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Former WA Senator Chris Back.

Dr Chris Back elected ALEC chairPremiumDr Chris Back to lead $1 billion livestock export industry

Respected veterinarian and former WA Senator Dr Chris Back has been elected as the Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council independent chair replacing David Galvin who served since 2020.

Bob Garnant

Australian beef cattle production in 2025 reached 20.79 million tonnes with improved efficiency gains across the supply chain to strengthen its global export share.

Top 10 trends of 2025PremiumAustralia’s red meat sector favours in top 10 trends

From record-breaking prices to shifting global trade flows, 2025 has been a year of profound change for Australia’s red meat sector. 

Bob Garnant

Meat and Livestock Australia international markets general manager Andrew Cox.

Rise of red meat PremiumAustralian red meat exports to exceed 1.5m tonnes

Australian red meat exports have set a new benchmark this year and are expected to exceed a record 1.5 million tonnes by the year’s end. 

Bob Garnant

Australian cattle feedlot operators have embraced the benefits of using shade.

Feedlot shade takes coverPremiumCattle feedlot shade increases cover across Australia

Australian cattle feedlot operators have embraced the welfare and productivity benefits of using shade.

Bob Garnant

Nearly 6000 tonnes of Australian goatmeat have been exported this calendar year - a record amount.

Meaty DemandPremiumBeef and goatmeat exports surge amid global demand

Australian beef and goatmeat exports have reached new heights and broken records this calendar year as global demand for red meat soars.

Georgia Campion

Voconiq chief executive officer Kieren Moffat.

Public acceptance for live exportPremiumLive export industry public acceptance lifts survey finds

The Australian public’s acceptance of the live export industry has grown substantially, with more than 80 per cent of participants in a national survey acknowledging its economic contribution.

Bob Garnant

Australian Livestock Exporters Association chief executive Mark Harvey-Sutton.

What the Flock!PremiumALEC CEO looks back on pivotal two years for sheep sector

A prominent leader in the livestock export industry has reflected on a pivotal two years in the sector’s history as the 2028 ban on live sheep trade by sea fast approaches.

Georgia Campion

Oliver and Doam managing director and moderator Dr Peter Barnard, WALEA chair John Cunnington, former WALEA chair Steve Meerwald, and former WALEA chair John Edwards at LIVEXchange 2025, Perth, discussing the livestock export market in WA over the last 50 years.

Past, Present, and FuturePremiumThe past and growth potential of WA’s livestock exports

The current and former chairs of WA’s peak livestock export organisation have ruminated on the challenges faced by the sector since its inception two centuries ago.

Georgia Campion

Lifetime Achiever John Edwards with Livestock Export Young Achiever of the Year Jack Webb.

Industry AwardsPremiumLivestock export young gun recognised at LIVEXchange

A Queensland-based livestock operations manager has been celebrated by the industry as one of its brightest young stars and awarded the Young Achiever of the Year Award at LIVEXchange 2025.

Georgia Campion

Premium lambs bound for Woolworths at V&V Walsh in Bunbury.

V&V Walsh $10+ forward contractsPremiumV&V Walsh releases $10-plus forward lamb contracts

One of WA’s major livestock processors V&V Walsh has released forward contracts of more than $10/kg for the supply of trade and supermarket lambs to its Bunbury abattoir over the Christmas and new year period.

Bob Garnant

Leschenault cattle producer Matt Horn, with Elgin cattleman Brad Cooper and his daughter Frankie, 12.

SEE THE PICS: Gandy Angus Bull SalePremiumSEE THE PICS: Gandy Angus Bull Sale attracts top interest

Cattle producers from a broad representation of WA’s premium beef growing regions were eager to participate in the Gandy family’s Annual Angus Bull Sale.

Bob Garnant

With the $21,000 top-priced bull, Gandy Wattle Street V215, is Gandy Angus stud co-principal Kim Gandy, flanked by his daughters Lola, 15, and Romy, 13, with Elders WA stud stock manager Nathan King.

Gandy Angus Bull SalePremiumGandy Angus tops at $21,000 for Wattle Street genetics

A Manjimup-bred Angus bull sold to a top of $21,000 at the Gandy family’s Annual Bull Sale which led off as the first beef seedstock sale of the new season.

Bob Garnant

WA-based Rumin8 has acquired ROAM Agricultural to advance its methane-reducing product range in cattle supplementation.

Rumin8’s ROAM acquisitionPremiumWA-based Rumin8 advances with new acquisition

WA-based Rumin8 has acquired ROAM Agricultural, a spin-off of Loam Bio focused on the development of solutions for methane abatement in cattle. 

Bob Garnant

A potential legal test of the Australian pork industry standards has been dismissed by a Victorian Supreme Court.

Industry StandardsPremiumAbattoir pig CO2 challenge dismissed by Supreme Court

A Supreme Court judge has told activist group Animals Australia to stop trying to “step into the shoes of the regulator”.

Georgia Campion

Holly Ludeman. Photograph: Daniel Wilkins

Media CampaignPremiumLivestock vet urges for community trust building

Veterinarian and The Livestock Collective managing director Dr Holly Ludeman encouraged against complacency in the agriculture industry and urged the sector to build trust with the wider community.

Georgia Campion

Tony Seabrook at his York farm.

NEW ERAPremiumYork farmer steps down after 11 years as PGA of WA president

The Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA’s longest-serving president has stepped down. After 11 years, Tony Seabrook is handing the baton to Kojoup farmer Digby Stretch.

Cally Dupe

LiveCorp Chair Troy Setter presenting the Lifetime Achiever Award to John Edwards.

Recognising a StalwartPremiumLivestock export stalwart awarded for lifetime commitment

The longest-serving chair of the WA Livestock Exporters’ Association has been recognised as an industry champion at the nations largest livestock export conference in Perth.

Georgia Campion and Cally Dupe

Livestock and Rural Transport Association of WA chief executive Jan Cooper at the LIVEXchange 2025 conference, Perth.

Ewes and ViewsPremiumIndustry panel on WA’s sheep flock decline and future

Leading sheep export industry figures have flagged sector impacts as a result of WA’s declining flock following the devastating impacts of COVID and the live trade ban.

Georgia Campion

Former Federal Trade Minister Andrew Robb at the LIVEXchange conference at Crown Perth. Georgia Campion

‘Destructive Act’PremiumEx Trade Minister warns of sheep trade ban implications

Australia’s former Trade Minister has warned of the ‘profound harm’ the ban of the live sheep export trade will have on the agriculture industry and the national economy.

Georgia Campion

Moojepin Merinos co-principal Hamish Thompson and his family will host the WALRC's Livestock Forum in March.

LIVESTOCK FORUM PremiumMoojepin Merinos set to host WALRC forum

The WA Livestock Research Council will conduct a Livestock Matters Forum on March 18 at Moojepin Merinos, located 30kms east of Katanning.

Bob Garnant

MLA manager for Sheep Genetics Peta Bradley.

MLA partners with AuctionsPlus PremiumMeat and Livestock Australia collaborates with AuctionsPlus

Meat and Livestock Australia has announced a groundbreaking collaboration with AuctionsPlus, enabling sheep breeders to integrate Sheep Genetics data into online stud listings for the first time.

Bob Garnant

RaboResearch senior animal protein analyst Angus Gidley-Baird

Rabobank defines price swingsPremiumLivestock extreme price swings defined

Australian livestock producers have been faced with unprecedented period of market volatility in recent years, with swings in cattle and sheep prices reaching record extremes.

Bob Garnant

LiveCorp chair Troy Setter speaking at the LIVEXchange conference at Crown Perth.

Livestock ConferencePremiumNation’s biggest livestock export conference kicks off

Australia’s biggest livestock export conference has kicked off at Crown Perth for the first time since 2017 with a speaker line up featuring leading industry figures.

Georgia Campion

Police say the drugs were dropped into the ocean from a livestock carrier on its way to Fremantle.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
CrimeCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Al Kuwait’s owners deny any knowledge of $170m cocaine haul

The owners of a livestock ship embroiled in the thwarted importation of $170m worth of cocaine off WA’s coast have launched an internal investigation and denied any knowledge of how the drugs arrived onboard. 

Caleb Runciman