May 16, 2025

Australian grainfed beef sector nearly topping 1.5 million head on feed in March quarter

Australia's grainfed beef industry is close to topping 1.5 million head on feed for the first time, with March quarter cattle on feed numbers released on May 15.

The official number at the end of March was 1,497,325 head, setting a new industry record, and continuing a sharp progression that started back in December 2023, with new records set in most quarters since then.

The latest cattle on feed figure is 142,000 head higher than this time last year, and 47,000 higher than December.  The likelihood of a new record COF figure being set was flagged when April monthly beef export data was released a fortnight ago, showing grainfed exports at an all-time high of 37,038 tonnes.

According to a Beef Central report, industry feeding capacity has continued to surge, mostly through expansions at existing feedyards, but also some new sites being established.

Most Australian states showed rises in cattle on feed in the March quarter, with Queensland up 12,000 head to 851,190 (57% of the national total); New South Wales up 27,000 head to 442,000; Victoria up 3,000 head to 69,000; Western Australia up 5,000 head to 62,000; and South Australia 1,000 the better to 71,000.

In total, there was a record 859,000 grainfed cattle turned off during the March quarter – up 97,000 head or 13% on this time last year.

Grainfed beef exports in the March quarter reached 90,329 tonnes, 8% higher than the same period last year, said Meat & Livestock Australia's senior market information analyst Erin Lukey.

"The rise of China's middle class has driven demand for high-quality grainfed beef," Lukey added. "The (South) Korean market also lifted 17% year-on-year, while volumes to Japan softened as domestic cold storage levels rose."

- Beef Central