The 13-month-old heifer was bought by cattle IVF embryo company GeneFlow.<\/p>\n
Managing director Keith Hay said the heifer had the best genetics in Australia and he was feeling confident about the industry.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Our plans are to move her to a facility in Victoria. She will spend the next 8 to 12 months having embryos collected through IVF,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We’ll be using her genetics and hopefully producing 20 or 30 calves over a year.”<\/p>\n
The heifer was bred in Queensland by the Arubial Stud, which said on social media it was “humbled” by the support.<\/p>\n
The sale is one of many signs that Australia’s cattle industry is on the up.<\/p>\n
Loading…Cattle prices rise<\/p>\n
Australian cattle prices are rising and could bolt further when areas of Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales get out of drought.<\/p>\n
The national restocker steer indicator is getting close to cracking $5 a kilogram, which has not been seen since late 2022, and is up 33 per cent on this time last year.<\/p>\n
The benchmark national young cattle indicator is also up 33 per cent compared to this time last year.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Australian cattle prices are on the up. (ABC Landline)<\/p>\n
Alice Springs livestock agent Steve Gaff said demand for all types of cattle was strong.<\/p>\n
“I think when Victoria starts to warm up and they’ve had some rain, the grass will explode,” he said.<\/p>\n
“They will be looking for cattle which will drag the market up, but even if the cattle job stayed at current [prices] for the rest of this year, it would be a very good result for all producers.”<\/p>\n
Bullish outlook<\/p>\n
Global AgriTrends meat analyst Simon Quilty is far more bullish in his outlook, telling ABC Landline that Angus feeder steers are fetching $5.50\/kg at the moment in Victoria, but he is forecasting that to rise to $7.50\/kg next year.<\/p>\n
He said factors behind his forecast included strong global demand, “extreme liquidation of the southern cattle herd”, and major investments in processing capacity in southern Australia.<\/p>\n
“ABS data shows for the first time in 20 years, the beef processing capacity in southern Australia [NSW, Victoria and SA] now exceeds the capacity in northern Australia [Queensland],” Mr Quilty said.<\/p>\n
“It’s actually up by 14 per cent, and what’s important to note is the desperate need to fill that large capacity will create strong demand as southern operators continue buying cattle out of the north and south.”<\/p>\n
US beef demand<\/p>\n
Australia is processing a record amount of beef this year and exporting record amounts.<\/p>\n
Cow market up as tariffs loom<\/a><\/p>\n As the world waits to hear news about Trump’s latest tariffs, the value of Australian cows has been soaring. \u00a0<\/p>\n The top customer has been the United States, which has bought just over 246,000 tonnes in the first seven months of 2025, up 27 per cent on the same period last year.<\/p>\n The US is facing a shortage of lean beef (90CL) for its hamburger patties, and the imported price for Australian product has this month reached a record $11.24\/kg.\u00a0<\/p>\n The US is faces several challenges to lowering beef prices for its consumers, including:<\/p>\n After years of drought, the US cattle industry is now showing signs of a herd rebuild. But when ranchers hold on to cattle for breeding, in the short to medium term there are fewer animals going to slaughter.The US has for years relied on buying live cattle out of Mexico, but that trade had been closed by US authorities<\/a> because of concerns about the spread of the flesh-eating pest called new world screwworm.Beef supply from Brazil has all but stopped flowing to the US, after President Donald Trump enforced a 50 per cent tariff.<\/a>Tariffs have increased the price of all beef imported by the US.<\/p>\n It would seem there are many reasons for Australia’s cattle industry to be confident.\u00a0<\/p>\n