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 $12.1 billion. Domestic expenditure on beef is estimated at $6.4 billion (2009)
Northern and southern beef situation analyses
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
National herd
- Australia's national cattle herd stands at 27.9 million head (*).
- 59, 893 properties with cattle (*).
- 12.9 million beef cows and heifers (*).
- The beef industry accounts for 44% of all farms with agricultural activity (*).
- The total area operated by farms with beef cattle is around 332 million ha (75% of all agricultural area).
- The beef industry employs 121,000 workers.
Production
- Australia produced around 2.1 million tonnes of beef and veal in 2009 (**).
- 2.4 million grainfed cattle were marketed in 2009-10 (33% of all adult cattle slaughtered).
- The value of Australian cattle and calf production (including live export) is approximately $7.6 billion (ABARE 2009-10).
- Cattle contributed 18% of the total farm value of $41 billion in 2009-10.
- 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 2.8% of the world cattle inventory and is the 8th biggest beef producer.
- Australia produce's 4% of the world's beef supply.
Consumption
- Australians ate around 35.7kg per person in 2009-10 (MLA estimate).
- Around 81% of Australian fresh meat buyers purchase beef and veal (Roy Morgan 2009-10).
- Beef is the most popular fresh meat at retail in Australia.
Exports
- Australia's largest export market is Japan (38.9%) (***).
- In 2009-10 Australia exported 62% of its total beef and veal production over 100 countries (***).
- The value of total beef and veal exports in 2009-10 was $4.1 billion (**).
- The value of Australia's live cattle exports in 2009-10 was $701 million (**).
- The beef industry contributes 17% to total Australian farm exports (the most valuable in 2009-10).
All figures based on MLA/DAFF/ABS/ABARE 2008-09 unless otherwise stated.
* - ABS Agricultural commodities - figures for 30 June 2009
** - latest available ABS data - figures for calendar year 2009
*** - latest available DAFF data - figures for calendar year 2009
Per capita consumption figures from MLA cattle industry projections 2010
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