BRD slows growth, increases veterinary bills, and can lead to death losses. Even mild cases mean fewer kilos on the truck come sale day. While vaccination programs, careful backgrounding, and experienced pen riders help, the industry is still chasing earlier, more reliable detection to stop losses before they start.
The Australian Lot Feeders’ Association notes steady improvement through better management and vaccines. Still, the “Fitbit for cows” solution remains elusive. JBS, the country’s largest lotfeeder, recently trialled smart ear tags to monitor temperature and feeding behaviour. The idea: support younger pen riders who may not have decades of stockmanship.
Early trials revealed problems, the tags caused minor abscesses and didn’t deliver consistent data, but the effort was far from wasted. Each trial builds knowledge and moves the industry closer to cost-effective, welfare-friendly monitoring tools.
Healthy cattle are profitable cattle. As technology develops, these practical steps remain the best defence against BRD and the best way to protect your bottom line this season.
Off the back of last week’s update on the El Niño declaring itself, RaboResearch general manager Stefan Vogel dropped some serious insights at Ekka Beef Week in Brisbane.
Here is what local producers in our region should keep on their radar, along with where the big opportunities lie.
As we move through the second half of 2026, climate models have indicated an active El Niño pattern establishing across the Pacific Ocean. For producers across Regional NSW, we know an active El Niño heading into spring and summer 2026/27 brings distinct challenges for rainfall, pasture growth, and stock management.
There’s a reason you can’t drive through town on a sunny weekend without catching a whiff of ironbark smoke in the air. The low-and-slow BBQ movement has completely taken over many Aussie backyards and it’s doing far more than just changing how we cook.
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