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Costing a national sheep EID system is one thing…

A MAJOR livestock tag manufacturer believes a national electronic identification system for sheep and goats could be quickly costed without an expensive inquiry or consultation process…Read More

Terry Sim, April 16, 2021

Ouyen saleyards upgrade set to lift capacity

VICTORIAN Mallee town Ouyen expects to increase its sheep saleyard throughput after a $111,000-plus upgrade that was officially opened yesterday…Read More

Sheep Central, April 16, 2021

Fine Merino wool in demand at post-Easter auction sales

FINE Merino fleece prices improved in national auctions this week, reaching a two-year high for 17 micron wool in Melbourne, as sales resumed after the annual one-week Easter recess…Read More

Sheep Central, April 16, 2021

Sheepvention scaled back to Sheep Connect event

HAMILTON’S popular Sheepvention expo will be replaced with a smaller single event over two days in August, organisers said today…Read More

Sheep Central, April 16, 2021

Light forward wool trading as auctions resume

FORWARD wool trading was light as the physical auction sales made a relatively tepid after the Easter recess…Read More

Sheep Central, April 16, 2021

Could bullet train technology be the shot for lamb processing?

RED meat researchers are looking at how the magnetic conveying technology used in bullet trains to get millions of Japanese commuters home safely might be used in the lamb processing sector…Read More

Sheep Central, April 16, 2021

Australia backs livestock exports despite NZ sea shipment ban plan

AUSTRALIA’S Government and exporters have backed continuing live sheep and cattle exports despite a New Zealand plan to end all livestock shipments by sea by 2023 being applauded by the RSPCA…Read More

Terry Sim, April 14, 2021

Scott wins $10m lamb boning system contract with TFI + VIDEO

Sheep Central, April 14, 2021

Weekly rainfall wrap + rain outlook, 14 April 2021

Bureau of Meteorology, April 14, 2021

National sheep electronic identification system costing call

Sheep Central, April 13, 2021

Most sheep producers to rebuild flocks without buying ewes

Sheep Central, April 14, 2021

Young Farmer Business Conference to focus on innovative thinking

Sheep Central, April 14, 2021

Ewe and lamb survival tools are webinar focus

Sheep Central, April 14, 2021

Wool exporters seek finalised sheep freeze branding report

AUSTRALIA’S wool exporters and brokers believes industry stakeholders must be given the opportunity to adjust their submissions to a National Wool Declaration review after viewing a finalised sheep freeze branding research report…Read More

Terry Sim, April 12, 2021

National sheep electronic identification system costing call

SHEEP Producers Australia is seeking a full assessment and costing of a national electronic identification system for sheep and goats by the Federal Government…Read More

Sheep Central, April 13, 2021

Will our sheep dogs need to learn how to fly? + VIDEO

FARM quality assurance programs could one day specify the use of drones rather than dogs or motorbikes to muster livestock, after research showing mustering with an unmanned aerial vehicle was less stressful for sheep and goats…Read More

Sheep Central, April 12, 2021

Scott wins $10m lamb boning system contract with TFI + VIDEO

Australian meat processor Thomas Foods International has awarded a $10 million automated lamb boning systems contract to New Zealand’s Scott Technology Ltd…Read More

Sheep Central, April 14, 2021

Mustering sheep safely with drones at Beeac + VIDEO

VICTORIAN farmers Tom and Bill Alston use drones to take some of the stress and injury risk out of mustering sheep and cattle on their Beeac property in the state’s south-west…Read More

Sheep Central, April 12, 2021

Australia backs livestock exports despite NZ sea shipment ban plan

AUSTRALIA’S Government and exporters have backed continuing live sheep and cattle exports despite a New Zealand plan to end all livestock shipments by sea by 2023 being applauded by the RSPCA…Read More

Terry Sim, April 14, 2021

Costing a national sheep EID system is one thing…

A MAJOR livestock tag manufacturer believes a national electronic identification system for sheep and goats could be quickly costed without an expensive inquiry or consultation process…Read More

Terry Sim, April 16, 2021

Most sheep producers to rebuild flocks without buying ewes

MOST Australian sheep producers intend to maintain or increase their breeding ewe flock without buying in over the next 12 months, a recent survey has indicated…Read More

Sheep Central, April 14, 2021

Joined Merino ewes sell to $417 on AuctionsPlus

JOINED Merino ewes carrying plenty of wool sold to $417 and lambs of all types were popular at firm to dearer prices in reduced offering on AuctionsPlus last week…Read More

Terry Sim, April 12, 2021

Sheepvention scaled back to Sheep Connect event

HAMILTON’S popular Sheepvention expo will be replaced with a smaller single event over two days in August, organisers said today…Read More

Sheep Central, April 16, 2021

Industry Dashboard

$A / $US Graph

Updated 7am daily

Today

0.7730

Source: NAB

ASX Market Index

18 Apr 2021 (updated 10am daily)

Company	Price	Trending
Elders	$12.60
Australian Agricultural Co	$1.17
Graincorp	$5.28
Ridley	$1.14
Woolworths	$42.09
Wellard	$0.06

Source: ASX

ESTLI

Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator. Ac/kg cwt

Last Week

855

Source: MLA's NLRS

EMI

Eastern Market Indicator. c/kg clean

Today

1277

Source: Australian Wool Exchange

SOI Graph

Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)

Today

-0.13

Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

Goat Graph

Eastern States 12.1-16kg c/kg cwt

Today

813

Source: MLA

What readers are saying

National sheep electronic identification system costing call

The eastern states have failed to adopt the 30-plus year-old Western Australian mandatory transaction tag system. It has been proven to greatly increase traceability at little cost. It also....

Steve McGuire

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Shearing legends to be inducted into Australian Shearers’ Hall of Fame

I have a wonderful reference from 1940 typed up by R.F Kingston, branch manager of The United Graziers Co-0p from Hughenden, for my father, Lance Farish, as to his....

Helen Whiteley née Farish

More

National sheep electronic identification system costing call

Western Australian producers can use PIC or brand on tags, either way makes absolutely no difference to traceability. Western Australia was the only state to successfully trace its sheep....

Digby Corker

More

National sheep electronic identification system costing call

Solving traceability problems will not reduce the biosecurity risk posed by Foot and Mouth Disease. Wild pigs are by far the greatest problem. Here is a link to the....

Craig Mitchell

More

News

Costing a national sheep EID system is one thing…

A MAJOR livestock tag manufacturer believes a national electronic identification system for sheep and goats could be quickly costed without an expensive inquiry or consultation process…Read More

Terry Sim, April 16, 2021

Ouyen saleyards upgrade set to lift capacity

VICTORIAN Mallee town Ouyen expects to increase its sheep saleyard throughput after a $111,000-plus upgrade that was officially opened yesterday…Read More

Sheep Central, April 16, 2021

Fine Merino wool in demand at post-Easter auction sales

FINE Merino fleece prices improved in national auctions this week, reaching a two-year high for 17 micron wool in Melbourne, as sales resumed after the annual one-week Easter recess…Read More

Sheep Central, April 16, 2021

Sheepvention scaled back to Sheep Connect event

HAMILTON’S popular Sheepvention expo will be replaced with a smaller single event over two days in August, organisers said today…Read More

Sheep Central, April 16, 2021

Markets

Chris Howie’s market wrap: Spotting the price trends

SHEEP and cattle prices trends will start to appear over the next month, but opinions differ on the supply situation, according to Chris Howie in his latest market wrap…Read More

Chris Howie, April 7, 2021

Prices shift as AuctionsPlus sheep and lamb offerings rise

AUCTIONSPLUS’ sheep and lamb offerings continued to increase last week, rising 11 percent to 107,418 head and flow of stock over the past two weeks has had a notable impact on prices, especially for the joined ewe lines…Read More

Sheep Central, March 22, 2021

Online wool sales settle as physical auction rates fall

ONLINE wool buying eased last week — with 151 bales traded — as prices eased on the physical auction market…Read More

Sheep Central, March 22, 2021

Wool growers hold as demand softens with larger offerings

AUSTRALIAN wool brokers passed in more clips this week as finance issues and softer demand contributed to a general weakening in wool prices at national auctions. The Australian Wool Exchange..Read More

Terry Sim, March 19, 2021

Lamb Production

Barbers pole worm explosion prompts NSW sheep flock warning

SHEEP on some New South Wales northern tablelands properties have been killed by barber’s pole worm infestations only two weeks after drenching, prompting a call for increased flock monitoring…Read More

Sheep Central, March 10, 2021

South Australian releases plan to grow flock size and value to 2030

SOUTH Australia’s sheep meat and wool industry will need to increase the state flock by 13 percent to 12 million sheep by 2030 to achieve the goal of the updated South Australian Sheep Industry Blueprint launched last Friday…Read More

Sheep Central, March 8, 2021

Maximising lamb percentages is focus of SheepConnect SA webinar

CHALLENGES and solutions to maximising lambing percentages this season will be covered in a SheepConnect webinar this week…Read More

Sheep Central, March 8, 2021

Bianca is milking Merinos for her latest research project

MERINO milk quality and its impact on ram reproductive potential is the next project of University of Adelaide researcher Bianca Agenbag…Read More

Sheep Central, March 5, 2021

Wool Production

This genetic option to mulesing can keep quality wool on Merinos

MERINO breeders selecting for high follicle density can breed a high wool and meat-producing dual purpose sheep that would not need to be mulesed, according to South Australian breeder Andrew Michael…Read More

Terry Sim, March 31, 2021

WoolProducers is ‘Raising the Baa’ for industry youth … again

PEAK grower body WoolProducers Australia is seeking new nominations for its ‘Raising the Baa’ Leadership in Agriculture Program…Read More

Sheep Central, March 31, 2021

No WoolQ revenue after $6.3 million spent over five years

AUSTRALIAN Wool Innovation has spent $6.3 million in growers’ levy funds on the WoolQ Market platform over the past five years but it has failed to generate any revenue, Senate Estimates was told yesterday…Read More

Terry Sim, March 24, 2021

AWI grilled on 2019 election and agri-political activity claim

AUSTRALIAN Wool Innovation has been grilled over its 2019 board election nomination process and a claim of agri-political activity, at a Senate Estimates hearing yesterday…Read More

Terry Sim, March 24, 2021

Processing

Could bullet train technology be the shot for lamb processing?

RED meat researchers are looking at how the magnetic conveying technology used in bullet trains to get millions of Japanese commuters home safely might be used in the lamb processing sector…Read More

Sheep Central, April 16, 2021

Red Meat R&D: Upping our game in processing efficiency

WHAT could video games and the Australian meat processing sector possibly have in common? If you’ve always thought of game-playing as an activity that happens outside work, it might be time to think again. ..Read More

Sheep Central, March 28, 2021

Shearing rate increase continues, but would KPIs work?

AUSTRALIA’S peak shearing contractor body is continuing a 15pc shearer rate and industry wage increase trial until a review later in the year, when New Zealand-based workers might be able to return…Read More

Terry Sim, March 22, 2021

Meat Business Women launches mentorship initiative

A NEW mentorship initiative aims to improve career opportunities for women in the global meat industry and help meat businesses develop a strong pipeline of future female leaders has been launched…Read More

Sheep Central, March 22, 2021

Trade

Modern-day ‘Suez Crisis’ disrupts world trade and sheep exports

THE six-day blockage of the Suez Canal by the MV Ever Given is expected to put pressure on bulk and container sea freight, and live sheep supplies to the Middle East, as shipping lines factor in wait times for some vessels and lengthened routes for others…Read More

Sheep Central, March 30, 2021

No WoolQ revenue after $6.3 million spent over five years

AUSTRALIAN Wool Innovation has spent $6.3 million in growers’ levy funds on the WoolQ Market platform over the past five years but it has failed to generate any revenue, Senate Estimates was told yesterday…Read More

Terry Sim, March 24, 2021

AWEX should get out of wool welfare issues says Olsson

WOOL welfare statements should not be made on the Australian Wool Exchange’s National Wool Declaration, according to New South Wales wool grower Chick Olsson…Read More

Terry Sim, March 17, 2021

Chris Wilcox to retire from national wool brokers’ role

INTERNATIONALLY respected wool market analyst Chris Wilcox will retire as executive director of the National Council of Wool Selling Brokers of Australia next month…Read More

Sheep Central, March 9, 2021

Property

Historic Minjah property sale underway to MH Premium Farms

Historic south-west Victorian property Minjah is in the process of being sold to the NSW-based company MH Premiums Farms for about $36 million…Read More

Terry Sim, February 17, 2021

Lamb and beef operations choose high rainfall zone to finish stock

SHEEP and beef producers seeking reliable land for livestock finishing are buying into the higher rainfall areas of Victoria, including former dairy regions, according to Elders rural real estate specialist at Camperdown Rob Rickard…Read More

Terry Sim, February 15, 2021

Local farmer syndicate pays $80m for Victoria’s Banongill station

AGRICULTURAL fund manager, Laguna Bay has agreed to sell its flagship Victorian Western District cropping and livestock holding, Banongill Station, for about $80 million to a consortium of local farming families…Read More

Sheep Central, October 27, 2020

Ag land prices to enter no-to-low price growth phase

AUSTRALIAN agricultural land is entering a new price phase with low-to-no growth in median prices forecast over the next 18 months, according to a new industry report…Read More

Sheep Central, September 14, 2020

Beef Central

Recruitment: How to give (and take) constructive criticism in the workplace

If you’re a manager, supervisor, team leader or any type of boss working in the meat and livestock industry, there will be times when you will have to give feedback..Read More

Applications open for Biodiversity Stewardship Scheme

Cattle producers can now apply to take part in the Federal Government’s Agriculture Stewardship Carbon + Biodiversity Pilot Program...Read More

NT cattle producers welcome drought hub announcement

The Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association (NTCA) has welcomed today’s announcement of $8m in funding to support the development of a northern NT/WA drought hub in Darwin...Read More

LifeFlight Rescue airlifts man struck by cattle yard gate

The Bundaberg RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter has airlifted a man, after he was injured while herding cattle, in the Gladstone region, this morning...Read More

Grain Central

Riverina rice harvest heralds industry revival

The largest rice harvest in three years is underway in the NSW Riverina where the industry is regaining its feet after drought slashed farm production over the previous two seasons...Read More

What does the rising oil price mean for agriculture?

The oil price has returned to pre-COVID levels which is a good signal of economic recovery, but the question is, how does this impact agriculture?..Read More

Bunge buys into Australian Plant Proteins

Bunge has bought a stake in high-level pulse processor Australian Plant Proteins in a move which mirrors an investment made last year in Canada's Merit Functional Foods...Read More

New glyphosate resistance mechanism discovered in plants

In a world-first breakthrough for research into herbicide resistance, a team of Australian and international scientists has discovered a new glyphosate resistance mechanism in plants...Read More