Beef Cattle Feedlots in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
Melbourne, Australia
Last Updated: May 2024
ANZSIC A0143Revenue
$5.3bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
$XXX.Xm
Employees
1,828
Businesses
254
Wages
$XX.Xm
Beef Cattle Feedlots in Australia industry analysis
Revenue for beef cattle lotfeeders is expected to fall at an average annual 1.8% over the five years through 2023-24, to an estimated $5.3 billion. Rising global beef consumption and increasing disposable incomes in developing countries, have supported demand for Australian beef over the past decade. Consequently, export markets have become increasingly important for lotfeeders, contributing to revenue growth. However, the domestic market remains the largest market for grain-fed beef produced in Australia. Major domestic customers, particularly the national supermarket chains, have remained important. High over-the-hook prices and cattle turn-off rates stimulated revenue growth out to 2021-22. Surging destocking rates by beef cattle farmers have seen cattle prices plunge over the past two years. Consequently, despite a record number of cattle on feed in Australia, and projected rise in total cattle turn off, revenue is expected to fall 15.5% in 2023-24. Profitability is also expected to fall over the period due to rising input costs.
Trends and Insights
- An increasing share of beef cattle in Australia has been sent to feedlots over the five years through 2023-24. However, surging cattle turn-off rates across the country have seen cattle prices plunge, sending revenue lower.
- Beef cattle feedlot operators are focusing more on producing cattle suitable for export markets. While demand is slowing in Australia, demand globally – including in nearby South-East Asian countries – is rising.
- Most beef cattle feedlots are located in Queensland. Dry conditions across large parts of the state make it less conducive grass-fed beef cattle farming.
- Market share concentration is low for beef cattle lotfeeders. Over 90% of lotfeeders are family owned, with many only operating one feedlot.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.8 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $5.3bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Lotfeeders are the final stage of production for a growing share of Australian beef cattle
- Lotfeeders purchase feeder cattle from backgrounders and other grass-fed cattle farmers that have weaned and grown out cattle since they were calves.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Downstream beef exports are projected to remain key to lotfeeders' performance
- Export markets in the Asia-Pacific, like Indonesia and Thailand, as well as the Middle East, like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are forecast to expand as incomes continue to rise. The preferences of the expanding middle class in these countries are set to continue to shift toward higher quality meats.
Biggest companies in the Beef Cattle Feedlots in Australia
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 |
|---|---|---|
JBS Australia | 593.6 | |
Mort & Co | 583.9 | |
NH Foods Australia | 349.2 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Grain-fed beef for the domestic market and Grain-fed beef for export markets. Grain-fed beef for the domestic market is the largest segment of the Beef Cattle Feedlots in Australia.
Trends and Insights
Grain-fed beef for the domestic market is declining in popularity as consumers favour leaner proteins
- Cattle in this segment typically spend between 60 and 80 days on a feedlot before they are sent to abattoirs and sold as grain-fed beef products in the domestic market.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Beef Cattle Farming in Australia
- Grain-Sheep or Grain-Beef Cattle Farming in Australia
- Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming in Australia
Complementors
- Meat Processing in Australia
International industries
- Beef Cattle Production in the US
- Beef Cattle Production in Canada
- Beef Cattle Farming in New Zealand
- Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming in New Zealand
- Raising of Animals in Ireland
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Industry firms primarily operate feedlots for beef cattle. A feedlot is a confined yard area with watering and feeding facilities where cattle are completely hand or mechanically fed for the purpose of beef production.
What's included in this industry?
Grain-fed beef for the domestic marketGrain-fed beef export marketsCompanies
JBS AustraliaMort & CoNH Foods AustraliaPurchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
FINISHINGTURN-OFF RATEBACKGROUNDINGFEEDER CATTLEOVER-THE-HOOKHEIFERSTEERIndustry Code
ANZSIC 0143 - Beef Cattle Feedlots in Australia
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
An increasing share of beef cattle in Australia has been sent to feedlots over the five years through 2023-24. However, surging cattle turn-off rates across the country have ...
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
Beef cattle feedlot operators are focusing more on producing cattle suitable for export markets. While demand is slowing in Australia, demand globally – including in nearby S...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
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
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
Most beef cattle feedlots are located in Queensland. Dry conditions across large parts of the state make it less conducive grass-fed beef cattle farming.
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
Market share concentration is low for beef cattle lotfeeders. Over 90% of lotfeeders are family owned, with many only operating one feedlot.
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 large lotfeeders are vertically integrated businesses. As well as operating feedlots, JBS Australia, Mort & Co and Teys all operate meat processing businesses.
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
- Overview of JBS Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Mort & Co's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of NH Foods Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for JBS Australia, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Mort & Co, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for NH Foods Australia, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Beef cattle lotfeeders must gain accreditation for each feedlot before construction can begin. The National Feedlot Accreditation Scheme is the program that lotfeeders must p...
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
Purchase costs have increased as a share of revenue over the five years through 2023-24. Feeder cattle prices have increased strongly since 2018-19, while grain prices have s...
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)
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
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 Australia include:
- Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Australian Taxation Office
- Australian Securities & Investments Commission
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.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Beef Cattle Feedlots industry in Australia in 2024?
The market size of the Beef Cattle Feedlots industry in Australia is $5.3bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Beef Cattle Feedlots in Australia industry in 2024?
There are 254 businesses in the Beef Cattle Feedlots industry in Australia, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.7 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Beef Cattle Feedlots industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Beef Cattle Feedlots industry in Australia has been declining at a CAGR of 1.8 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Beef Cattle Feedlots industry in Australia over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Beef Cattle Feedlots industry in Australia is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Beef Cattle Feedlots market in Australia?
The biggest companies operating in the Beef Cattle Feedlots market in Australia are JBS Australia, Mort & Co and NH Foods Australia
What does the Beef Cattle Feedlots in Australia include?
Grain-fed beef for the domestic market and Grain-fed beef export markets are part of the Beef Cattle Feedlots industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Beef Cattle Feedlots in Australia?
The company holding the most market share in Australia is JBS Australia.
How competitive is the Beef Cattle Feedlots industry in Australia?
The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Beef Cattle Feedlots industry in Australia.
