June 25, 2025  – Australia’s sheep meat industry is experiencing a remarkable boom, with record prices and soaring export volumes marking a strong recovery from last year’s oversupply crisis.

According to a recent report by Reuters, the country has capitalised on tightening global supplies and rising demand, particularly from the United States and China.

In the first five months of 2025, Australian sheep meat exports surged by 40% compared to the same period last year. This growth has been driven by a combination of favourable weather conditions, improved pasture availability, and strategic herd rebuilding efforts following a challenging 2023, when prices plummeted due to an oversupply of livestock.

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) reports that lamb prices have reached unprecedented levels, with average export values climbing significantly. The U.S. has emerged as the top destination for Australian lamb, while China remains a key market for mutton.

Industry analysts suggest that the current momentum could continue into the second half of the year, provided global demand remains strong and Australia maintains its competitive edge in quality and supply chain efficiency.

This resurgence is a welcome boost for Australian farmers and exporters, many of whom faced financial strain during the previous downturn. It also underscores the resilience of the red meat sector and its ability to adapt to shifting market dynamics.

Original reporting by Reuters. Read the full article here.

USDA Explores Poultry Bird Flu Vaccination Plan Amid Export Concerns

Washington D.C., USA – 21 June 2025 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is developing a potential plan to vaccinate poultry against bird flu for the first time, an initiative that includes a crucial assessment of how such a programme might impact vital export markets. This move comes as the agency advances its evaluation of a vaccine following proposals from associations representing the devastated egg and turkey industries.

Since 2022, nearly 175 million chickens, turkeys and other birds have been culled in the United States in attempts to contain outbreaks of avian influenza. This is the nation’s most severe animal-health emergency.

The extensive loss of egg-laying hens, in particular, led to record egg prices this year, prompting grocers to ration supplies, restaurants to increase prices, and food manufacturers to boost imports from countries including Turkey, Brazil, and South Korea. In response to the crisis, the USDA had previously pledged up to $100 million for research into vaccines and other therapies to combat the virus. The USDA has also spent more than $1 billion compensating farmers for culled flocks, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Industry members anticipate the USDA to finalise its written plan by July. The department confirmed this week that it is collaborating with federal, state, and industry officials, as well as engaging with international trading partners, to develop this comprehensive strategy.

A proposed plan submitted to the USDA by an industry group representing egg producers suggests an initial vaccination for baby chicks, followed by a booster shot and regular testing of flocks. This approach aims to reduce susceptibility to infection while increasing monitoring for outbreaks. Under this proposal, flocks that test positive would still be culled, a measure deemed important for satisfying importers.

Original reporting by Reuters: USDA develops potential plan to vaccinate poultry for bird flu

China Reopens Market to Over 100 U.S. Pork and Poultry Plants
Source: Reuters, 13 June 2025

In a significant step toward easing recent trade tensions, China has approved 106 U.S. meat facilities to resume exports of pork and poultry products, effective from 12 June, according to an official notice from Chinese Customs.

The announcement follows renewed dialogue between China and the United States, after both sides reached a framework agreement during trade talks in Geneva last month. The newly sanctioned list includes 23 pork plants and 83 poultry facilities, now eligible to ship approved products to the Chinese market.

Earlier this year, China imposed retaliatory tariffs of up to 15% on $21 billion worth of American food and agricultural products. This move came in response to levies introduced by the U.S. government on Chinese exports. As a result, many U.S. meat plants lost their eligibility to trade with China, despite gaining initial access under the 2020 “Phase 1” trade agreement.

While pork and poultry facilities are now seeing renewed approvals, U.S. beef plants remain on hold, with many listings still marked as “expired” in China’s customs database.

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Original reporting by Ella Cao, Ethan Wang, Shi Bu and Ryan Woo. Edited by Louise Heavens. Published by Reuters on 13 June 2025.

Weekly Livestock Market Wrap: Lamb Prices Hit Record Highs, Cattle Market Stable

Australia – 13 June 2025 – The Australian livestock market saw a significant week, with lamb prices reaching unprecedented levels, particularly for processor-ready animals, while the cattle market maintained its stability. Despite reduced winter supply impacting lamb numbers, overall cattle slaughter figures remained robust.

Cattle Market Overview

The cattle market demonstrated consistent performance this past week. Yardings, the number of animals presented at sale yards, eased by 24% to 56,797 head. This reduction was primarily attributed to recent rainfall and the impact of a long weekend on some sales.

The Heavy Steer Indicator emerged as the strongest performer in the cattle sector, rising 6¢ to 361¢/kg live weight (lwt). Demand from Victoria notably drove state-level heavy steer prices higher, pushing the average to 408¢/kg lwt. Other cattle indicators experienced slight week-on-week declines, with restocker heifers, for instance, unable to sustain their previous week’s strong prices, easing 11¢ to 319¢/kg lwt.

Sheep and Lamb Market Soars

The sheep and lamb market remained robust, benefiting from reduced supply as winter progresses. Lamb yardings saw a 38% reduction to 132,105 head, while sheep yardings eased by 42% to 59,637 head. Similar to cattle, these lower yarding figures were influenced by rainfall and a shorter operational week.

Despite the reduced numbers, the market was exceptionally strong, setting new records across all three finished lamb price categories. For the first time ever, the Trade Lamb Indicator surpassed 1,000¢/kg carcass weight (cwt), concluding the week at 1,050¢/kg cwt. This price point saw trade lambs outprice the Heavy Lamb Indicator, which, while remaining strong, finished at 1,042¢/kg cwt. Light lambs also saw a lift, reaching 928¢/kg cwt.

Major sales contributed significantly to the market’s strength. Wagga sales experienced a lift in both yardings and prices, driven by an increased supply of fed lambs. Notably, a pen of crossbreds weighing just under 40kg set a new record, selling for $424/head. Yass also saw the initial arrivals of new-season lambs.

Slaughter Statistics (Week Ending 6 June 2025)

Cattle Slaughter: Cattle slaughter numbers held stable week-on-week, with a total of 152,530 head processed nationally. A slight 5% increase in New South Wales processing counteracted a shorter processing week in Western Australia. National figures remained within 570 head of the previous week, maintaining a strong year-on-year position, now 10% above 2024 levels.

• NSW: down 5% to 36,340
• Queensland: down 1% to 79,652
• SA: down 1% to 3,766
• Tasmania: down 1% to 5,215
• Victoria: down 3% to 25,534
• WA: down 22% to 2,023

Sheep and Lamb Slaughter: Lamb slaughter remained stable, showing a minimal increase of less than 1% despite the short processing week in Western Australia. Increases across South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales offset declines in other states, leading to a total of 461,658 head processed. Sheep slaughter also saw a minor lift of less than 1,000 head, reaching 177,918. Combined slaughter for sheep and lamb was minimally affected, totalling 639,576 head.

• NSW: down 3% to 113,155
• Queensland: down 3% to 1,493
• SA: down 7% to 58,276
• Tasmania: down 4% to 9,543
• Victoria: down 4% to 230,588
• WA: down 23% to 48,603

This market wrap is based on insights provided by Erin Lukey, MLA Senior Market Information Analyst.

Original source: MLA

China Extends Anti-Dumping Probe on EU Pork Imports

Global Markets – 13 June 2025 – China has announced a six-month extension to its anti-dumping investigation into pork products imported from the European Union, delaying a final decision until 16 December. The probe, which commenced in mid-June 2024, is widely interpreted as a countermeasure following the EU’s implementation of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle exports.

The ongoing investigation significantly impacts EU pork exports worth over US$2 billion, primarily affecting major producers such as Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark. China, the world’s largest consumer of pork, stated that the extension was necessary due to the “complexity” of the case. This delay comes amid reports that China and the EU are nearing an agreement concerning the contentious electric vehicle tariffs.

A considerable proportion of the EU’s pork shipments to China includes offal, such as pig ears, noses, and feet, which are highly valued in Chinese culinary traditions. In 2024, China imported pork valued at US$4.8 billion, with over half of these imports originating from the European Union, led by Spain. The extension of the probe has been met with cautious reactions from representatives within the EU’s pork industry.

Original source: UkrAgroConsult: China delays decision on EU pork imports

Lamb Prices Hit Record Highs Amid Tight Winter Supply

Lamb prices in Australia have soared to historic highs as seasonal supply tightens, according to recent figures from Meat & Livestock Australia. All national indicators for lamb have reached record levels, defying typical winter trends.

Key Price Movements:

• Light Lambs: 924¢/kg carcase weight

• Trade Lambs: 1,049¢/kg cwt

• Heavy Lambs: 1,041¢/kg cwt

The spike is largely driven by the expected winter lull in lamb supply, a pattern that typically eases when new-season lambs arrive in spring. Despite the supply challenges, weekly slaughter volumes remain strong, averaging around 471,000 lambs – though processor closures over winter could slow this pace.

For the first time, trade-weight lambs are commanding higher prices than heavy lambs – a reversal of the usual trend. Analysts suggest this may be due to increased competition from export markets (particularly the US), tighter availability of mid-weight lambs, and strong domestic retail demand.

With seasonal supply expected to remain tight until spring, lamb prices are likely to stay firm in the short term. However, market performance will depend on how processors manage upcoming closures and how soon new-season lambs begin to flow through the system.

Original reporting by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA): Finished lamb prices hit record highs despite tight seasonal supply

Scotbeef Shuts Inverurie Site Amidst UK Meat Industry Challenges

INVERURIE, ABERDEENSHIRE – 11 June 2025 – Scotbeef, a long-standing family-owned meat processing firm, has announced the closure of its abattoir in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, resulting in the loss of 90 jobs. This significant slaughterhouse shutdown has been driven by “sustained challenges within the UK meat and beef industry,” according to BBC News, marking a stark development for the UK meat processing sector.

The decision by Scotbeef reflects the ongoing pressures faced by the nation’s livestock sector and the wider food supply chain. Established in 1920, Scotbeef is a prominent supplier of beef and lamb to UK retailers, notably being the first to introduce the Aberdeen Angus brand to the retail market in 1993.

While the Inverurie facility ceases operations, Scotbeef maintains other processing sites in Annan and Sheffield. The closure in Aberdeenshire underscores the acute difficulties confronting UK agriculture and the meat production crisis in certain regions, prompting concerns about abattoir funding and the resilience of rural economies in June 2025. This development is a key piece of meat trade news impacting local employment and broader beef market dynamics.

Source: BBC News

North Warwickshire Council Rejects T&S Abattoir Expansion Amid Welfare and Local Concerns

Arley, UK – 11 June 2025 – North Warwickshire Borough Council has refused a retrospective planning application for the expansion of T&S Abattoir in Arley, a decision that follows previous animal welfare breaches and significant local opposition. The abattoir had already carried out extensive modifications to its premises before seeking official permission, prompting a strong reaction from both regulatory bodies and nearby residents.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) had previously revoked the abattoir’s license due to serious animal welfare incidents. This regulatory action underscored the concerns that have been building around the facility, which initially operated as a butcher’s shop before significantly scaling up its operations under new ownership.

The planning committee’s decision to reject the expansion was driven by a range of issues, including road safety, increased noise, and unpleasant odours affecting the local community. Residents of Arley, a small village, had voiced their protests vocally, calling for the abattoir’s closure and highlighting the unsuitability of such industrial traffic movements within their rural setting.

Under its previous management, the abattoir slaughtered fewer than 3,900 animals annually. However, following the takeover, this volume surged to over 10 times that amount, with the facility operating for extended hours and more days per week. This dramatic increase in activity was identified as a primary factor in the council’s refusal, deemed to cause “significant and demonstrable harm to residential amenity and highway safety.”

Original reporting by BBC News: North Warwickshire abattoir retrospective expansion refused

China Delays EU Pork Import Decision Amidst EV Tariff Talks

BEIJING, CHINA – 10 June 2025 – China has extended its high-profile investigation into imported pork from the European Union (EU) by six months, a decision made just days before its original conclusion date. This move comes as negotiators from Brussels and Beijing continue to carve out a deal over the EU’s electric vehicle tariffs, as reported by Reuters.

The pork import probe, launched in June last year, is widely perceived as a retaliatory measure for EU tariffs imposed on Chinese EV exports. It has impacted over $2 billion (£1.57 billion) in pork exports, primarily from major EU producers such as Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark. China, the world’s largest consumer of pork, has now decided to prolong the investigation period to 16 December 2025, citing the “complexity” of the case, according to a statement from the country’s commerce ministry.

This delay aligns with broader efforts by China and the EU to reach a resolution on the contentious EV tariffs. Beijing has already extended its anti-dumping investigation into EU brandy and has offered to expedite rare earth magnet export licences for European firms, indicating a tactical approach to the ongoing trade disputes.

A significant portion of the EU’s pork shipments to China comprises offal – including pig ears, noses, and feet – which are highly valued in Chinese cuisine but have limited alternative destinations. In 2024, China imported $4.8 billion (£3.77 billion) worth of pork, including offal, with over half of this volume originating from the EU, and Spain leading the bloc in export volume.

The extension of the probe has been met with cautious welcome from industry representatives in the EU, collectively the world’s largest pork exporter. Anne Richard, director of French pork industry association INAPORC, stated, “We’d rather that they take the time for consultations before any decision.” Similarly, Giuseppe Aloisio, director general of Spain’s meat industry association ANICE, commented that while it means “six more months of waiting, which means the cloud hanging over us will remain, but we remain confident and calm.”

In a previous gesture signaling openness to a deal, China expanded access for Spanish cherries and some pork products in April. This prolonged investigation keeps pressure on the EU’s meat processing sector and highlights the intricate relationship between various trade disputes.

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Reporting by Ryan Woo and Ella Cao; additional reporting by Gus Trompiz in Paris, Emma Pinedo in Madrid and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen in Copenhagen; Editing by Christopher Cushing, Saad Sayeed and David Evans. Source: Reuters.

Brazil’s “King of Cattle” Leads Amazon Green Push as Traceability Takes Hold

XINGUARA, BRAZIL – 9 June 2025 – Decades of ranching in the Amazon have brought immense wealth, and some controversy, to Roque Quagliato, Brazil’s prominent “King of Cattle.” However, at 85, Quagliato is now at the forefront of a crucial initiative: leading the charge to reform cattle ranching in the Amazon, a region grappling with its status as one of the world’s biggest drivers of deforestation. This pivotal shift is detailed in a report by Reuters.

As Brazil’s beef industry faces increasing pressure from major export markets, Quagliato’s operations are pivotal. His cattle were the first to be tagged with microchips in their ears as part of a ground-breaking government programme aimed at making millions of cattle in the Amazonian state of Para fully traceable. This programme is set to be a key highlight as world leaders converge for the United Nations climate summit in November.

“What we hope is that, at the end, the international market gives Brazil a better price,” Quagliato told Reuters during a recent cattle auction in Xinguara, a major beef hub in Para. He added pointedly, “Deforesters…are now a matter for jail.”

Quagliato’s vision extends to securing access to more demanding and higher-value markets in the United States, Europe, and Asia. These regions often impose strict standards due to concerns around animal health and links to deforestation. According to Renan Araujo, a senior market analyst at S&P Global, “Brazil is hustling to open high-demand markets such as Japan and South Korea, and improving its traceability system is one of the key steps to reaching that goal.”

Para, home to a cattle herd of 26 million (comparable to Australia’s size), aims to tag all its cattle by 2027. This ambitious target positions the state as a testbed for a wider national policy and a major shift for Brazil, the world’s largest beef exporter. While the law, passed in late 2023, requires identification by the end of 2026, progress has been slow, with only about 12,000 cattle tagged by May.

Beyond deforestation, individual tagging also enhances animal health tracking, allowing health agencies to quickly identify and isolate sick cattle. Data from 2024 shows that the average price of Brazilian beef exports is 8% lower than Uruguay’s, which already tracks cattle individually, suggesting a market reward for traceable herds.

Despite his current leadership in sustainability, Quagliato’s family faces ongoing scrutiny over past environmental impacts and labour practices. Brazil’s federal environmental protection agency confirmed Quagliato has settled his deforestation fines, agreeing to forest regeneration. A family member was recently convicted of submitting workers to slave-like conditions, though he is appealing. Quagliato declined to comment on these specific cases.

Original source: Reuters