non-mulesed or ceased mulesed flocks for branding under its Authentico integrity scheme…Read More

Terry Sim, October 16, 2019

Red meat strategy launched, structure still a work in progress

THE Red Meat 2030 plan released today outlines a strategy for Australia’s red meat sector for the next 10 years. How the industry governance bodies that will deliver that strategy will be structured over that period is still in question…Read More

James Nason, October 16, 2019

Property

Historic Kadlunga sale will add to Collinsville Merino operations

THE historic Kadlunga aggregation in South Australia’s Clare Valley has been bought in an off-market buyer-initiated deal by Collinsville Merino Stud’s George and Sophie Millington. The 3923ha aggregation near Mintaro..Read More

Sheep Central, June 12, 2019

TFI’s Texas Downs sale to test value of Lower Darling country

ANOTHER corporate investor is set to exit the Menindee district in western New South Wales with Thomas Foods International’s listing of its 5278-hectare property Texas Downs…Read More

Liz Wells, April 30, 2019

Merino breeders buy Victorian showcase Mt Fyans for $37 million

NEW South Wales stud Merino breeders Ian and Camilla Shippen have paid $37 million for Mt Fyans, one of the largest and most highly regarded agricultural holdings in Victoria’s Western District…Read More

Linda Rowley, December 7, 2018

Weekly Property Review: Is it possible to fence in value?

IS the growing momentum being seen in investment in exclusion fencing for wild dog and kangaroo control yet being reflected in property values? Property editor Linda Rowley puts the question to a number of rural land valuers and other stakeholders…. ..Read More

Property editor Linda Rowley, November 29, 2018

Beef Central

AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship applications open until Nov 22

Students studying an agriculture-related degree or science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degree, in their last two years of study, are now eligible to apply for a $10,000 AgriFutures Horizon..Read More

MLA appoints Andrew Cox to global marketing role

In an internal promotion, MLA has this week appointed Japan/Korea region manager Andrew Cox as the industry service delivery company’s next general manager for international markets. The move follows the..Read More

Meat research: Using mass spectrometry to determine eating quality

A new US meat research project is looking at the potential to use mass spectrometry technology to differentiate meat quality, and determine appropriate aging regimes in beef samples...Read More

Red Meat 2030 launch event in Canberra + PICS

The red meat industry strategic plan developed over the past year will guide the whole red meat industry to achieve its potential over the next 10 years, RMAC independent chair..Read More

Grain Central

New northern seed facility for Barenbrug

Barenbrug (formerly Heritage Seeds) opens of a new $15-million facility in Toowoomba to provide northern growers with their seed requirements...Read More

Tough times take toll on Australian winter crop: Rabobank

Australia is facing the prospect of a winter crop of just 27.7 million tonnes – the smallest since 2007/08 – as ongoing severe drought conditions continue to take their toll...Read More

Bioenergy to link cotton and beer at Whitton Malt House

Southern Cotton and Voyager Craft Malt are building a new facility at Whitton in the NSW Riverina which will quadruple Voyager's capacity, and use gin trash to fire its kiln...Read More

Made-in-Horsham pulse isolates in demand as start-up nears: APC2019

Australia's biggest faba bean processor is months away from starting up at Horsham, which this week hosted the Australian Pulse Conference, and its isolates are already in hot demand across..Read More