The recent surge in Australian beef production continues, with the beef industry delivering a record financial year for 2025-2026, according to Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).

Beef production totalled 2.985m tonnes (t), up 8.6% compared with 2025, while the number of cattle slaughtered recorded its highest financial year since 1978.

The number of cattle processed during the 2025-2026 financial year reached 9.6 million head, up 8.1% year on year.

The average carcase weight since cattle throughput reached such levels in 1978 has jumped sharply from less than 200kg to now averaging in excess of 300kg carcase weight.

MLA's senior market information analyst Emiliano Diaz said: “Favourable seasonal conditions over recent years expanded the national herd and supported elevated cattle availability, driving historically high processing volumes across the country.”

Strong end to year

Diaz added that the record production was driven by strong supply conditions and noted that this was achieved against an increasingly challenging backdrop for global trading conditions towards the end of the financial year.

“Demand for Australian red meat remained resilient overall, highlighting the sector's ability to adapt and compete in a more volatile global environment.”

The year was capped off by what was described as an exceptionally strong June quarter, with beef production reaching a new quarterly record of 780,620t.

MLA highlighted that an added factor boosting production was exporters accelerating shipments ahead of “safeguard thresholds” being reached in China and Korea.

A higher slaughter figure of female cattle also materialised as expected, as farmers responded to tougher conditions.

Contrasting picture for lamb

In contrast, the country’s slaughter of lambs declined by 15.3% year on year, falling to 22.075 million head. Production fell by a lower percentage of 11.2% to 554,658t on the back of average carcase weights rising to a record level.

The lamb kill fell by a greater level towards the end of the financial year, with throughput for the June quarter ending falling 21.6% to 5.268m head. The average carcase weight during this period was 26.7kg.

The slaughter of adult sheep contracted sharply to its lowest level since 2022, with sheep throughput falling 31.5% to 8.045 million head, while mutton production reduced 28.8% to 209,865t.

Again, the reduction was most pronounced towards the year end, with sheep slaughter for the June quarter falling 46.9% to 1.334 million head, while mutton production declined 43.1% to 34,205t.

Despite the fall in the sheep kill, production still remains at its fourth-highest level.

Diaz commented: “The sheep industry is moving through a markedly different phase of the production cycle, with lower turn-off reflecting tighter sheep availability following the elevated processing levels of recent years.”