Australia's meat and livestock sector is a cornerstone of its agriculture, spanning nearly half the continent and employing over 200,000 people. It contributes significantly to the economy, with livestock products valued at around A$31.4 billion in 2023-24, though down 3.2% from prior years due to weather and market volatility. The industry focuses on beef, sheepmeat (lamb and mutton), pork, and poultry, driven by vast grazing lands and advanced biosecurity. Australia is a top global exporter, shipping to over 100 countries, while domestic demand remains high despite shifts toward plant-based alternatives
Production In financial year 2025 (FY25, July 2024–June 2025), beef production hit a record 2.75 million tonnes, with 8.88 million cattle slaughtered—the third-highest since 1978—and average carcase weights at 307kg. The national cattle herd is projected at 30.2 million head in 2025, up 6% from 2024, reflecting herd rebuilding amid optimistic producer sentiment. Sheepmeat production included 624,549 tonnes of lamb (from 26.06 million head, second-highest on record) and 294,757 tonnes of mutton (from 11.7 million head, highest since 2007), with carcase weights at 24.8kg and 23.9kg respectively. Pork output is forecast at 490,000 tonnes carcass weight equivalent (CWE) for 2025, up 4% from 2024. Poultry production, dominated by chicken, reached 395,749 tonnes in the June 2025 quarter (from 190.3 million birds), suggesting annual output around 1.6 million tonnes. Total red meat production (beef, sheepmeat) exceeded 3.66 million tonnes in FY25.
Exports and Consumption Exports are vital, with a record 2.24 million tonnes of red meat shipped in 2024, expected to rise in 2025 driven by U.S. demand. Domestically, about 30% of beef and sheepmeat production is consumed locally. Australians rank among the world's top meat consumers, with per capita total meat intake estimated at 112–122kg in recent years (carcass weight), though forecasts suggest slight declines to around 105kg in 2024-25 due to health trends and costs. Daily consumption averaged 145g per person in 2023-24 (up 2.3%), equating to ~53kg annually (likely retail weight). By type: beef/veal ~18.5kg (2024), with overall per capita above OECD averages (e.g., beef >13.7kg global OECD).
Relative to Population With a population of ~27 million in September 2025, per capita production is substantial: ~102kg red meat produced per person (3.66M tonnes / 27M), but much is exported. Domestic consumption (~1.1m tonnes red meat) yields ~41kg per capita carcass weight, highlighting export reliance. Challenges include climate variability, labor shortages, and sustainability pressures, but optimism prevails for 2025 growth.
A producer-owned company providing marketing and research services to over 49,500 cattle, sheep, and goat producers. MLA focuses on sustainability, market access, and innovation for red meat industries. http://www.mla.com.au/
A not-for-profit public company uniting government and industry to deliver animal health and biosecurity programs, enhancing livestock industry resilience and market access. www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au
The peak national body for the feedlot industry, representing operators and promoting best practices in cattle and sheep feedlot production. www.feedlots.com.au
Represents Australia’s pork industry, supporting producers through research, marketing, and policy advocacy to ensure sustainability and profitability. www.australianpork.com.au
The peak body for the poultry meat industry, focusing on biosecurity, welfare standards, and industry development. www.chicken.org.au
Represents egg producers, promoting industry standards, sustainability, and consumer education for Australia’s egg sector. www.australianeggs.org.au
A not-for-profit focused on research, development, and marketing for the wool industry, supporting sheep producers. www.wool.com
Represents sheepmeat and wool producers, advocating for policy and innovation to enhance industry competitiveness. www.sheepproducers.com.au
The peak body for cattle producers, focusing on advocacy, biosecurity, and market access for beef and dairy cattle. www.cattlecouncil.com.au
A not-for-profit service provider supporting the live export of cattle, sheep, and goats, ensuring welfare and trade standards. www.livecorp.com.au
The national service body for the dairy industry, supporting dairy farmers through research, innovation, and market development. www.dairyaustralia.com.au
Represents goat producers (meat, dairy, and fiber), promoting industry growth and sustainability. www.gica.com.au
Represents Queensland’s broadacre cattle, sheep, wool, and goat producers, advocating for rural producers’ interests. www.agforceqld.org.au
A federation uniting Queensland’s peak rural industry organisations, including livestock sectors, to advocate for agriculture. www.qff.org.au
Represents the fodder industry, supporting dairy and livestock sectors with feed production and export focus. www.afia.org.au
Australia's animal agriculture sector benefits from several key scientific research bodies and organizations focused on livestock health, welfare, productivity, genetics, and sustainability. These entities conduct evidence-based research, often in partnership with government and industry, to address challenges like biosecurity, climate impacts, and breeding improvements.
Australia's national science agency, with a dedicated Agriculture and Food division conducting extensive livestock research on breeding, welfare, biosecurity, and environmental sustainability (e.g., at Chiswick and Lansdown stations). It collaborates on projects like genomic selection for cattle and poultry welfare. www.csiro.au/en/research/animals/livestock
The RandD body for the pork industry, investing in science for pig health, welfare, genetics, and nutrition to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impacts. It funds trials on precision feeding and disease resistance. www.australianpork.com.au/research
Represents egg producers with a focus on RandD for hen welfare, nutrition, and sustainable layer genetics. It supports studies on free-range systems and biosecurity to boost productivity. www.australianeggs.org.au/about-us/research-and-development
The national RandD body for dairy, funding research on cow health, breeding (e.g., genomic tools), feed efficiency, and welfare to support sustainable milk production. www.dairyaustralia.com.au/research
Funds scientific RandD for the wool industry, including sheep genetics, parasite control, and low-methane breeding to improve fibre quality and animal welfare. www.wool.com/research
A public-private partnership providing scientific surveillance, modelling, and risk assessment for livestock diseases, informing biosecurity strategies and emergency responses. www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au/research
University of Queensland-based institute leading tropical livestock research on genetics, health, and productivity (e.g., tick vaccines and genomic prediction). www.qaafi.uq.edu.au/centre-animal-science
