Meat & Livestock Australia’s (MLA) Research for Accelerated Adoption (RAAD) Program is investing $45 million over the next five years to help Australian lot feeders adopt innovative technologies that improve animal welfare, productivity and sustainability.

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has partnered with Charles Sturt University to launch the NextGen Data Capability Program, a strategic initiative designed to accelerate the red meat industry’s digital transformation by investing in the next generation of data specialists.

For Victorian producer Jonathan Jenkin, electronic identification (eID) in sheep wasn’t a leap into the unknown, but rather a natural extension of the systems already working in his cattle enterprise.

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) in partnership with industry peak bodies, has secured a grant from the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations to deliver a major new initiative designed to deepen engagement between Australian and Chinese cattle and red meat industry stakeholders.

HerdFlow’s fast, accurate herd data has become embedded in cattle producer John Syme’s daily routine, giving him the confidence to make more informed decisions.

To further ensure animal welfare, James said a focus on low-stress stock handling and having facilities to match undoubtedly helps TFI’s MSA results.

Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) is a producer-owned company providing marketing and research and development services to over 49,500 cattle, sheep and goat producer members and the broader industry. MLA works in partnership with industry and government to achieve profitable and sustainable cattle, sheep and goat industry.

National cattle yardings decreased 12% this week to 68,049 head. The decrease was significant across NSW (down 22%), SA (down 27%), and WA (down 21%), while the other states remained stable. Producers are holding back cattle supply in the hope that predicted rain in NSW and Queensland comes to fruition over the coming days.

Australia’s cattle slaughter is gathering momentum in 2026, with weekly processing volumes exceeding 158,000 head for the week ending 6 February.

Over the past two years, seasonal conditions have increasingly diverged across Australia. While northern regions have generally benefited from better rainfall, the south has faced tighter feed conditions. NSW, in recent months, has seen a shift in season and a clear change in supply dynamics into markets, particularly in breeding females.