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Woodward Foods in expansion mood after Chinese investor deal

VICTORIAN lamb and beef processor Woodward Foods has completed a deal to sell a 49pc minority shareholding in the diversified business to a substantial Hong Kong-based Chinese investor. The completion of the deal will provide a capital base for Woodward to embark on an expansion plan for beef and sheep meat production, targeted primarily at China. ..Read More

Jon Condon, June 18, 2019

Weather

Weekly rainfall wrap + rain outlook, 19 June 2019

COLD fronts and troughs produced moderate falls in South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania early in the week, while a coastal trough and onshore flow produced locally heavy rain in parts of New South Wales and Queensland…Read More

Bureau of Meteorology, June 19, 2019

News

Suspected wool theft prompts call for improved shed security

AN alleged theft of fine Merino wool worth about $18,000 has prompted a call for growers to lift security on their properties, especially those in isolated areas…Read More

Terry Sim, June 19, 2019

News

Corowa saleyards sets a new national lamb price record of $350

EXTRA heavy lamb prices jumped to record levels this week with a line of feedlot lambs at the Corowa saleyards in New South Wales setting a new national peak of $350…Read More

Terry Sim, June 18, 2019

News

Sheep meat prices to lift as export volumes and earnings dip

A FORECAST 11 percent fall in the value of livestock-derived exports underpins the latest prediction of a 5pc drop in Australia’s 2019-20 agricultural export earnings to $45 billion. The latest..Read More

Sheep Central, June 18, 2019

News

New sheep and cattle ‘fit for transport’ signs going up

NEW ‘fit for transport’ signs will soon be displayed at all Victorian saleyards and livestock scales to remind producers, agents and transporters of their animal welfare obligations for stock consigned to saleyards, abattoirs and scales…Read More

Sheep Central, June 18, 2019

News

Sheep skin values holding better than lambs – MLA

LAMB skin prices have fallen significantly this month due to easing wool prices and global demand, Meat & Livestock Australia has reported…Read More

Sheep Central, June 19, 2019

News

Latest NSW sheep gross margin analysis is encouraging

Sheep Central, June 17, 2019

News

AWEX on-farm eBale trials to kick off in Victoria and NSW

Sheep Central, June 17, 2019

News

UWA sheep temperament research finds stress gene link

Sheep Central, June 17, 2019

News

Fines risk for non-compliant WA sheep and goat movements

Sheep Central, June 17, 2019

News

Fall in online sheep and listings helps demand

Sheep Central, June 17, 2019

News

Forward wool market aligns with physical auction price levels

Michael Avery, Southern Aurora Markets partner, June 17, 2019

News

Latest NSW sheep gross margin analysis is encouraging

A SELF-REPLACING 18 micron Merino operation has come out on top in the latest gross margin analysis of sheep operations in New South Wales…Read More

Sheep Central, June 17, 2019

Processing

Woodward Foods in expansion mood after Chinese investor deal

Jon Condon, June 18, 2019

News

Corowa saleyards sets a new national lamb price record of $350

EXTRA heavy lamb prices jumped to record levels this week with a line of feedlot lambs at the Corowa saleyards in New South Wales setting a new national peak of $350…Read More

Terry Sim, June 18, 2019

News

Suspected wool theft prompts call for improved shed security

AN alleged theft of fine Merino wool worth about $18,000 has prompted a call for growers to lift security on their properties, especially those in isolated areas…Read More

Terry Sim, June 19, 2019

News

UWA sheep temperament research finds stress gene link

WESTERN Australian research has raised the prospect of a genetic test for sheep temperament that could also have implications for human stress assessment…Read More

Sheep Central, June 17, 2019

News

Fines risk for non-compliant WA sheep and goat movements

WESTERN Australian sheep and goat owners not complying with the state’s traceability laws will risk fines of up to $500 in a statewide crackdown on stock movements starting next month…Read More

Sheep Central, June 17, 2019

News

Sheep meat prices to lift as export volumes and earnings dip

Sheep Central, June 18, 2019

News

New sheep and cattle ‘fit for transport’ signs going up

Sheep Central, June 18, 2019

News

Sheep skin values holding better than lambs – MLA

LAMB skin prices have fallen significantly this month due to easing wool prices and global demand, Meat & Livestock Australia has reported…Read More

Sheep Central, June 19, 2019

News

AWEX on-farm eBale trials to kick off in Victoria and NSW

ON-FARM trials of Australia’s unique wool bale identification system – eBale — have been expanded to include the eastern states following grower interest in wool clip traceability…Read More

Sheep Central, June 17, 2019

Industry Dashboard

$A / $US Graph

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.6890

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

21 Jun 2019 (updated 10am daily)

Company	Price	Trending
Elders	$6.31
Australian Agricultural Co	$1.03
Graincorp	$8.10
Ruralco	$4.16
Ridley	$1.22
Woolworths	$33.05
Wellard	$0.02
	$

Source: ASX

ESTLI

Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator. Ac/kg cwt

Last Week

885

Source: MLA's NLRS

EMI

Eastern Market Indicator. c/kg clean

Today

1947

Source: Australian Wool Exchange

SOI Graph

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Today

-9

Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

Goat Graph

Eastern States 12.1-16kg c/kg cwt

Today

680

Source: MLA

What readers are saying

Bourke council is confident goat abattoir closure is short-term

It had to happen; with the drought now the rain plus low stock numbers. With everyone fighting to stay alive it is hard for companies and their staff to..

Buster Tepuni

No ramifications for consumers from lamb definition change

Where have you been hiding over the last 20 years? All the export works our agency supplies have always inspected the mouths of lambs. And particularly at this time..

Robin Steen

No ramifications for consumers from lamb definition change

I'm not convinced that consumers will benefit, as from what I see only farmers will reap the rewards of selling hoggets as lamb. There is no way that lamb..

Ivan Coulter

Brisbane butcher shop targeted in ‘meat is murder’ protest

It is one thing to legislate penalties for such actions, but another matter all together for the judiciary to actually impose a meaningful penalty...

David McKenzie

Weekly rainfall wrap + rain outlook, 19 June 2019

Bureau of Meteorology, June 19, 2019

Suspected wool theft prompts call for improved shed security

AN alleged theft of fine Merino wool worth about $18,000 has prompted a call for growers to lift security on their properties, especially those in isolated areas…Read More

Terry Sim, June 19, 2019

Corowa saleyards sets a new national lamb price record of $350

EXTRA heavy lamb prices jumped to record levels this week with a line of feedlot lambs at the Corowa saleyards in New South Wales setting a new national peak of $350…Read More

Terry Sim, June 18, 2019

Sheep meat prices to lift as export volumes and earnings dip

Sheep Central, June 18, 2019

Markets

Lamb prices dip as supply lifts, and US demand and skin values falter

LAMB prices stepped back from record levels this week, as weather-disrupted supplies from Tasmania resumed, yardings at some major centres rose and export price resistance grew…Read More

Terry Sim, June 5, 2019

Chris Howie’s market wrap – May 2019

OVERALL the southern sheep and lamb job has been excellent, with prices breaking through previous thresholds in the last week of May, Chris Howie writes in his latest wrap up of sheep and cattle markets across southern Australia…Read More

Chris Howie, June 5, 2019

AuctionsPlus online wool sales steady as auction prices lift

AUCTIONSPLUS online wool sales were steady last week, as prices recovered on the physical auction market…Read More

Sheep Central, June 4, 2019

New South Wales’ Riverina region leads sheep and lamb buyback

NEW South Wales producers and processors continued to dominate sheep and lamb buying on AuctionsPlus last week…Read More

Sheep Central, June 3, 2019

Lamb Production

Matching stocking rate to pasture productivity is crucial

MORE than 25 percent of pasture productivity could be lost by not matching stocking rate to carrying capacity during dry times, according to grazing consultant Bart Davidson…Read More

Sheep Central, June 12, 2019

WA sheep producers warned about early return to grazing

WESTERN Australian livestock producers have been urged to continue their supplementary feeding programs, despite widespread – yet variable – rainfall over the past week…Read More

Sheep Central, June 12, 2019

Smaller flock and strong demand to keep lamb and mutton prices up

FORECAST drops in sheep meat production and strong demand should keep lamb and mutton prices historically high throughout 2019, with potential “additional upside” if improved seasonal conditions improve, according to Meat & Livestock Australia…Read More

Sheep Central, June 4, 2019

Sheep CRC and Neogen finalise DNA service delivery agreement

SHEEP DNA services delivery to the Australian industry will continue next month under a new arrangement finalised today…Read More

Sheep Central, June 3, 2019

Wool Production

Matching stocking rate to pasture productivity is crucial

MORE than 25 percent of pasture productivity could be lost by not matching stocking rate to carrying capacity during dry times, according to grazing consultant Bart Davidson…Read More

Sheep Central, June 12, 2019

WA sheep producers warned about early return to grazing

WESTERN Australian livestock producers have been urged to continue their supplementary feeding programs, despite widespread – yet variable – rainfall over the past week…Read More

Sheep Central, June 12, 2019

Sheep CRC and Neogen finalise DNA service delivery agreement

SHEEP DNA services delivery to the Australian industry will continue next month under a new arrangement finalised today…Read More

Sheep Central, June 3, 2019

WoolProducers Australia names new Raising the Baa participants

PEAK grower body WoolProducers Australia has selected seven people from the industry to undertake its 2019 ‘Raising the Baa – Leadership in Agriculture’ program…Read More

Sheep Central, June 3, 2019

Processing

Woodward Foods in expansion mood after Chinese investor deal

Jon Condon, June 18, 2019

Goat meat pricing helps TFI as sheep and lamb supplies drop

RECORD goat meat pricing has helped major meat processor Thomas Foods International maintain its usual winter slaughter schedule despite waning lamb and sheep supplies…Read More

Terry Sim, May 29, 2019

Saleyard trade and heavy lamb prices continue to climb

LAMB and mutton prices continued to rise in saleyards early this week putting further pressure on domestic and export processors seeking quality supplies…Read More

Terry Sim, May 22, 2019

Victoria and Tasmania lead AWEX National Wool Declaration uptake

ALMOST 70 percent of Australia’s wool growers are declaring the mulesing status of their wool and about 13pc of the national clip is coming from non-mulesed flocks…Read More

Sheep Central, May 20, 2019

Trade

Livestock export industry conference heads to Townsville

In a time of change and re-calibration for the livestock export industry, around 400 delegates are expected to attend the sector’s national conference in Townsville in October…Read More

Sheep Central, June 12, 2019

Wellard issues debt restructure update, Balazarini ceases director role

The Board of publicly listed livestock shipping company Wellard Limited has advised the ASX today it is considering options to restructure its balance sheet, including the possible sale of a vessel, after the end of a standstill period triggered increased debt repayment commitments…Read More

Sheep Central, June 11, 2019

Lamb prices dip as supply lifts, and US demand and skin values falter

LAMB prices stepped back from record levels this week, as weather-disrupted supplies from Tasmania resumed, yardings at some major centres rose and export price resistance grew…Read More

Terry Sim, June 5, 2019

Chris Howie’s market wrap – May 2019

Chris Howie, June 5, 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