This Week’s Cattle and Sheep Market Trends: A Mixed Bag of Results
TL;DR: The past week in the cattle and sheep markets has seen varied trends, with overall cattle prices improving amid decreased yardings, while the sheep market enjoyed a price uplift, despite mixed results across categories. Feeder steers and heavy steers in the cattle market showed positive price movements, attributed to strong demand and reduced supply. […]
UK’s Natural Pet Food Trend: A Boon for New Zealand’s Sustainable Products
TL;DR: Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) reports a growing UK demand for natural pet food, mirroring human health trends. This shift towards clean, sustainable pet food presents a prime opportunity for New Zealand’s sheep and beef products, known for their high sustainability attributes. Amid this trend, controversies surrounding the UK’s Red Tractor Assurance Scheme […]
Surge in Optimism Among Victorian Sheep Farmers Reflects Broader Agricultural Confidence
TL;DR: In a significant turn of events, sheep farmers in Victoria are spearheading a national revival in agricultural confidence. This uplift is captured in the latest Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, which shows Victorian farmer confidence soaring to the country’s highest, moving from a net -39 percent to 21 percent. This optimism is largely driven by […]
Brazil Sets New Records in Meat Production for 2023
TL;DR: In an impressive display of agricultural prowess, Brazil’s meat production sectors hit unprecedented levels in 2023. Data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) revealed that cattle slaughter numbers soared to 34.06 million, a 13.7% jump from the previous year, propelling beef exports beyond the 2 million metric tons threshold for the […]
‘Product of USA’ Labelling Rule Gains Support and Faces Criticism
TL;DR: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently introduced a rule concerning the “Product of USA” label, sparking a variety of responses. This rule specifies that labels such as chicken, beef, pork, and other animal proteins can only use the patriotic “Product of USA” packaging if the entire production process, from conception to the […]
Stability on the Horizon for GB Pig Prices After Recent Downturn
TL;DR: In the first two months of 2024, Great Britain’s pig prices have experienced a downward trajectory, with the EU spec Standard Pig Price (SPP) averaging at 211.32p/kg in February, marking a slight decrease from January’s average. Despite this, prices remain nearly 4p/kg higher than the same period last year. Notably, the trend wasn’t uniformly […]
Victorian Farmers Federation Challenges Proposed Animal Welfare Legislation
TL;DR: The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) is voicing its concerns over the Victorian Government’s proposed changes to animal welfare laws, encapsulated in the Animal Care and Protection draft Bill. Currently open for public consultation on the Engage Victoria website, the draft Bill aims to regulate animal welfare practices across the state. To facilitate farmer feedback, […]
New Zealand Meat Board Manages $2.6 Billion in Export Quotas
TL;DR: The New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB) now plays a pivotal role in managing $2.6 billion worth of red meat exports to key quota markets such as the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This management results in substantial tariff savings of $934 million each year for the sector. The breakdown of […]
Australian Dairy Farmers Aim for Lower Emissions Amidst Global Sustainability Efforts
TL;DR: Despite the dairy sector accounting for a mere 2% of Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions—a stark contrast to New Zealand’s dairy industry, which is responsible for a quarter of its emissions—Australian dairy farmers are still committed to contributing to the nation’s Paris Accord targets. Dairy Australia, the sector’s leading body, has set a voluntary […]
Weekly Market Wrap: Trends in Australian Cattle and Sheep Sectors
TL;DR: The Australian cattle and sheep markets have both experienced downturns this week, according to the latest data. In the cattle sector, there has been a significant reduction in yardings, dropping by 20,001 to 67,332 head, which represents a 30% increase from the figures reported in 2023. This week’s yardings have seen a 40% increase […]
