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4405  Mitsubishi enters the cultured meat market  The Japanese corporation signed an MoU with an Israeli firm to produce and distribute lab beef steaks in the Asian country.  <p>A partnership between Israel-based cellular agriculture startup Aleph Farms and the Mitsubishi Corporation&rsquo;s Food Industry Group allows the Japanese company to have access to the technology to create lab-grown meat and distributed in the Japanese market. Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement signed this month, the Israeli part will provide its BioFarm manufacturing platform for use of cultivating whole-muscle steaks on a large scale, while the Mitsubishi Corporation will provide its expertise in biotechnology processes, branded food manufacturing, and local distribution channels in Japan.<br />"The MoU with Mitsubishi Corporation&rsquo;s Food Industry Group marks an important milestone for us, as we methodically build the foundations of our global go-to-market activities with selected partners. The cooperation demonstrates Aleph Farms&rsquo; strategy of working together with the food and meat industries to ensure a successful integration of cultivated meat within the ecosystem while maximizing the positive impact we make. We are excited to bring cultivated meat production closer to the Japanese market," Aleph Farms Co-Founder and CEO Didier Toubia said. <br />The Israeli firm produced its first cell-based steak in 2018 and since then the startup has increased the portion of the meat produced in a lab, making it viable for large scale production and commercialization. The partnership is considered to help Japan reach its climate target goals over the next 10 years and to help the country become more protein independent.</p> <p>Currently, Aleph Farms and the Mitsubishi Corporation are part of the &ldquo;Cellular Agriculture Study Group,&rdquo; a consortium implementing policy proposals under the Japanese Center for Rule-Making Strategy in an effort to help define the standards around the emerging industry and help slaughter-free meat overcome the hurdle of regulatory approval, informs the VegNews magazine.</p>    Industry 2021-01-11 12:39:16  2025-07-28 15:26:59  Details Edit Delete
4425  Mixed picture for global meat production   Beef and poultry outputs are expected to decline, while pork production will rise by 2%.  <p>2021 will offer a mixed picture for meat production around the globe, says the most recent USDA forecast. According to the report, pork production will increase by 2% this year, to reach 103.8 million tonnes. The main reason is that the Chinese pig sector is recovering from ASF. High prices continue to incentivize producers to expand their number of animals, leading to China's production forecast being revised up 5%.<br />However, despite this review, Chinese production is expected to remain below pre-ASF levels as rising costs and animal management problems create problems. The rise in production in China more than compensates for the sharp decline in production in the Philippines, where ASF continues to spread in key regions. World pork exports for 2021 are revised up by almost 3%, to 11.1 million tonnes. Imports from China will be lower but are expected to remain elevated, compared to pre-ASF figures. For the US pork producers, one disappointment will be the Mexican market, where weak currency and economy lead to lower expectations.<br />World beef production will decline to around 61.2 million tonnes, mainly due to reductions in China and the United States. China is revised down by 3% (6.7 million tonnes less than last year). World beef exports in 2021 will remain unchanged at 10.8 million tonnes. Demand from Asia remains strong and the supply forecast for most major exporters has not changed, said the report.<br />Global chicken meat production for 2021 is revised down 1%, to 101.8 million tonnes, due to sharp declines in the EU and China. The EU is fighting the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza in several Member States, lower domestic demand and higher grain prices. China's demand for chicken meat continues to grow, but at a slower rate, as the pig herd recovers and with it the production of pork. As a result, exports from the EU, Thailand and Brazil will decline, while those of the United States will rise.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>    Industry 2021-01-20 12:19:22  2025-07-28 05:50:59  Details Edit Delete
3684  Mixed picture for Vion exports in Italy  The trade is impacted by the uncertainties regarding the selling channels in the country and the relief felt in China's logistics.  <p>Despite the lockdown on Italy, Vion Foods is still exporting products to this market but the unrest and uncertainties regarding preventive measures to curb the coronavirus outbreak are having an impact on the sales, according to Dutch magazine FoodAgribusiness.<br />"The meat products just go there and are distributed further, but we notice a lot of uncertainty among our customers because they do not know how sales will continue," commented a spokesman from the Dutch meat producer. In the last couple of days, the Italian government has recommended small restaurants and bars to keep their doors closed as a preventive measure over the epidemic situation in the country. At this time, only hotel restaurants and supermarkets are open to cover the domestic consumption for the population sent in isolation at home.</p> <p>At the same time, the company re-started the shipments to China thanks to a relief felt by port operators in the Asian country in handling the reefer containers in some of the major ports of China such as Tianjin and Shanghai.<br />By now, the number of reefer containers in Tianjin port and Shanghai port has been reduced to 2/3 of the highest-ever record and imports are expected to regain speed. The worst situation was that the total reefer container number in cold store at Tianjin port and Shanghai port and surrounding districts reached as high as 27,000 TEU during the lockdown of 11 Chinese cities and the transport restrictions imposed by the authorities. "A few weeks ago, logistics in China were completely stuck. Now the distribution in the interior is once again picked up in size,", declared Vion Foods' spokesman. He also mentioned that the company's personnel was advised to work from home, if possible, and no sick worker is allowed to enter the Group's production facilities.</p>    Industry 2020-03-12 11:53:17  2025-07-28 11:02:37  Details Edit Delete
5516  Mixed picture in the EU beef market  Spain and Ireland increased production, while other countries are in decline.  <p>The EU produced 1.64 million tonnes of beef in the first quarter of 2022, down only 0.8% compared to 2021 and in line with the EU short-term forecast. However, production was mixed across the continent. Some nations such as Spain and Ireland saw strong year-on-year growth, however, this did not quite make up for the continued decline seen in Germany and France.<br />Slaughter numbers for the period stood at 5.58 million head, little change (+11,000 head) from the same time last year. Carcase weights are reportedly lighter than last year with forecasts expecting them to continue to lower due to higher input prices for production encouraging earlier slaughtering.</p>    Industry 2022-06-15 13:23:23  2025-07-28 13:51:22  Details Edit Delete
3973  Mixed picture in the EU pork market  Pig prices have fallen in the North, while Spain and Italy slowly recover.  <p>Bottlenecks in the supply chain in the EU pork market is drawing a mixed picture across the continent. There is an imbalance between supply and demand in the EU, which has led to a very turbulent situation with great uncertainty. Besides the closure of Tonnies-Rheda unit, several other pig processing units have been impacted by COVID-19 and lost access to the Chinese market. "This obviously has repercussions on the Spanish market, and even though here there is a certain balance between supply and demand, the price of meat is falling. <br />The Spanish packing plants that can still export to China, although slower due to the measures implemented by COVID-19, are taking advantage of the gap left by the other packing plants in Europe and reaching 37% of total Spanish exports. These exports are what are sustaining the market, both in quantity and price. <br />However, the packing plants unauthorized to export to China are suffering the pressure of excess meat. They cannot lower their production because they have fixed costs to bear. In addition, domestic consumption, with the decline in tourism, has been greatly reduced," declared Mercedes Vega, General Director for Spain, Italy and Portugal, Genesus.<br />In 2019, China was the main non-EU destination for the Spanish pig sector, absorbing 27.2% of exports in volume (663,892 tonnes) and 23.0% in value (1,441 million euros). Another pig market that seems to recover gradually is Italy, which has seen prices rising since mid-June. " Price is 1.18-1.19 euros/kg live with average weight dropping to 173.5 kg compared with 176.6 kg two months ago. All the market indicators show a continued rise in prices," added Mrs Vega.</p>    Industry 2020-07-20 09:18:50  2025-07-28 02:15:18  Details Edit Delete
3318  Mixed picture in the French meat market  The demand for pork has dropped by 4.1% in August, while fresh beef, veal and lamb consumption is increasing.  <p>The most recent Kantar report on pork consumption in France shows a reduction of 4.1% in August 2019, compared to the same month last year. According to the data presented in the report, for the last 12 months, French consumers have decreased their pork intake by 0.9%.<br />During the same month, fresh beef has registered an increase in consumption of 4.6%. The most important processed in consumption are marinated meats, minced meats, preparations based on minced meats and carpaccios.<br />Nevertheless, since the beginning of the year, frozen minced beef has registered a decrease in demand of 3.9%. Overall, the consumption of beef, including frozen minced meat, has decreased slightly to 0.7% since the beginning of the year. Kantar also points out that the month of August was good for the demand for veal and lamb meat, compensating the reductions experienced for the rest of the year. And this has occurred even considering that it is not about meats that have many freshly prepared. These represent 42% of sales of beef cattle, 21% of veal and only 6% of lamb in 2019. Finally, in terms of poultry meat, August was a good month with a 2% increase in demand.</p>    Market 2019-10-14 06:56:38  2025-07-27 19:34:27  Details Edit Delete
4072  Mixed picture in the US lamb market  Cold storage levels are still high, while exports are rebounding slowly  <p>Dining-out restrictions in the US market are impacting lamb sales and production, as cold storage levels are higher compared to 2019 and exports are slowly rebounding. Australia and New Zealand as the main suppliers of lamb in the US are in a difficult position as the market doesn't seem to be as consistent as a year ago. "Prices for retail cuts of lamb, such as shoulder and leg, are holding up quite well and should remain steady as home cooking continues to drive demand. Unfortunately, prices for foodservice items, such as lamb racks, are well back on year-ago levels. This demand has been reflected in Australian export statistics, with year-to-July exports of leg and shoulder up 6% and 9% respectively to 2019 levels, while exports of rack and shank are back 3% and 29% respectively on 2019 levels. Import demand for the remainder of 2020 will largely hinge on dining-out restrictions, combined with the economic impact of COVID-19. In terms of import prices, end of year holiday demand could provide some support," reports Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).<br />On the other hand, US feedlot inventories remain low, with lambs on feed in Colorado feedlots at 1 August estimated at 45,800 head, 35% below than the five-year average. US sheepmeat production is now estimated at 38,000 tonnes cwt for the year-to-August, back 8.5% on 2019 levels and demand in the export market has dropped significantly over the first 6 months of the year. June exports of US lamb were the largest of 2020 at 2,289 tonnes, up 113% from a year ago, while value climbed 29% to $2.23 million (second largest of the year, following March). First-half export volume was nearly even with last year at 7,752 tonnes, though value was down 21% to $10.43 million. Growth in June was led by a large increase in both muscle cut and variety meat exports to Mexico, the leading destination for US lamb. Exports have also trended higher this year to Hong Kong and Kuwait, according to the US Meat Export Federation.</p>    Market 2020-09-03 11:28:26  2025-07-28 03:49:06  Details Edit Delete
6587  Mixed Q1 performance for EU beef and sheep meat production  Production of beef and lamb has been mixed among EU member states during the first quarter of 2023, according to AHDB.  <p><span lang="DE">Beef output has fallen overall across the EU-27 during the first quarter of 2023 versus a year ago (-4%). This has largely been driven by lower production in Italy, followed by Spain, Ireland, and France. Meanwhile others including the Netherlands and Germany have seen output increase, with the Netherlands driven by an uptick in cow slaughter.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">This follows the wider trend of declining cattle numbers on the continent. Census figures from 1 December 2022 showed a reduction in nearly all categories of cattle within the EU, particularly cattle aged 1-2yrs old. The breeding cow herd also remained in contraction, particularly in France and Poland.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Despite lower production levels, cattle prices in the EU have softened slightly since the start of the year (but have generally remained historically firm). GB prices have moved back to the top-end of the European scale, but like others have pulled back in recent weeks. Industry reports point to sluggish demand for beef on the continent, on the back of high inflation and cautious consumer spending.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Cow prices have seen a similar movement to prime, fluctuating through the first few months of the year followed by a general easing from May onwards. French cow prices have held particularly firm around the level seen at the backend of 2022, bucking the wider trend seen moving into 2023. GB prices have generally moved against the grain, being now towards the top end of the range.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Irish cattle prices have been easing since the end of April, despite fewer cattle forward. With GB cattle prices staying relatively firm, the discount of Irish cattle has grown notably. So far this year, (Jan-May) Irish adult cattle kill is down around 4% (-30,000 head) year-on-year. Again, industry reports attribute price falls to softening demand in export markets. This is borne out in trade figures; the UK has imported less Irish beef so far this year (-7%), and Irish exports have reduced into countries like the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Bord Bia expect Irish cattle supplies to increase in the second half of 2023, particularly the final quarter . This may point to current pricing trends continuing, especially if consumer demand remains under pressure.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Production of lamb and mutton has been mixed during the first quarter of 2023 among the top EU producers. Countries including Spain, France, and Greece have seen output decline on the year, while others like Ireland, Italy, and the Netherlands have produced more. Overall, from the top five producers, output is up 1% year-on-year.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">The EU sheep population has been falling since 2017, with the rate of annual decline accelerating during this time. Breeding ewe numbers have been falling particularly sharply in Greece and Spain, whereas other countries like France, Ireland and Germany have seen relatively more stability.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Lamb prices in continental EU have stayed relatively buoyant since January. Meanwhile, like GB, Irish prices were particularly pressured earlier in the year, before appreciating strongly from March onwards. Market conditions in Ireland echo those in the UK; Bord Bia report that spring lambs have generally been slower to come forwards, while a larger carryover has meant hogget numbers have persisted later into the season.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">GB prices are now sitting in a more midfield position following the spring rally. However, returns have been on a seasonal downwards trajectory for a few weeks. Similarly, Spanish prices have taken a downwards turn.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Market commentary suggests that as well as new season supplies growing, European consumer demand for sheep meat is somewhat lacklustre at present. Inflationary pressures are likely to be playing a part. New Zealand analysts AgriHQ report that European supplies are ample for requirements currently, following a relatively strong first quarter of exporting. Indeed, EU27 trade figures showed a marked annual increase in imports from Jan-Mar as UK and Southern Hemisphere product was particularly competitive, but April volumes were back substantially. Elsewhere, reports suggest that fifth quarter material returns are depressed currently, weighing further on supply chains.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Overall, the outlook for EU sheep meat production in 2023 is for levels to decrease by just over 1% from 2022, influenced by ongoing contraction in the breeding flock. Imports are expected to remain supported by lower production and competitive overseas product. But of course, a lot will depend on EU consumption levels, especially considering current macro-economic conditions. Elsewhere, China has been taking more product from New Zealand and Australia so far this year, but uncertainty remains about China&rsquo;s recovery post-COVID.</span></p>    Market adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2023-07-16 00:05:48  2025-07-27 15:09:09  Details Edit Delete
5072  Mixed results in Aussie red meat exports  Lamb and beef volumes shipped abroad have declined, while mutton and goat meat are climbing.  <p>Mixed export results have emerged between proteins for the month of October, with mutton and goat lifting at the expense of beef and lamb. Mutton and goat increased by 3% and 4%, respectively, largely driven by the US and Canada, with mutton exports achieving 14,403 tonnes swt for the month. Beef in October achieved a total of 74,333 tonnes swt, down 6% from September levels. Lamb declined 10% to 19,726 tonnes swt, the lowest level since January this year, according to Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).</p> <p><img src="/files/pictures/article/DAWE.jpg?1636464941431" alt="DAWE" height="100%" /></p> <p>Dwindling lamb slaughter volumes in October contributed to the demise, along with processor disruptions and a delayed spring flush, despite numbers lifting by 23% since September. October levels in 2020 and 2019 reached 24,152 and 26,383 tonnes, respectively. October is typically the largest or second-largest month for Australian lamb exports, highlighting the significance of recent figures.</p>    Industry 2021-11-09 11:35:02  2025-07-28 07:29:21  Details Edit Delete
7802  MLA Adoption programs deliver $74.3 million in annual net benefits to producers in 2023-24  Meat & Livestock Australia’s (MLA) ongoing investments in adoption continue to deliver impact for producers, with the latest Producer Adoption Outcomes Report finding that these investments delivered $74.3 million in annual net benefits to 10,202 producers in 2023-24.  <p style="font-weight: 400;">According to MLA&rsquo;s Program Manager for Adoption, Sally Leigo, the MLA adoption program provides a suite of service offerings including training products, group learning, one-on-one coaching, resources and tools.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"MLA&rsquo;s adoption programs are focused on assisting producers to increase their production, profitability and sustainability", Ms Leigo said.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"These programs are designed to allow producers, supported by a local service providers to explore how to improve their business skills as well as pasture and livestock management through the latest research outcomes, technology, or best management practices.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"The Producer Adoption Outcomes Report outlines the results achieved from producers engaging in these services during 2023&ndash;24 and the benefits they received through such involvement".<br /><br />During 2023-24, landholders participating in adoption initiatives were responsible for more than 219.4M hectares of Australian agricultural land, and managed more than 14.6 million cattle, 9.1 million sheep and 647,950 goats.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">MLA's flagship programs for producers include Profitable Grazing Systems (PGS), Producer demonstration sites (PDS), EDGE Network and BredWell Fedwell (BWFW). These programs provide information on key management practices through supported learning packages, peer-to-peer learning and hands-on workshops.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Since 2015, there have been over $1.1 billion worth of total net benefits delivered to Australian red meat and livestock producers who adopted a new practice as a result of participating in a MLA Adoption program.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Profitable Grazing Systems (PGS)</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">In 2023-2024 the PGS program saw continued growth in engagement and return on investment to producers.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Throughout the year, 441 producers were involved in a PGS group. On average producers involved in PGS experienced a $5.53&ndash;7.52/ha average annual net benefit for participating southern producers and $6&ndash;26/km2 average annual net benefit for participating northern producers.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">A new PGS package was made available in 2023-24 called LevelUp. It is designed to coach producers through how to take the family farm and turn it into the family business, covering topics of strategy, governance, investment and succession planning.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Producer&nbsp;Demonstration Sites (PDS)</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The PDS program aims to increase the rate of adoption of key management practices and technologies that improve business profitability, productivity and sustainability.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Following the 2023&ndash;24 PDS call for producer-led projects, MLA supported funding for six levy projects and three co-contributor projects. Three additional Integrated R&amp;D PDS projects were contracted during 2023&ndash;24 associated with research projects.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Throughout 2023-2023, there were 83 active projects funded through the PDS program. On average, and depending on the area of practice change, producers could expect an additional net benefit of between $2.29 to $5.89/ha annually as a result of their participation in the program.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>EDGE Network</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">MLA&rsquo;s EDGE Network (EDGE) gives producers the opportunity to develop skills to improve their livestock enterprises through one to three-day workshops</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">There are eight courses currently available with two new courses launched during 2023&ndash;24: Carbon EDGE and the Southern Rangelands Grazing Fundamentals EDGE.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">In 2023-24, 545 producers participated in one of the 48 workshops delivered. For those participating it is estimated that producers receive an annual average benefit of up to $6.21/ha for southern producers and up to $100/km2 for northern producers.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">In total this means there has been $43.3M* of total net benefits identified for 2023.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>BredWell FedWell (BWFW)</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">In 2023 MLA revamped the BredWell FedWell (BWFW) workshop to reflect evolving best practice genetics and nutrition management.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">BredWell FedWell (BWFW) is a one-day practical workshop on how productivity and profitability can be improved through good breeding and feeding over the livestock production cycle, with a specific focus on profit drivers.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Over the year, 347 producers were engaged across the 19 workshops, who manage almost 1 million hectares of agricultural land. Of those producers, 94% indicated that they would plan to make changes after attending the BWFW workshops.</p>    Market adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2024-10-10 00:10:46  2025-07-28 05:12:25  Details Edit Delete
7232  MLA and CSIRO partner to deliver lamb to more quick service restaurants  As the 2024 AFL Premiership season begins, Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and its marketing subsidiary Australian Lamb are proud to announce the return of the Lamb Paddock, an innovative outlet featuring concept lamb products at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with Delaware North.  <p><span lang="DE">The return of the Lamb Paddock follows a project between MLA and CSIRO, Australia&rsquo;s national science agency, centred around increasing the number of value-added lamb products suitable for quick service restaurants (QSR).</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">According to MLA&rsquo;s Product &amp; Business Development Manager and Corporate Chef, Sam Burke, MLA wanted to elevate lamb from a "limited offer" product to a regular menu item in QSRs nationwide.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"MLA worked with CSIRO to understand the barriers that QSRs and full-service restaurants (FSRs) had in featuring lamb products on their menus. The aim of the project was to identify and address these barriers, to drive the demand for Australian lamb products in this sector", Mr Burke.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"To resolve this, we worked with over twenty fast food and quick service outlets to discuss how to overcome these barriers and increase the likelihood of lamb products in QSRs".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">For Dr Aarti Tobin, who leads animal protein research at CSIRO, the interviews with key QSR stakeholders provided significant insight into understanding the role of lamb within fast food restaurants and hospitality venues.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"The interviews showed that lamb was traditionally eaten as part of a meal, as roasts and chops, hence is not considered a fast food", Dr Tobin said.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"According to the outlets interviewed, there are several challenges with featuring lamb on the menu. The main barriers that these companies identified were ensuring consistent product quality, reliability of supply and costs compared to other proteins".</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Following the interviews, Mr Burke and CSIRO developed and tested two lamb products for these menus, a high-quality lamb burger patty which included minced lamb with a Middle Eastern spice blend.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"Similarly, a pulled lamb product was developed, where the lamb shoulder was covered with a rub, consisting of Middle Eastern spice blend and thickeners, vacuum packed, cooked at 75&deg;C for 12 hours and then shredded into pulled meat texture.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"A 28-day frozen storage trial showed that both products maintained their sensory quality after cooking and reheating. These two lamb products will provide the industry with a great opportunity to value add to lower value lamb cuts and trim, as well as address an unmet need of the QSR market", Mr Burke said.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">Chef Markus Werner, Culinary Director at Delaware North, Australia and New Zealand, who was one of the chefs interviewed, noted that industry should continue to consider the findings from the interviews and address the challenges.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">"When the issues around product quality, consistency, reliability of supply, and costs are addressed, lamb can feature on the QSR/FSR menu all year round, rather than as a special occasion meat", Mr Werner said.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">MLA will continue to work with food retailers around the country and share the findings of the research and its practical application.</span></p> <p><span lang="DE">CSIRO will collaborate with the stakeholders on product development, product expansion and technology transfer strategies, based on their needs.</span></p>    Retail adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2024-03-20 00:05:45  2025-07-28 07:52:27  Details Edit Delete
7669  MLA and GRDC join forces in $2.1m initiative to support mixed farming businesses  A new $2.1 million, four-year pilot project designed to put more dollars in the pockets of mixed farming businesses has been launched by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and the Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC).  <p><span lang="DE">The joint project is targeting businesses producing both livestock and grain across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia.<br /><br />The goal of the project is to showcase to primary producers how new or alternative management practices, along with key learnings from scientific research and development, could benefit commercial mixed farming operations.<br /><br />As a first step, the project coordinators are calling for preliminary applications for producer demonstration sites (PDS) across Australia. Applications open on Thursday, 15 August and close on Wednesday, 25 September.<br /><br />MLA&rsquo;s Project Manager for Producer Demonstration Sites, Alana McEwan said that partnering with GRDC was a critical and collaborative step in delivering better outcomes for mixed farmers.<br /><br />"The close linkages between MLA&rsquo;s PDS program and GRDC&rsquo;s National Grower Network in delivering impactful, on-farm, locally relevant projects created an opportunity to develop a partnership demonstration site program targeted towards mixed farming systems", Ms McEwan said.<br /><br />"This partnership program will support groups of producers to demonstrate, adapt and validate the benefits of integrating new management practices, research and development outputs, and associated skills within the context of their commercial production systems".<br /><br />GRDC&rsquo;s Senior Regional Manager South, Stephen Loss, said the project was an important opportunity for industry collaboration that would help support on-farm practice change and peer-to-peer learning and deliver production and profitability gains.<br /><br />"We know it can be challenging for producers to translate R&amp;D into actionable practice change in the context of their local environment and farming system", Dr Loss said.<br /><br />"This partnership between GRDC and MLA will see the development of six PDS projects that will provide producers with a hands-on and guided experience to implement research on-farm which highlights profitability and productivity benefits to drive practice change".<br /><br />The MLA/GRDC Partnership PDS Program aims to have producer groups aligned with these six projects and in action by early 2025. These groups will be able to access the PDS sites to demonstrate, adapt and validate the benefits of integrating new management practices, along with research and development outcomes within commercial farming systems.</span></p>    Industry adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2024-08-20 00:15:54  2025-07-28 04:36:09  Details Edit Delete
83  MLA announced $3 million investment in sheep health monitoring programme in South Australia  Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has recently announced that it will grant a 3 million dollars investment into reducing the incidence and costs of endemic health conditions affecting the sheep flock from South Australia.  <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>MLA's project, "Reducing the Financial Impact of Endemic Conditions in Sheep", will span over a period of three years and will monitor twenty-one sheep health issues, including key conditions such as grass seeds, pneumonia, sheep measles, rib fractures and arthritis.</p> <p>&ldquo;Data generated at Bordertown, Murray Bridge and Lobethal facilities will be fed back to producers,&rdquo; MLA Managing Director, Richard Norton, said. &ldquo;This feedback will be supported with information about how to address and manage conditions on-farm that are critical to help reduce the prevalence and costs of managing endemic conditions found in sheep in South Australia.&rdquo;</p> <p>According to Mr. Norton, the project will be Australia&rsquo;s biggest state-level sheep monitoring program and cover more than 80% of sheep slaughtered in South Australia.</p> <p>The 'Reducing the Financial Impact of Endemic Conditions in Sheep' project will be rolled out in collaboration with Thomas Foods International (TFI), JBS Australia (JBS), Primary Industries and Regions SA - Biosecurity SA, the Davies Research Centre at the University of Adelaide and several SA farming systems groups. Animal Health Australia is also supporting the project, according to MLA.</p>    Market adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2017-08-16 14:53:13  2025-07-28 07:45:32  Details Edit Delete
2203  MLA creates its own Goat Industry Committee  The committee will take on an advisory role and provide recommendations on research and development (R&D) and extension and adoption (E&A) initiatives and investments for the Australian goatmeat and livestock industry.  <p>Applications for seven positions inside the newly created Goat Industry Research, Development and Adoption Committee (GIRDAC), including the independent chair, are available until 2 December 2018.<br />Goatmeat producers with an interest in guiding investment in research, development, and extension to help boost the industry&rsquo;s productivity and profitability are being encouraged to apply to become part of a new advisory group.</p> <p>Meat &amp; Livestock Australia (MLA) is seeking an independent chair as well as committee members for the newly created Goat Industry Research, Development and Adoption Committee (GIRDAC). GIRDAC will operate independently of the Goat Industry Council of Australia (GICA) as an MLA appointed and funded committee.</p> <p>MLA Goat Industry Project Manager, Julie Petty, said a total of seven positions including the independent chair are available. &ldquo;The committee roles require a deep understanding of differing commercial goat production systems and the RD&amp;E issues facing producers,&rdquo; Ms. Petty said.</p> <p>&ldquo;It will comprise commercial goat producers with value chain and subject matter experts recruited as required. It will convene in-person, twice a year to review R&amp;D and E&amp;A funding proposals, the progress of existing projects and results of those concluding. This committee process delivers independence, quality, objectivity, and transparency to project review and selection by MLA.&rdquo;, she added.</p> <p>Expressions of interest (EOI) for both the independent chair and committee positions should be submitted to MLA addressing the selection criteria. EOIs should not exceed four pages and be submitted electronically to Julie Petty jpetty@mla.com.au.<br />The country&rsquo;s live goat trade is diminishing due to the fact that it was just a niche market supplying Malaysia. &ldquo;Domestic goat prices have grown significantly in the past couple of years, which has meant Australian live goats are far less competitive in Malaysia when compared to other sources. Hence importers have reduced their orders and, in some cases, opted to import more lambs via airfreight instead of goats", mentioned a spokesman from the Australian Livestock Exporters&rsquo; Council.<br />Live exports have diminished from 88,897 in 2014-15 to just 16,578 in the last financial year, according to the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources&rsquo; annual report.</p>    Industry 2018-11-15 13:00:49  2025-07-28 04:50:14  Details Edit Delete
8581  MLA expands market insights with launch of two new livestock indicators  Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has unveiled two new livestock market indicators: the National Feeder Heifer Indicator (NFHI) and the Online Sheep Indicator (OSI), marking a significant step forward in livestock market transparency and decision-making support.   <p style="font-weight: 400;">These indicators are the latest refinement of MLA&rsquo;s National Livestock Reporting System (NLRS), which already covers more than 50 physical saleyard markets and produces 18 price indicators.&nbsp;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The NFHI and OSI are designed to provide producers, processors, and stakeholders with more targeted, real-time insights into two critical market segments.&nbsp;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The launch reflects MLA&rsquo;s commitment to delivering practical tools that help producers make informed decisions.&nbsp;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">According to MLA Managing Director Michael Crowley, "These indicators are a direct response to industry demand for more granular and accessible market data", Mr Crowley said.&nbsp;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"The NFHI is the first of its kind, offering a dedicated lens into the feeder heifer market, an area previously underrepresented in national reporting".&nbsp;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The NFHI provides detailed data on feeder heifers which are young female cattle raised for feedlots. It includes price trends, head counts, and breakdowns by saleyard, region, and category. It mirrors the structure of the existing feeder steer indicator and includes filters by state and report date.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"The NFHI will be an important decision-making tool for both producers and buyers as in combination with the existing National Feeder Steer Indicator (NFSI), they now have a complete picture of the entire feeder market,&rdquo; Mr Crowley said.&nbsp;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"This indicator will also provide MLA and industry with data to build insights into the heifer and steer supply and price dynamic across the rebuild and liquidation cycles".&nbsp;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The OSI is MLA&rsquo;s first indicator based on online sales data for restocker and breeder sheep. It tracks price and head count trends over 12 months, with breakdowns by breed and filters by state, region, and category.&nbsp;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"The indicator will be useful for tracking value and price during cycles of flock rebuilding", Mr Crowley said.&nbsp;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"With poor conditions currently impacting producers in South Australia and Victoria, it will be especially valuable as producers move into a rebuild once conditions break".&nbsp;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">These indicators also respond to recommendations from the 2017 ACCC report on improving competition in the cattle and beef industry. MLA has invested significantly in developing these tools, leveraging two decades of historical data to ensure robust comparative analysis.&nbsp;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"The more information we can capture, the better the price transparency across all livestock markets, Mr Crowley said.&nbsp;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"We continue to encourage participation from all livestock sale platforms to strengthen the value of these indicators".&nbsp;</p>    Market adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2025-06-27 00:10:47  2025-07-28 04:36:10  Details Edit Delete
3010  MLA expects global beef demand to grow in the near future  However, competition from pork, chicken and from alternative proteins is likely to increase.  <p>Global demand for beef is to increase in the following years, believes MLA Managing Director Jason Strong. In his opinion, the global production of beef is also set on a growing trend but the competition from old proteins and new ones is expected to become stronger.<br />There&rsquo;s a massive 50 million tonne demand globally for beef but Australia produces only 3% of the total. That means intensifying competition from pork and chicken &ndash; which can be produced faster and in smaller environments &ndash; and from alternative proteins, is something the Australian beef industry must watch very closely, Jason Strong explained during the latest BeefUp Forum.<br />"We have to be conscious of the position alternative proteins are taking up in the market. However, global protein demand is currently unmet and they present opportunities for filling the void. While we can&rsquo;t be na&iuml;ve about alternative proteins as a competitor, there&rsquo;s some opportunity before us in this space. Our product has only one natural ingredient,&rdquo; he said pointing out to the long list of ingredients in alternative proteins &ndash; additives, preservatives, salt and a range of other components.<br />On the other hand, increased demand from the Asian countries is a fact that it can be clearly seen at this time. China is now Australia&rsquo;s third largest market, and with a huge population and growing affluence, it&rsquo;s likely to stay that way. It is also a recent market for Australian beef.</p> <p>"China has always had high-quality restaurants, but it&rsquo;s been hard to get our product into them. That&rsquo;s now improving. It will continue to increase in value as we get more and more consistent business relationships. <br />Keep in mind most of the meat relationships we have in China are only 5&ndash;10 years old, so it&rsquo;s a new market in the wider scheme of things. The live export opportunity is also significant but constrained by non-tariff issues, such as having to feed and process over there and how the cattle are described,&rdquo; explained Mr. Strong.</p> <p>AN MLA research in South East Asia has identified key cities in the region where the average household disposable income is the highest. Singapore, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh are the frontrunners and MLA programs are designed to influence the target consumers within these cities.<br />"Go back to the 50 million tonne beef demand and our 3% &ndash; we&rsquo;re not trying to get to all the consumers. Anyone of probably 15 countries could eat everything we export. We don&rsquo;t need to be in countries where the GDP is greatest. Where we need to go is where the customers exist who are able to pay the most for the products we have. We have to capture the best customer to maximize returns. Margin is what drives prosperity, " added Jason Strong.</p>    Market 2019-06-18 09:58:39  2025-07-28 13:50:10  Details Edit Delete
8538  MLA launches new project to help boost the productivity of WA beef businesses  Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and the Western Australia Livestock Research Council (WALRC) have announced The SMARTBEEF Project, a new initiative aimed at boosting the productivity and profitability of southern Western Australian beef producers.   <p>The SMARTBEEF Project brings producers together to collaborate, share knowledge, and implement practical on-farm improvements.&nbsp;</p> <p>SMARTBEEF has been developed by MLA, industry experts, Western Beef Association and the University of Adelaide, it is designed to address the unique challenges faced by Western Australia&rsquo;s beef industry including climate conditions and shifting market dynamics.&nbsp;</p> <p>This initiative is a direct response to feedback from producers across southern Western Australia, who have expressed a desire for more regionally tailored, practical support to improve their operations.</p> <p>Through SMARTBEEF, MLA is demonstrating its commitment to listening to producers and delivering programs that meet their evolving needs.</p> <p>By focusing on collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and real-world application, SMARTBEEF will ensure southern WA beef producers are equipped with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive in a changing industry.</p> <p>Project team leader Lucy Anderton from LA.ONE Economics &amp; Consulting said that this project is designed for southern WA producers to assist producers in tackling challenges through practical and collaborative learning.</p> <p>"This project isn&rsquo;t about sitting in a room listening to presentations. It&rsquo;s about producers working together, learning from each other, and using practical tools to drive success", Ms Anderton said.</p> <p>"It is an opportunity for these producers to improve their understanding of their productivity and profitability".</p> <p>By analysing their financials, cost of production, and production systems, producers will develop the skills to make data-driven decisions that improve profitability. They will also gain insights into the WA beef market and market specifications through access to industry experts and supply chain participants.</p> <p>The program begins in July. Producers will:&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>Attend group meetings that focus on sharing producer experiences and encouraging skill development.</li> <li>Learn from a Focus Farm and gain knowledge in supply chain opportunities.</li> <li>Use myFARMSMART, an economic and scenario planning tool, to benchmark their figures and explore different options.</li> </ul> <p>Focus Farms are leading farm operations that showcase best practices in areas like digital agriculture, reproductive efficiency and sustainability. These farms serve as practical examples for other producers, helping them adopt innovative technologies and strategies.</p> <p>Albany producer Matt Leov is a Focus Farm host. &ldquo;The ability to observe and understand the practices of similar farms presents a significant opportunity for improvement. It has the potential to transform how we operate.&rdquo;</p> <p>"I&rsquo;m particularly looking forward to learning from others and identifying cost-effective strategies that can deliver meaningful results", Mr Leov said.</p> <p>The first producer group will start in July 2025 and finish in September 2026, and the second producer group will start in July 2026 and finish in December 2027.</p> <p>This project is made possible through the MLA Donor Company, L.A One Consulting, Western Beef Association and the University of Adelaide.</p>    Industry adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2025-06-03 00:05:58  2025-07-28 17:52:38  Details Edit Delete
8137  MLA looks to 2030 with new Strategic Plan  Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) is calling for industry input into a new five-year Strategic Plan that will guide the organisation and the services that it delivers from 2025 to 2030.  <p style="font-weight: 400;">A significant part of MLA&rsquo;s work involves looking ahead to ensure the red meat and livestock industry is in a strong position to deal with strategic challenges and opportunities.&nbsp;</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">A core element of the Strategic Plan development is extensive feedback and consultation across the industry to hear directly from stakeholders - including producers, peak industry bodies and the Australian Government - on a range of topics.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Over the past five months, MLA has held more than 12 engagement sessions across the country. MLA is working with members to ensure we gather feedback on opportunities, risks, research, development, adoption and marketing priorities", MLA Managing Director, Michael Crowley, said.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">"Our consultation process continues in early 2025, with the new Strategic Plan to launch on 1 July 2025".</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">MLA is now calling for industry stakeholders to also have their say via an online feedback form.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">MLA welcomes feedback from members, levy payers, industry groups and stakeholders on key priorities, risks and areas of core focus for the MLA Strategic Plan 2030.</p>    Market adrian.lazar@industriacarnii.ro 2025-01-28 00:10:19  2025-07-28 03:43:44  Details Edit Delete
4835  MLA receives funding to increase exports  AU$1.5 million was awarded by the Australian government to help meat and livestock exports.  <p>The Australian government decided to invest in meat and llivestock industry, therefore Meat and Livestock Australia received this week $1.5 million to support the sector. The funding will help the industry to focus their exports efforts in new and emerging markets including Thailand, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia. Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) will use a $1.52 million Australian Government investment to explore market diversification opportunities within untapped segments of three export markets, reports Beef Central magazine.<br />"Through this grant funding, MLA will explore new export channels in Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Vietnam. New business development specialists will work on improving trade flows for Australian beef, sheepmeat and goatmeat to build new business opportunities in trade, retail and foodservice sectors. By stationing business development specialists in these target markets, MLA will be well-positioned to work with Australia&rsquo;s government agencies including our Agriculture Counsellors", said minister David Littleproud in a statement.<br />General Manager of International Markets MLA, Andrew Cox, said the grants were an opportunity to expand exports into markets with strong development opportunities. "Australia has recently negotiated improved access to these markets, and it&rsquo;s important to build stronger relationships with our important trading partners. We&rsquo;re grateful for the opportunity to smooth the path ahead for the Australian red meat industry."<br />For the year 2020-2021, Australian livestock production is forecast to be valued at $22.9 billion in 2020-21, whilst exports are expected to reach $13.1 billion at the same time..</p>    Industry 2021-07-26 12:47:09  2025-07-28 17:51:20  Details Edit Delete
2369  MLA sees a better year ahead  Innovation and strong export and domestic demand for beef and lamb could boost the sector.  <p>Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) experts are having high hopes on the development of the sector in 2019. First of all, the latest forecast for weather is quite promising for the next year.<br />Secondly, there is a growing demand for beef and lamb in the export markets and in the Australian market as well. Last but not least, innovation process could also have a word in the development of the red meat industry. "There are more animal welfare tools including NumNuts for management of pain in sheep during husbandry procedures. Outcomes are in the pipeline from the 10 projects which make up the MLA-led Strategic Partnership for Animal Welfare RD&amp;A", says the MLA outlook for 2019. And also new pasture varieties and feedbase options including tedera, for which some seed will be available in 2018, and new cultivars of leucaena, which are currently being grown for seed buildup could increase the productivity in the farms.</p>    Industry 2018-12-21 09:25:34  2025-07-26 01:18:55  Details Edit Delete
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