Fast Facts on Australian Beef: 2013
Vital statistics from the world's third biggest beef exporter have been crunched by analysts at Meat and Livestock Australia for the year 2013.
4 November 2014
2 minute read
The off-farm meat value of the Australian beef and cattle industry is $12.3 billion (consumer expenditure plus export value).
Herd Facts and Figures
• 77,164 properties with cattle (ABS Agricultural Commodities 2011-12).
• 28.5 million cattle and calves (ABS Agricultural Commodities 2011-12).
• 13.6 million beef cows and heifers (ABS Agricultural Commodities 2011-12).
• The cattle industry involves 57 per cent of all farms with agricultural activity.
People in the Industry
• Around 200,000 people are involved in the red meat industry, including on-farm production, processing and retail.
How Much is Produced?
• In 2012-13, Australia produced approximately 2.2 million tonnes cwt of beef and veal (ABS).
• In 2012-13, 2.6 million grainfed cattle were marketed – 33 per cent of all adult cattle slaughtered.
What is the Value of Production?
• The gross value of Australian cattle and calf production (including live cattle exports) is estimated at $7.4 billion (ABARES 2012-13).
• Cattle contributed 16 per cent of the total farm value of $47.3 billion in 2011-12 (ABARES Agricultural Commodities June 2013).
• The direct contribution of beef and live cattle to gross domestic product was approximately 1 per cent in 2012-13.
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Domestic Value and Consumption
• Domestic expenditure on beef was approximately $6.6 billion in 2012-13 (MLA estimate).
• Australians ate around 32.5kg of beef per person in 2012-13 (MLA estimate).
• Around 94 per cent of Australian fresh meat buyers purchased beef in 2012-13 (AC Nielsen Homescan).
• In volume terms, beef is the second most popular fresh meat consumed through the foodservice industry after chicken (BIS Shrapnel).
Export Value and Volume
• In 2012-13, Australia exported 67 per cent of its total beef and veal production to over 100 countries (DAFF/ABS).
• The value of total beef and veal exports in 2012-13 was $5.06 billion (ABS).
• Australian live cattle exports were valued at $590 million in 2012-13 (ABS).
• The beef industry (including live cattle) contributes 13 per cent to the total farm export value of $40 billion (FOB) (ABARES Agricultural Commodities June 2013).
Australia’s Place in the World
• Australia has 3 per cent of the world cattle inventory, with India, Brazil and China taking the top three places (USDA 2012).
• Australia produces 4 per cent of the world’s beef supply, and is the third largest beef exporter in the world (USDA 2012).
