Unit 2: Beef Production – Mini project
Thursday 5.12.2013
Sam, Chuks, Bojana, Alex & Anne
1
Agenda
 Historic overview
 Current situation
 Production system
 Pasture
 Feed lot
 Markets
 Economy
 Development - The future
Australia
Cattle production across all of the
land
40,200 farms – 29,700 in the south
alone
Large herds – one herd of 500,000!!
Environment variable – (Often hot) –
not ideal for heat producing cattle
8th largest producer
2nd largest exporter (60%)
Exports large amounts to USA and
East Asia
Green and Clean
Australia has built up a
reputation for having safe meat,
having avoided:
-BSE
-Foot and mouth
Also many of the farms portray
Organic farming which is
attractive to the customer
VS
Where in the country?
The big divide!
NORTHERN
SOUTHERN
Extensive
Intensive
Grass finisher
Feed lots
(largest holds 75,000)
Dry arid conditions
Cooler, wetter conditions
Low grass quality
Better grass quality
Brahman, Santa Gertrudis and Bos
indicus
Angus, Limousin and Charolais
Low meat quality
High meat quality
Export mainly to Asia
Export mainly to USA
Type of farming
for beef ?
-ExtensiveMany farms across the north of
Australia are extensive farms with
uncontrolled mating (males and
females run together all year)
They are exposed to weather
conditions – can decrease liveweight
up to 10%
Also possibilities of infection from
wildlife and even poisoning by wild
flora – e.g. Ragwort
Supplementary feed will be needed
due to low grass quality – not always
carried out
Drinking water low quality
Extensive
continued…
Mother and calf will run together.
May not be separated as can be grass
fattened – not feed lot
Will go many months without
human contact
Low manual labour
Less husbandry so more problems?
•
Lameness
•
Unseen disease
Type of farming?
-IntensiveFeedlots are on the rise as need for
good grain increases
Mating is controlled to coincide with
a time of plentiful feed
Feed lots are common and can
house many animals (75,000)
Feed lots will feed animals
differently depending on their place
of export or nature of production
Intensive systems are mostly
smallholders
Intensive
continued …
Sun shelters required as no natural
shade
Feed required as no natural forage
available
Higher labour costs
Less illness going undetected
Greater beef product per cow
Can keep better beef breeds as
conditions controlled more
SWOT analysis of Australian
Beef production
Strengths
Weaknesses
Efficient production methods Volatile global commodity
‘Clean green’ product
markets
Major exporter
Concentration of processing
capacity
Climatic variability
Opportunities
Threats
Management of production
risk
Increased demand from Asia
markets
Attainment of greater
efficiencies
Input prices
Disease risk
Climate change
Development – The future
 One of the important developments that Australia needs
is to improve its feed
 Try to balance the affect of the cows on the land –
overgrazing
 Recent legislation bans land clearing for beef production
– more intensive farms? More animals per area?
 Ever increasing demand for meat means the market will
expand – challenge – to make the expansion sustainable!
New Zealand
Climate
 New Zealand lies in the Southern Pacific Ocean, 1,600 km
east of Australia.
 Total Population of 3.8 million, two-thirds live in the northern
region of the North Island, 85% urban and 15% rural.
 The climate is temperate - the mean daily range from 44°F
(8°C) in July to 63°F (17°C) in January, summer temperatures
reach over 86°F (30°C) in many places.
 Average rainfall varies widely - from less than 16" in Central
Otago (central South Island) to over 250" in the Southern
Alps.
The current situation
• Meat Industry generated $4.6bn in
export earnings comprising 15% of
total merchandise export value
• National Beef herd- 4.4 million
animals
• Total Dairy herd- 5.1 million herd
(indirect contributor to beef supply)
• Beef industry

account for about 1.1% of total world beef
production

About 10% of beef enters the international
trade
Markets
 80% of total beef produced in NZ is exported
Beef consumption
SWOT Analysis of NZ’s Beef
Production
Development – The Future
change
 Changing Demographics and Wealth
 Food, Image and Belief
 Globalisation
 Climate change
 Increasing Pressure on Natural resources
The Challenge
To improve production and profits whilst also improving animal welfare, and
reducing the environmental impact.
Also to consider the threats to modern farming such as infectious disease and
climate change.
Thank you!