by Nick Rowe
Lardner Park's milestone 50th anniversary steer trial culminated in a highly successful Beef Day last Friday, with beef producers, industry experts and sponsors gathering to listen to an optimistic outlook for the Australian beef industry.
The event brought together the beef community for a full program that began at 8.30am with the final weighing and turn-off of the 50 pairs of steers entered in this year's historic trial.
A highlight of the day was agricultural analyst Simon Quilty from Global Agritrends, who delivered an upbeat presentation predicting Australian beef producers were poised for exceptional returns over the next two years.
Mr Quilty predicted cattle prices will surge to record levels in 2026, driven by a perfect storm of global market conditions and domestic factors.
"One, two, three – thank you, Donald," Quilty told attendees, explaining how US President Donald Trump's tariff policies had dramatically shifted global trade flows in Australia's favour.
The 25 per cent tariff on Canadian beef and 50 per cent tariff on Brazilian beef made Australian exporters the primary beneficiaries in lucrative markets including Japan, South Korea and China. US domestic beef prices had surged 21 per cent since January, creating strong demand for Australian products.
Mr Quilty highlighted that southern states have experienced unprecedented herd reductions in 2024 – levels not seen since records began in 1976.
Mr Quilty's specific forecasts generated considerable interest amongst the crowd. "By the time you get to 2027, you want to be the breeder, not the trader," Mr Quilty advised producers, suggesting those positioned for breeding operations would capture the greatest value at the market peak.
Unlike the 2023 worker shortage crisis, Mr Quilty reassured attendees that Australia's meat processing sector was now well-positioned. Worker numbers have more than doubled since COVID-19 lows to 120,000, while southern Australia had expanded processing capacity by 15 per cent.
The Beef Day featured a diverse program of events. Beef producers Tim Wilson and Trevor Hatch participated in an on-the-couch chat, while a carcass boning demonstration provided practical insights.
Ex-AFL Essendon captain Dyson Heppell shared stories of his rural upbringing and football career, while Matt Runnalls of Mindfull Aus delivered a presentation on producer wellbeing.
Coles development chef Michael Weldon, runners-up in the third series of Masterchef, led "What's Cooking in Beef Now" examining cultural diversity requirements for producers.
Market trends were discussed by Rob Radford of Radford's Abattoirs, Steve Rennie from Coles and Lachlan Jeffers of Meat and Livestock Australia.
The event celebrated the steer trial's remarkable 50-year history. The steer trial is Australia's only grass-based steer trial and has become a hallmark of excellence in the beef production industry.
The trial's origins trace back to 1973, with the first official carcass competition beginning in 1975. Over the decades, it has evolved from a simple demonstration to a sophisticated competition that aligns cattle selections with market demands.