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Beef Cattle Farming in New Zealand - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Matt Reeves Matt Reeves Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: July 2024 ANZSIC A0142NZ

Revenue

$3.6bn

2024-25

$3.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

12,377

Businesses

10,558

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Beef Cattle Farming in New Zealand industry analysis

Beef Cattle farmers have faced mixed trading conditions over the past five years. Volatile weather conditions, including droughts and floods in key beef cattle farming regions, have impacted supply. However, increasing demand for beef products from export markets, particularly China, has supported industry revenue over the past five years. COVID-19 pandemic restrictions weakened global economic growth and consumption, dampening demand for industry exports. Overall, industry revenue is expected to have fallen at an annualised 1.0% over the five years through 2024-25, to $3.6 billion. This includes an anticipated fall of 3.8% in 2024-25 due to an expected decline in turn-off rates.

Trends and Insights

  • Rising purchase costs have weakened beef cattle farmers’ profitability. The Russia-Ukraine conflict’s onset caused global shortages of oil and wheat and skyrocketed prices for feed, fertiliser and fuel.
  • Revenue from the sale of heifers and steers has increased over the past five years. Both the volume of these cattle sold and the prices received from their sales have increased.
  • Waikato is the largest beef cattle farming region. The region’s climate and landscape support strong pasture growth, making it ideal for raising cattle.
  • Beef cattle farmers compete internally on quality and feed type. Beef cattle are graded based on fat cover and muscle class. Grass-fed and grain-fed beef cattle are distinct categories that customers take into account when purchasing beef.

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  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $3.6bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Beef cattle slaughter rates have increased, but falling prices have reduced revenue

  • The total number of beef cattle sold for slaughter has increased at a robust pace over the past five years, despite some supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Beef Cattle Farming in New Zealand
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Increasing environmental regulations will likely constrain revenue growth

  • Environmental regulations in the agriculture sector are likely to increase, straining beef cattle farmers with additional cost pressures.

Biggest companies in the Beef Cattle Farming in New Zealand

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($short_0)
2025

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Beef Cattle Farming in New Zealand industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Beef Cattle Farming in New Zealand
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Calves and vealers, Heifers and steers and Cows and bulls. Calves and vealers is the largest segment of the Beef Cattle Farming in New Zealand.

Trends and Insights

Both prices and volume slaughtered of heifers and steers risen over the past five years

  • Heifers are female cattle that have not yet reached reproductive age, and steers are the male cattle that have been neutered.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Industry operators primarily farm, breed and graze beef cattle.

What's included in this industry?

Calves and vealersHeifers and steersCows and bulls

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

TURNOFF RATEIMPUTED WAGECHILLED BEEF

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 0142 - Beef Cattle Farming in New Zealand

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Rising purchase costs have weakened beef cattle farmers’ profitability. The Russia-Ukraine conflict’s onset caused global shortages of oil and wheat and skyrocketed prices fo...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Revenue from the sale of heifers and steers has increased over the past five years. Both the volume of these cattle sold and the prices received from their sales have increas...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Waikato is the largest beef cattle farming region. The region’s climate and landscape support strong pasture growth, making it ideal for raising cattle.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

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.

Analyst insights

Beef cattle farmers compete internally on quality and feed type. Beef cattle are graded based on fat cover and muscle class. Grass-fed and grain-fed beef cattle are distinct ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The are no major players in the Beef Cattle Farming industry. Over 90.0% of farms are small, family-run properties that don’t have the scale to earn enough revenue to gain si...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

    Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

    Analyst insights

    The Animal Welfare Act 1999 sets out a number of codes that beef cattle farmers must abide by. These relate to food, water, shelter and transport standards, as well as traini...

    In this chapter

    • External Drivers
    • Regulation & Policy
    • Assistance

    Key metrics

    • Regulation & policy level and trend
    • Assistance level and trend

    Charts

    • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
    • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

    Detailed analysis

    • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
    • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
    • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

    Financial Benchmarks

    View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

    Analyst insights

    Industry profitability has fallen over the past five years. The Russia-Ukraine conflict’s onset caused global input shortages, skyrocketing prices for fertiliser, fuel and fe...

    In this chapter

    • Cost Structure
    • Financial Ratios
    • Key Ratios

    Key metrics

    • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
    • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
    • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
    • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

    Charts

    • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Investment vs. share of economy

    Data tables

    • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Average Wage (2014-2029)
    • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
    • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

    Detailed analysis

    • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

    Key Statistics

    Industry Data

    Data Tables

    Including values and annual change:

    • Revenue (2014-2029)
    • IVA (2014-2029)
    • Establishments (2014-2029)
    • Enterprises (2014-2029)
    • Employment (2014-2029)
    • Exports (2014-2029)
    • Imports (2014-2029)
    • Wages (2014-2029)

    Top Questions Answered

    Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

    What is the market size of the Beef Cattle Farming industry in New Zealand in 2024?

    The market size of the Beef Cattle Farming industry in New Zealand is $3.6bn in 2024.

    How many businesses are there in the Beef Cattle Farming in New Zealand industry in 2024?

    There are 10,558 businesses in the Beef Cattle Farming industry in New Zealand, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

    Has the Beef Cattle Farming industry in New Zealand grown or declined over the past 5 years?

    The market size of the Beef Cattle Farming industry in New Zealand has been declining at a CAGR of 1.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

    What is the forecast growth of the Beef Cattle Farming industry in New Zealand over the next 5 years?

    Over the next five years, the Beef Cattle Farming industry in New Zealand is expected to grow.

    What does the Beef Cattle Farming in New Zealand include?

    Calves and vealers and Heifers and steers are part of the Beef Cattle Farming industry.

    How competitive is the Beef Cattle Farming industry in New Zealand?

    The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Beef Cattle Farming industry in New Zealand.

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    Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

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    Methodology

    How are IBISWorld reports created?

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    Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

    IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

    What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

    Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

    Key data sources in New Zealand include:

    • Statistics New Zealand
    • New Zealand Company Register
    • Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

    Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

    These sources include:

    • Industry and trade associations
    • Industry federations or regulators
    • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

    Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

    How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

    IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

    IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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