The red meat industry
Australia’s red meat and livestock industry makes a significant contribution to the Australian economy.
Australia’s red meat and livestock industry’s turnover totalled $67.7 billion in FY2020–2021, accounting for approximately 1.7% of Australia’s total key industry turnover(1). Industry turnover is defined as income generated by businesses within the industry from the sales of goods and services.
In 2020–21, the Australian red meat and livestock industry employed approximately 428,000 people(1).
Download the State of the Industry Report 2022: The Australian red meat and livestock industry
Australia’s beef industry
- In 2022, Australia produced approximately 1.9 million tonnes carcase weight (cwt) of beef and veal(5).
- In 2022, 2.7 million grainfed cattle were marketed (feedlot turnoff), equal to 47% of all adult cattle slaughtered(2).
- In 2022, Australia exported 67% of its total beef and veal production(3).
- The value of total beef and veal exports in 2022 was A$10.4 billion(4)..
Find out fast facts about the beef cattle industry
Australia’s sheepmeat industry
- In 2022, Australia produced 534,235 tonnes cwt of lamb and 172,670 tonnes carcase weight (cwt) of mutton(5).
- Total sheepmeat production (lamb and mutton) was 706,905 tonnes cwt in 2022, 38% below year-ago levels but only 12% below the five-year-average(5).
- In 2022, Australian lamb exports totalled 284,256 tonnes shipped weight (swt), 7% up year-on-year and 4% above the five-year average(5).
- Australian mutton exports were 144,004 tonnes swt in 2022, up marginally year-on-year and down 9% on the five-year average(7).
- The value of Australian sheepmeat (lamb and mutton) exports in 2022 was $4.6 billion, up 14% from the previous year(4).
Find out fast facts about the sheepmeat industry
Australia’s goatmeat industry
- Goat production in 2022 decreased 7% on the previous year, totalling 14,795 tonnes carcase weight (cwt)(5).
- Goatmeat is a niche protein in Australia, .(6)
- Average carcase weights were 1% lower year-on-year, to 16.93kg/head in 2022, but consistently higher than previous years due to the increase in managed goat systems(5).
Sharing red meat’s story
In August 2018, MLA launched a new online platform that provides consumers with an open and trusted source of information about the production of beef, sheep and goat meat in Australia.
Good Meat demonstrates how Australian red meat is produced sustainably, in high welfare systems and is an important part of a healthy balanced diet.
Good Meat is also home to a range of educational resources including study guides, classroom posters, lesson and activity sheets, virtual farm visits, digital lessons and online board games.
Sources
(1) IBIS World, ABARES
(2) MLA/ALFA Feedlot Survey
(3) MLA estimate
(4) IHS Markit
(5) ABS
(6) ABS, DA, IHS Markit
(7) DAWE
