$20.8bn
$XXX.Xm
73,704
43,331
$X.Xbn
Beef cattle farmers have faced volatile operating conditions in recent years. Turn-off rates fell sharply in response to improving grazing conditions, particularly over the two years through 2021-22. This, combined with strong demand for Australian beef overseas, drove saleyard prices to record levels. Nonetheless, prices have dropped from these record highs over the past three years. Drier conditions in parts of the country and fears of a broader El Nino event saw turn-off rates surge and prices plummet in 2023-24. Revenue is expected to fall at an annualised 4.1% over the five years through 2024-25, to $20.8 billion. This includes an expected rise of 15.9% in 2024-25 as cattle prices recover.
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 4.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $20.8bn in 2024.
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue ($m)
2025 |
---|---|---|
Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC) | 198.3 | |
AACo | 71.3 |
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Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Cows and bulls, Calves and Heifers and steers. Cows and bulls is the largest segment of the Beef Cattle Farming in Australia.
Cows and bulls make up a dominant share, being the cattle herd’s reproducers
Industry operators primarily farm beef cattle. The industry excludes feedlot, mixed livestock farming and grain-sheep or grain-beef farming operations.
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ANZSIC 0142 - Beef Cattle Farming in Australia
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Volatile rainfall patterns have caused fluctuating beef cattle turn-off rates and revenue. Free trade agreements have played a crucial role in sustaining demand for both live...
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Beef cattle farming is split into two broad regions: north and south. A larger share of beef cattle is farmed in northern states like Queensland and the Northern Territory, d...
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Market share concentration is low. It’s difficult to gain scale in beef cattle farming, with even large operations like Australian Agricultural Company accounting for less th...
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
There are no major companies in the Beef Cattle Farming Industry. Because of the size and number of properties required, gaining scale is difficult. Less than 5.0% of beef ca...
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Beef cattle farmers must pay a levy on all cattle sold. The levy currently sits at $5.00 per head and helps fund Meat and Livestock Australia, Animal Health Australia and the...
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Profit margins are declining. Cattle prices have fallen sharply over the past two years as supply comes back on board. At the same time, input costs are rising.
Including values and annual change:
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Key data sources in Australia include:
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The market size of the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia is $20.8bn in 2024.
There are 43,331 businesses in the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.1 % between 2019 and 2024.
The market size of the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia has been declining at a CAGR of 4.1 % between 2019 and 2024.
Over the next five years, the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia is expected to grow.
The biggest companies operating in the Beef Cattle Farming market in Australia are Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC) and AACo
Cows and bulls and Calves are part of the Beef Cattle Farming industry.
The company holding the most market share in Australia is Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC).
The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia.