Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
Melbourne, Australia
Last Updated: June 2024
ANZSIC A0144Revenue
$5.1bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
$XXX.Xm
Employees
30,050
Businesses
15,266
Wages
$XXX.Xm
Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming in Australia industry analysis
Sheep-beef cattle farmers have faced variable conditions over the past few years, including changing weather patterns, downstream demand fluctuations and price movements. These factors have fuelled very high revenue volatility. Revenue plummeted over 2022-23 and 2023-24, as a surging supply of sheep and cattle hit the market and caused prices to fall. Industry revenue is expected to have inched downwards at an annualised 0.5% over the five years through 2024-25, to $5.1 billion. This includes an anticipated surge of 17.4% in 2024–25, as beef and sheep prices climb, elevating sheep-beef cattle farmers’ incomes and profitability.
Trends and Insights
- Falling prices have offset a rise in slaughter volumes in recent years. Following record prices in earlier years, increasing turn-off rates of beef cattle and sheep following successful herd rebuilding efforts have dragged prices and revenue down.
- Demand for Australian lamb has increased in overseas markets like China and the United States. Higher export demand boosted saleyard prices for lambs and sheep several years ago, but these have dropped sharply in recent years.
- New South Wales accounts for the largest share of sheep-beef cattle farms in Australia. The state's landscape and climate are suited to both beef cattle and sheep farming.
- Sheep-beef cattle farmers compete internally on quality. Beef and sheep meat are graded on an internationally recognised system and consumer tastes are becoming more discerning as household incomes climb in both local and overseas markets.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $5.1bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Sales volumes have fluctuated with changing weather patterns
- Harsh drought conditions, primarily on the east coast, saw rising turn-off rates for both beef cattle and sheep in 2017-18 and 2018-19. A return to more favourable weather conditions encouraged sheep-beef cattle farmers to focus more on rebuilding their herds and flocks over the three years through 2022-23.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Overseas demand for meat will continue fuelling growth for sheep-beef cattle farmers
- Domestic per capita beef consumption will continue falling as more health-conscious consumers favour alternative proteins like plant-based meat.
Biggest companies in the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming in Australia
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue ($short_0)
2025 |
|---|
There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming in Australia industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Beef cattle, Sheep and lambs and Wool. Beef cattle is the largest segment of the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming in Australia.
Trends and Insights
Sheep and lamb prices have fluctuated wildly, falling overall due to increased supply
- Lambs are sheep up to 12 months of age sold for meat. This segment also includes sheep sold for hogget and mutton production. Sheep are also kept for wool production and sold for breeding purposes.
- More insights available in the full report
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Competitors
- Sheep Farming in Australia
- Beef Cattle Farming in Australia
- Dairy Cattle Farming in Australia
- Grain-Sheep or Grain-Beef Cattle Farming in Australia
Complementors
- There are no industries to display.
International industries
- Beef Cattle Production in the US
- Sheep Farming in the US
- Beef Cattle Production in Canada
- Sheep Farming in New Zealand
- Beef Cattle Farming in New Zealand
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Industry operators mainly farm both sheep and beef cattle. The industry excludes operators that only farm beef cattle, or sheep. The industry also excludes farmers growing grain products in conjunction with sheep or beef cattle farming.
What's included in this industry?
Beef cattleSheep and lambsWoolCompanies
Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
BACKGROUNDINGTURN-OFFFEEDLOTIMPUTED WAGEIndustry Code
ANZSIC 0144 - Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming 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
Falling prices have offset a rise in slaughter volumes in recent years. Following record prices in earlier years, increasing turn-off rates of beef cattle and sheep following...
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
Demand for Australian lamb has increased in overseas markets like China and the United States. Higher export demand boosted saleyard prices for lambs and sheep several years ...
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
New South Wales accounts for the largest share of sheep-beef cattle farms in Australia. The state's landscape and climate are suited to both beef cattle and sheep 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
Sheep-beef cattle farmers compete internally on quality. Beef and sheep meat are graded on an internationally recognised system and consumer tastes are becoming more discerni...
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
No major players operate in the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming industry. Almost 60.0% of sheep-beef cattle farms earn less than $200,000 per year.
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
Sheep-beef cattle farmers are subject to strict biosecurity regulations. State and federal governments mitigate the risk of disease outbreaks through strict national quaranti...
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
Profit margins for sheep-beef cattle farmers have fluctuated wildly. Farmers faced rising purchase costs, particularly for feed, fertiliser, chemicals and fuel, due to the Ru...
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 Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia in 2024?
The market size of the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia is $5.1bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming in Australia industry in 2024?
There are 15,266 businesses in the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.6 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia has been declining at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia is expected to grow.
What does the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming in Australia include?
Beef cattle and Sheep and lambs are part of the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming industry.
How competitive is the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia.
