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AU ANZSIC A0142 | Industry Report

Beef Cattle Farming in Australia Industry Data and Analysis

JT
Jonathan Trotter
Analyst Melbourne, Australia October 2025

Beef cattle farmers have navigated highly changeable conditions in recent years. Favourable rainfall has underpinned strong pasture availability and stocking levels, supporting herd growth and fertility. This has allowed farmers to maintain high turn-off rates while sustaining herd numbers, resulting in record slaughter and output. Despite an abundant supply, cattle prices have held firm over the past year, supported by resilient domestic and international demand. Global supply challenges and trade tensions have heightened reliance on Australian beef, while local processors have competed aggressively for stock to meet export and domestic needs. As a result, industry revenue is projected to grow at an annualised 1.5% over the five years through 2025-26 to $26.2 billion. This includes an anticipated contraction of 1.4% in 2025-26.

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What's included in this industry analysis

IBISWorld's research coverage on the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released October 2025.

About this industry

What's this industry report about?

The Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia operates under the ANZSIC industry code A0142. Industry operators primarily farm beef cattle. The industry excludes feedlot, mixed livestock farming and grain-sheep or grain-beef farming operations. Related terms covered in the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia include cattle-handling race, turnoff and imputed wage.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia include Cows and bulls, Calves and Heifers and steers.

What companies are included in this industry?

Companies covered in the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia include Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC) and AACo.

Performance

What's included in the Performance chapter?

The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia.

Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.

Products & Markets

What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?

The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed product and service segmentation, analysis of major markets and international trade data for the for the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia.

Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.

Geographic Breakdown

What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?

The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia.

Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.

Competitive Forces

What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?

The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.

Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.

Companies

What's included in the Companies chapter?

The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.

Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.

External Environment

What's included in the External Environment chapter?

The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.

Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.

Financial Benchmarks

What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?

The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.

Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.

Industry Data

What's included in the Industry Data chapter?

The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the market size of the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia in 2026?

The market size of the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia is $26.2bn in 2026.

How many businesses are there in the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia in 2025?

There are 42,570 businesses in the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.2 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia?

The Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia?

The Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 1.5 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia are Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC) and AACo

What does the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia include?

Cows and bulls and Calves are part of the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia is Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC).

How competitive is the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Beef Cattle Farming industry in Australia.

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