You’d think that by now Australians would have their heads around some basic rules about living with snakes. But it seems to me that every year there is always a report of people being bitten by snakes. Tragically some of those bites result in fatalities.

So in this podcast I thought it would be a good chance to brush up on a few of the rules for living with snakes. After all, we can make life a lot easier if we follow a few basics!

Making the most of older and more mature pasture plants for livestock production can be a challenge without some form of supplementation. This weeks podcast looks at how and when to use protein supplements to help drive your animals level of intake and performance

Do you ever stop and think about how much your cattle are actually worth? What is the value of your cattle?

In an exciting announcement for the Australian beef industry, one of the largest meat companies has announced a move towards value based payments.

This weeks Podcast looks at this announcement and the implications for beef producers.

Bushfires impact Australians every summer, often with devastating effects. Having a bushfire plan can greatly help you cope with a bushfire if one threatens you or your property. Farmers have greater considerations, particularly to care for livestock. This weeks podcast offers tips on planning for bushfires.

So how well do you know cattle? Take a second to think about that question once again. How well do you know cattle? I’m asking you this because many people are around cattle so much they are no longer thinking about the animals or trying to get to know them. And in saying getting to know them, I’m talking about understanding how they respond to you and how they may respond to the situation they find themselves in.

This week I want to encourage you to think about your bulls and what you need to do to make sure they are ready for their role in the joining herd. Quite simply, are your bulls ready for work?

Is there anything better than a perfect steak, especially one cooked on a barbecue and enjoyed with family and friends? So how confident are you in choosing a steak, let alone cooking it the right way? This week Rayner Reckons gives you a few tips on choosing and cooking the perfect steak.

The National Vendor Declarations underpin the credibility of our red meat to Australia's customers domestically & internationally. With an updated version becoming mandatory, now is the time to understand what it means to producers.

This week in Rayner Reckons, we discuss the issues around managing the flush of green feed that comes with the change of the season.

For graziers this is a time when you need to make a few preparations and think about how best to graze your livestock and what things you may need to do to help them get best use of the new pasture.

There are two key areas I think you should be focusing on. In particular to think about issues associated with pulpy kidney and also the risks associated with bloat.

In each Rayner Reckons, I’ll share with you information on

• the latest research for livestock production,

• tips on how to increase your profitability,

• advice on how to secure the health of your herd,

I’ll have chats with industry leaders, share some great recipes and a laugh or two.