Australia’s cattle herd is currently over 26 million head, and produced over 2 million tonnes of beef and veal in 2001. Cattle are farmed across the Australian continent with varying climactic and geographical conditions. Cattle production practices vary to suit these differing conditions. The major distinction can be made between Northern and Southern cattle production.
Southern Cattle Production
Southern Australia enjoys a mild climate with an average annual rainfall varying between 30 and 150 millimetres per month, winters are typically wet, and summers dry and sunny. Some of the world's finest cattle are raised on the pastures found in Southern Australia's mountains, tablelands, slopes, and plains. Here is where the temperate breeds (Bos taurus) thrive best, with strong growth rates that yield outstanding quality meat.
Northern Cattle Production
Northern Australia, which features tropical grasses and legumes, supported by monsoon rains in the summer, is an ideal environment for tropical breeds (Bos indicus), such as the Brahman. The area, covering the northern regions of Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia, supports cattle grazed on extensive open-range holdings, many of which cover thousands of square miles.
Research and Development
Beef production systems in Australia are diverse – different practices are adopted to accommodate different environmental factors and changing markets. MLA conducts and supports research into beef cattle production, and are primarily funded through farmer transaction levies. Additional funding is received from the government for R&D.
Key initiatives of the beef industry include the grading scheme Meat Standards Australia (MSA), BREEDPLAN, producer alliances, VIAscan, the National Livestock Identification Scheme (NLIS) and hide quality.
Australian Feedlots
Feedlots have operated in Australia since the 1960s to ‘finish’ cattle for market and to overcome drought situations.
In 2001 about 26% of beef produced in Australia was feedlot beef.
There are currently about 680 accredited cattle feedlots in Australia that can feed a total of almost 920,000 head of cattle at one time.
The majority of feedlots are located in south east Queensland and New South Wales, concentrating around the mixed farming areas having access to cattle, grain and other feed sources.
The benefit of grain feeding in a feedlot with controlled quality and amounts of food is that cattle produce beef with uniform carcase fat content and colour. Their food source is not as reliant on the season and it is possible to finish cattle in a feedlot all year round. This is particularly good when markets in Australia and overseas want a continuous supply of consistent quality beef.
Realising the benefits of this more intensive system of production, commercial feedlots are now quite common.