MLA - More Beef From Fewer Cattle: How Productivity Is Reshaping the Herd
Australia's cattle herd is entering a period of gradual contraction, but the production system supporting it looks very different to previous cattle cycles.
MLA's September Cattle Industry Projections estimate the national herd at approximately 30.8 million head in 2026, before easing to just under 30 million by 2028. Despite the decline, cattle turn-off is expected to remain historically high.
The key to understanding this apparent contradiction is productivity. Australian producers are increasingly generating more output from the breeding herd while moving cattle through the production system more efficiently.
Long-term investment in the breeding herd
The productivity gains have not occurred overnight.
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