Australia hit ‘record’ beef production in 2025

Australia has confirmed it had “record” beef production and strong livestock supply in 2025.

Australia’s red meat industry has delivered another year of strong performance.

New Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data shows “exceptional beef production, historically high cattle slaughter and resilient lamb and mutton supply despite varied seasonal conditions”.

Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) said the data reflects “both the strength and adaptability of Australian red meat producers, as well as the continued shift toward higher throughput and heavier carcass weights across key species”.

Beef production

Beef production in Australia reached 712,888 tonnes in Q4 and 2.87 million tonnes across the calendar year.

This is 12% higher than 2024 and is now the largest annual beef production on record.

Cattle slaughter reached 9.28 million head for the year.

This represents a 12% increase on 2024 and surpasses the previous modern record set in 2014.

It is the highest cattle kill Australia has recorded since 1978.

Average cattle carcass weights reached 309kg for the year.

Resilience

MLA senior market information analyst Emiliano Diaz said the results show an industry performing at a “very high level”.

“Beef production has remained above 700,000 tonnes for three consecutive quarters. That is unprecedented and signals a new sustained production level for Australia,” Diaz said.

“Producers in the north have benefited from strong pasture growth, while many southern regions experienced much drier conditions.

“The fact that national output still reached record levels speaks to the resilience and adaptability of producers in every state.”

Decline in lamb slaughter

Lamb slaughter totalled 24.6 million head in 2025.

This represents a 7% decline from 2024 but still places the year as the third highest on record behind 2023 and 2024.

Annual lamb production reached 597,068 tonnes, a decline of 5.2% from 2024.

Emiliano Diaz said improved feeding strategies have helped maintain productivity.

“The increase in lamb carcass weights demonstrates how effectively producers have adapted, particularly through the growing use of containment feeding,” Diaz said.

“Many sheep regions had to work through extended dry conditions, yet producers were still able to lift weights and support strong production levels.”

Across 2025, mutton slaughter totalled 10.19 million head, a decline of 14% from 2024 but still historically high.

For the 2025 calendar year, Australian cattle producers received $20.43 billion for the sale of finished animals to processors, a record and $5 billion more than in 2024.

Similarly, lamb and sheep producers received record revenue for the sale of animals to abattoirs, netting $6.9 billion over the last 12 months.

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