Cattle
Australia's beef industry
Australia is one of the world's most efficient producers of cattle and the world's second largest exporter of beef. The off-farm meat value of Australia's beef industry is $11.9 billion. The gross value of Australian cattle and calf production was estimated at 8.1 billion.
Fast facts
National herd
- Australia's national cattle herd stands at 26.6 million head (*).
- 59,115 properties with cattle (*).
- 12.9 million beef cows and heifers (*).
- The beef industry accounts for 49% of all farms with agricultural activity (*).
- The total area operated by farms with beef cattle is around 47% of Australia's land mass.
- The beef industry employs approximately 173,500 workers across farm, processing and retail.
Production
- Australia produced around 2.1 million tonnes of beef and veal in 2010-11 (**).
- 2.5 million grainfed cattle were marketed in 2010-11 (34% of all adult cattle slaughtered).
- The value of Australian cattle and calf production (including live export) is approximately $8.1 billion (ABARE 2010-11).
- Cattle contributed 16% of the total farm value of $49 billion in 2010-11.
- The direct contribution of beef and live cattle to gross domestic product is approximately 1%.
- Queensland is the biggest producer of beef and veal.
- Australia has 3% of the world cattle inventory and is the world's seventh largest beef producer.
- Australia produce's 4% of the world's beef supply and is the second largest beef exporter.
Consumption
- Domestic expenditure on beef was estimated at $6.7 billion in 2010-11 (MLA estimate)
- Australians ate around 33kg per person in 2010-11 (MLA estimate).
- Around 81% of Australian fresh meat buyers purchase beef and veal (Roy Morgan 2010-11).
Exports
- In 2010-11 Australia exported 65% of its total beef and veal production more than 100 countries (***).
- The value of total beef and veal exports in 2010-11 was $4.5 billion (**).
- The value of Australia's live cattle exports in 2010-11 was $660 million (**).
- The beef industry contributes 15% to total Australian farm exports (the most valuable in 2010-11).
- Australia's largest export market is Japan (38.9%) (***).
Download cattle industry fast facts
Northern and southern cattle industries
Northern and southern beef production enterprises have been strong performers among broadacre agricultural enterprises in recent years.
Read the full northern beef situation analysis report
Read the full southern beef situation analysis report
Cattle numbers by natural resource management region
View the cattle distribution map
All figures based on MLA/DAFF/ABS/ABARE 2010-11 unless otherwise stated.
* - ABS Agricultural commodities - figures for 30 June 2010
** - latest available ABS data - figures for calendar year 2011
*** - latest available DAFF data - figures for calendar year 2011
Per capita consumption figures from MLA cattle industry projections 2011
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