The Week in Beef

The Week in Beef

By Beef CentralNews
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The Week in Beef episodes

  • UK farmers face Aussie problem | Processors cut shifts | Why beef is a "brain superfood"

    In this episode of The Week in Beef:

    • The EYCI continues to climb, feeder prices are at record highs and processors are cutting shifts - we take a look at the market.
    • Meet Frederic Leroy, one of the independent scientists who has become one of the meat industry’s biggest defenders.
    • Irish farmer, John Gilliland shares how he is working his way through increasingly variable seasons.
    • The number of the week looks at illegally obtained footage from animal activists and why the science doesn’t add up on claims that red meat causes cancer. 

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      35 min
    • Behind the sale of 4000 Brahmans | Questions over forecasts | Is grazing land clearing?

      In this episode of The Week in Beef:

      • The EYCI continues to climb, reaching its highest point since 2022 as cattle from southern Australia hit the market.
      • A record 4000 NT-bred Brahman cattle were sold in a single line online last week, which Jon Condon explains sends a signal that domestic operators are prepared to tackle live export buyers for good Top End cattle.
      • Long range forecasts are under pressure as the Bureau of Meteorology's forecast dry spring for Queensland turns into the wettest October on record.
      • Could cows eating grass now trigger a ‘land clearing’ event under the Federal Government’s new environmental rules? Leader of The Nationals Matt Canavan raised this in Senate Estimates.
      • The number of the week looks at what the latest interest rate rise means for cattle businesses and the growth of sheds in feedlots.
        • 30 min
      • The many market impacts of the rain | Levy vote nears | How not to splatter a locust

        In this episode of The Week in Beef:

        • Rain has boosted the EYCI to its highest point this year, Chris Howie joins us from the Dubbo saleyards.
        • Beef Central’s Jon Condon shares what impact the rain is having on cattle supply for processors.
        • As the vote for Cattle Australia's levy review nears, James Nason takes us into the peak body's annual conference.
        • The new head of RMAC, Andrew Henderson explains his new role in the industry and why it cannot become complacent about fuel security.
        • The number of the week looks at how fast you need to be going when driving through a plague of locusts, saleyard throughput in New South Wales, tick outbreaks in Queensland and how much a Captain in the Strait of Hormuz earns.

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          34 min
        • Producer's biggest rain in three years | Market rallies | Meet the Aussie butcher team
          • Rain is falling where it's needed in Queensland and New South Wales, with cattle producer Matthew Sargood from Drensmaine, Tambo measuring his biggest fall in three years.
          • What impact is the rain having on direct to works grids? Jon Condon explains.
          • With more than 400 delegates expected to descend on Wagga Wagga for the Cattle Connect conference this week, James Nason shares what he thinks will be the big talking points and paints a picture of wet paddocks through Northern NSW.
          • Brisbane butcher and Australian butcher team manager Billy Gibney previews the long run into the 2028 World Butcher Championships in Brisbane.
          • The number of the week looks at the EU free trade agreement, MLA’s social media success and Beef Australia's national carcase competition.
            • 34 min
          • Anticipation drives market rally | Cold storage shortage | The rise of the hump

            In this episode of The Week in Beef:

            • With the first decent spring rain on the forecast The Week in Beef team took a trip to the Dalby saleyards to talk seasons and markets. It was also an opportunity for James Nason to ask some questions about Cattle Australia's recent review of the cattle transaction levy. James also gave a wrap up of the live export market.
            • China’s 55 percent tariff on Australian beef has put pressure on domestic cold storage, which Jon Condon explains has led to a number of operators dropping production days recently.
            • Are there more Bos Indicus or Bos Taurus cattle in the world? Global Agri-Trends market analyst Simon Quilty explains his research. 
            • The number of the week looks at the whopping number of burgers consumed in the US each week and the winter crop forecast.
              • 35 min
            • Return ticket for NSW cattle | Behind proposed levy increase | Bargains at the butcher

              In this episode of The Week in Beef:

              • Cattle are on the move in Qld as the season deteriorates, many of them are passing through the Morven spelling yards, which manager Mick Smith says have been very busy. 
              • Why has Cattle Australia recommended the grassfed cattle transaction levy be increased by $1/head to $6/head? James Nason explains. 
              • What do the top 25 per cent most profitable beef producers do that others don't?  Ian McLean, Director of Bush Agribusiness explains the findings in the latest Australian Beef Report.
              • Jack Blaine shares why he started Diggers to Stockman, an initiative that connects veterans with the cattle industry.
              • The number of the week looks at bargain beef buys and the contribution of Filipino workers to the Australian feedlot sector.
                • 33 min
              • Big decisions in Qld | A push for more feedlots | Hay and grain supply under pressure

                In this episode of The Week in Beef:

                • The dry weather in Qld is forcing more cattle onto the market with a lot of cattle entering feedlots a bit lighter than normal. Livestock agent Bill Seeney explains the current cattle movements from western Qld.
                • With major grain growing regions in Qld and northern NSW facing a heavily reduced winter crop harvest - where will hay and grain come from? Feed Central Managing Director, Tim Ford joins the show to tell us. 
                • We take a look at the big picture of how Australia can manage the growing competition in global meat markets with Meat & Livestock Australia's Andrew Cox and Brendan Tatt from JBS.
                • Meet Gavin Carr, a cattle producer who has dedicated 20 years to breeding working dogs and is investing in the next generation of working dog trainers.
                  • 33 min
                • Feedlot Special: Award winners share success | Why these newcomers built a feedlot

                  In this episode of The Week in Beef:

                  • We join you from BeefEx, Australia's flagship grain fed beef industry event, run by the Australian Lot Feeders Association, held every two years. The conference brings together the entire grain fed supply chain, from lot feeders and service providers to processors, exporters, researchers and government, for three days of learning, innovation and networking.
                  • ALFA President Grant Garey explains why a focus at this year's event has been on recognising the industry as a critical part of national security.
                  • Hear from winners of the 2026 Australian Feedlot of the Year awards, Waggaba feedlot manager Melinda Fanning and Sapphire Feedlot's James Guest. 
                  •  ALFA Young Lot Feeder of the Year Zac McGee shares his passion for the industry and the issue he thinks will be a priority for the future.
                  • And why the Carmichael family built a feedlot - hear from Ben and Teek Carmichael. 
                    • 35 min
                  • Longer road to better beef | EPBC meetings start | Thailand’s big China plans
                    • The team head to Millmerran for the first of a series of workshops helping producers navigate the Federal Government’s updated environmental laws. AgForce head of industry development Josefine Pettersson explains why the meetings are important to the development of the laws.
                    • Ethan Mooney from Teys Australia talks about how a recent study will open up opportunities for cattle travelling long distances to access MSA graded branded beef premiums.
                    • Tambo producer Chris Turnbull explains how they have been making the big trip south to Victoria to enter high value markets.
                    • Beef Central South-East Asia columnist Dr Michael Patching discusses recent plans from Thailand to send large numbers of cattle into China.
                    • Number of the week looks at live export numbers and next week’s BeefEx conference on the Gold Coast.
                      • 33 min
                    • This season’s silent assassin | Major stock theft | Changing NT property market

                      In this episode of The Week in Beef:

                      • Southern Queensland producer and climate mate Vicki Mayne gives an insight into the climate drivers she is looking at this spring.
                      • Colliers head of agribusiness transactions Rawdon Briggs talks property trends in Northern Australia.
                      • Will objective carcase measurement technology become a normal part of the beef industry to help increase yield? Peter McGilchrist, highly respected Professor of Meat Science, shares his thoughts.
                      • Number of the week explores the theft of 5500 Dorper ewes and rams in Qld and it's R U OK Day. 
                        • 34 min

                      About The Week in Beef

                      From the publisher's feed

                      The Week in Beef is a weekly update of all the biggest stories from the Australian beef industry. Hosted by Beef Central journalists Lydia Burton and Eric Barker, the podcast uses the company’s…