Australian cattle herd: a new perspective on structure, performance and production
Geoffry Fordyce
A E , Richard Shephard B , Tim Moravek C and Michael R. McGowan D
A The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, PO Box 976, Charters Towers, Qld 4072, Australia.
B Herd Health Pty Ltd, 65 Beet Road, Maffra, Vic. 3860, Australia.
C Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, PO Box 6014, Red Hill Rockhampton, Qld 4701, Australia.
D The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: g.fordyce@uq.edu.au
Animal Production Science - https://doi.org/10.1071/AN20342
Submitted: 4 June 2020 Accepted: 16 February 2021 Published online: 19 April 2021
Journal Compilation © Journal compilation © CSIRO 2021 Open Access CC BY 2021 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
Context: Businesses within the Australian cattle industries and associated research and advisory agencies require accurate data on production and performance of the national herd. Currently, these are derived from survey and statistical data; the latter is expected to be accurate, but the former needs to be tested in view of information suggesting significant under-reporting.
Aims: The research aimed to define the structure, performance and liveweight production of the Australian cattle herd and describe changes in reproduction, growth and survival over the past 40–50 years.
Methods: Interactive static herd modelling of beef and dairy herds was reconciled each year from 1976 to 2018, using slaughter and live export statistics and surveyed dairy cow numbers. A principle applied was that model performance should dictate input variables, moderating information derived from publications and professional opinion.
Key results: The Australian cattle herd fluctuated in size till the mid-1980s from when it settled into a range of 30–40 million beef cattle (12–16 Mt), exceeding survey data by 56–75%. The dairy herd remained at ~10% of the beef herd. Despite consistent herd size, productivity of the cattle herd increased from ~2.5 to 4.5 Mt of liveweight annually over 35 years. Half of this change was due to reductions in mortality, though ~1 million post-weaning-age cattle still die annually, in addition to >0.5 million calves from birth to weaning. Approximately a quarter each of the change was due to increased reproductive output and to steer growth. Liveweight production per beef animal increased from 70–75 kg/year to 130–135 kg/year, while liveweight production ratio increased by 0.08 and 0.12 kg/kg of cattle in male and female beef cattle respectively, to reach 0.31 kg/kg of cattle.
Conclusions: The main conclusion is the size, performance, production and productivity of the Australian cattle herd are quite different from that determined from surveys. Also, there is an on-going opportunity to derive benefit from improving cattle survival, reproduction and growth and from improving the feed base.
Implications: This research may have large impact on priorities for Australian beef business and associated environmental management. It is recommended that surveys be used to derive relative values to use in combination with absolute statistical data to derive accurate herd measures.
Keywords: calf wastage, lactation rate.
References
Anderton L, Accioly JM, Copping KJ, Deland PB, Hebart ML, Herd RM, Jones FM, Laurence M, Lee SJ, Speijers EJ, Walmsley BJ, Pitchford WS (2018) Divergent genotypes for fatness or residual feed intake in Angus cattle. 7. Low-fat and low-RFI cows produce more liveweight and better gross margins than do high-fat and high-RFI cows when managed under the same conditions. Animal Production Science 58, 103–116.| Divergent genotypes for fatness or residual feed intake in Angus cattle. 7. Low-fat and low-RFI cows produce more liveweight and better gross margins than do high-fat and high-RFI cows when managed under the same conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) (2020) Farm survey data for the beef, slaughter lambs and sheep industries. Available at https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/research-topics/surveys/farm-survey-data [Verified 23 March 2021]
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (2020) Agriculture. Available at https://www.abs.gov.au/Agriculture [Verified 9 March 2021]
Australian Lot Feeders Association (ALFA) (2020) Industry figures. Available at https://www.feedlots.com.au/figures [Verified 9 March 2021]
Copping KJ, Accioly JM, Deland PB, Edwards NJ, Graham JF, Hebart ML, Herd RM, Jones FM, Laurence M, Lee SJ, Speijers EJ, Pitchford WS (2018) Divergent genotypes for fatness or residual feed intake in Angus cattle. 3. Performance of mature cows. Animal Production Science 58, 55–66.
| Divergent genotypes for fatness or residual feed intake in Angus cattle. 3. Performance of mature cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fordyce G, Chandra K (2019) Growth of Beefmaster heifers to two years of age in the dry tropics. Animal Production Science 59, 148–159.
| Growth of Beefmaster heifers to two years of age in the dry tropics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fordyce G, Saithanoo S, Goddard ME (1988) Factors affecting mature size and dry-season weight loss in Bos indicus cross cows in north Queensland. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 39, 1169–1180.
| Factors affecting mature size and dry-season weight loss in Bos indicus cross cows in north Queensland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fordyce G, Tyler R, Anderson VJ (1990) Effect of reproductive status, body condition and age of Bos indicus cross cows early in a drought on survival and subsequent reproductive performance. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 30, 315–322.
| Effect of reproductive status, body condition and age of Bos indicus cross cows early in a drought on survival and subsequent reproductive performance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fordyce G, Anderson A, McCosker KD, Williams PJ, Holroyd RG, Corbet NJ, Sullivan MS (2013) Liveweight prediction from hip height, condition score, fetal age and breed in tropical female cattle. Animal Production Science 53, 275–282.
| Liveweight prediction from hip height, condition score, fetal age and breed in tropical female cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fordyce G, Barnes TS, McGowan MR, Perkins NR, Smith DR, McCosker KD (2021a) Live weight production of north Australian beef cows. Animal Production Science
| Live weight production of north Australian beef cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fordyce G, McCosker KD, Smith DR, Perkins NR, O’Rourke PK, McGowan MR (2021b) Reproductive performance of northern Australia beef herds. 7. Risk factors affecting mortality rates of pregnant cows. Animal Production Science
| Reproductive performance of northern Australia beef herds. 7. Risk factors affecting mortality rates of pregnant cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Henderson A, Perkins N, Banney S (2013) Determining property-level rates of breeder cow mortality in northern Australia. Final report B.NBP.0664. Meat & Livestock Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Available at https://www.mla.com.au/research-and-development/reports/2013/breeder-mortality-determining-property-level-rates-in-northern-australia/# [Verified 9 March 2021]
Hennessy DW, Robinson GG (1979) The herbage intake, eating behaviour and calf production of beef cows grazing improved pastures on the northern tablelands of New South Wales. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 19, 261–268.
| The herbage intake, eating behaviour and calf production of beef cows grazing improved pastures on the northern tablelands of New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Holmes WE, Bertram JD, Best M, English BE, Hamlyn-Hill FJ, Jackson DC, Laing AR, Rolfe JW, Stirton A, Sullivan MT, Telford PB, Leigo S, MacDonald N, Oxley T, Schatz T, Huey AM, Jeffery M, Smith PC (2011) Representative herds templates for northern Australia V2.0: data files for BreedCow and Dynama herd budgeting software. FutureBeef. Available at https://futurebeef.com.au/knowledge-centre/representative-herd-templates-for-northern-australia/ [Verified 9 March 2021]
Holroyd RG (1987) Foetal and calf wastage in Bos indicus cross beef genotypes. Australian Veterinary Journal 64, 133–137.
| Foetal and calf wastage in Bos indicus cross beef genotypes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 3632488PubMed |
Holroyd RG (1985) Aspects of reproduction in Bos indicus genotypes. PhD Thesis, James Cook University of North Queensland, Townsville, Qld, Australia.
Holroyd RG, O’Rourke PK, Clarke MR, Loxton ID (1983) Influence of pasture type and supplement on fertility and liveweight of cows, and progeny growth rate in the dry tropics of northern Queensland. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 23, 4–13.
| Influence of pasture type and supplement on fertility and liveweight of cows, and progeny growth rate in the dry tropics of northern Queensland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hunter RA, Burrow HM, McCrabb GJ (2001) Sustained growth promotion, carcass and meat quality of steers slaughtered at three liveweights. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 41, 1033–1040.
| Sustained growth promotion, carcass and meat quality of steers slaughtered at three liveweights.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ladds PW, Summers PM, Humphrey JD (1975) Pregnancy in slaughtered cows in north-eastern Australia. Australian Veterinary Journal 51, 472–477.
| Pregnancy in slaughtered cows in north-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1200929PubMed |
Long CR, Cartwright TC, Fitzhugh HA (1975) Systems analysis of sources of genetic and environmental variation in efficiency of beef production: cow size and herd management. Journal of Animal Science 40, 409–420.
| Systems analysis of sources of genetic and environmental variation in efficiency of beef production: cow size and herd management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McGowan MR, McCosker K, Fordyce G, Smith D, O’Rourke PK, Perkins N, Barnes T, Marquet L, Morton J, Newsome T, Menzies D, Burns BM, Jephcott S (2014) North Australian beef fertility project: Cash Cow. Final report, B.NBP.0382. Meat & Livestock Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Available at https://www.mla.com.au/research-and-development/search-rd-reports/final-report-details/Productivity-On-Farm/Northern-Australian-beef-fertility-project-CashCow/370 [Verified 9 March 2021]
McGowan MR, Fordyce G, Smith D, McCosker K, Barnes T, Hegarty R, McNeil D, Perkins N, Miller J, Schooley K, Brodie W, Comiskey R, Lynch D, Murrell G, McClymont A (2017) Development of candidate management interventions to reduce foetal and calf loss in beef herds in northern Australia. Final report, Project B.GBP.0001. Meat & Livestock Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Available at https://www.mla.com.au/research-and-development/search-rd-reports/final-report-details/Development-of-candidate-management-interventions-to-reduce-foetal-and-calf-loss-in-beef-herds-in-northern-Australia/3585 [Verified 9 March 2021]
McLean I, Holmes P, Counsell D (2014) The Northern beef report; 2013 Northern beef situation analysis. Final report, B.COM.0348. Meat & Livestock Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Available at https://www.mla.com.au/research-and-development/search-rd-reports/final-report-details/Productivity-On-Farm/The-Northern-beef-report-2013-Northern-beef-situation-analysis/234 [Verified 9 March 2021]
McLennan SR (2014) Optimising growth paths of beef cattle in northern Australia for increased profitability. Final report, B.NBP.0391. Meat & Livestock Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Available at https://www.mla.com.au/research-and-development/search-rd-reports/final-report-details/Productivity-On-Farm/Optimising-growth-paths-of-beef-cattle-in-northern-Australia-for-increased-profitability/372 [Verified 9 March 2021]
Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) (2020) Statistics database. Available at http://statistics.mla.com.au/Report/List [Verified 9 March 2021]
Moate PJ, Deighton MH, Williams SRO, Pryce JE, Hayes BJ, Jacobs JL, Eckard RJ, Hannah MC, Wales WJ (2016) Reducing the carbon footprint of Australian milk production by mitigation of enteric methane emissions. Animal Production Science 56, 1017–1034.
| Reducing the carbon footprint of Australian milk production by mitigation of enteric methane emissions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
O’Rourke PK, Entwistle KW, Arman C, Esdale CR, Burns BM (1991) Fetal development and gestational changes in Bos taurus and Bos indicus genotypes in the tropics. Theriogenology 36, 839–853.
| Fetal development and gestational changes in Bos taurus and Bos indicus genotypes in the tropics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16727053PubMed |
O’Rourke PK, Winks L, Kelly AM (1992) ‘North Australia beef producer survey 1990.’ (Department of Primary Industries: Brisbane, Qld, Australia).
Queensland Government Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (2020) BreedCow and Dynama software. Available at https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/agriculture/animals/beef/breedcow-dynama [Verified 9 March 2021]
Sergeant E, Shephard R, Allen T, Kennedy D, Cameron A (2005) A review of the structure and dynamics of the Australian dairy cattle industry. Report to Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Smith DR, Fordyce G, Shaw KA, Smith PC, Laing AR (2001) Northern stocking rate demonstration. Final report, Project NHT.962011. National Heritage Trust, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Wicksteed LT (1986) The ability to sell cull cows and heifers - the key to profitable cattle production in the extensive country of North Queensland. In ‘Field day proceedings, North Queensland Branch of the Australian Society of Animal Production’, ‘Byrne Valley’, Home Hill, 4 December 1986.
