Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia is home to a large cattle population, with nearly 50% of the national herd located in Queensland. The country's cattle are mostly found on pasture-based properties and stations, with the largest cattle station in the world, Anna Creek Station, covering an area of 23,677 square kilometres in South Australia. Queensland is considered Australia's beef powerhouse, with the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales also contributing significantly to the country's cattle industry. The cattle stations are large farms, owned by graziers, and play a crucial role in beef production, with the top LGAs for cattle production located in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
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What You'll Learn
Queensland: Australia's beef powerhouse
Queensland is Australia's beef powerhouse, accounting for more than twice as many cattle as the next largest state, New South Wales. In June 2016, Queensland's cattle population was 10.6 million head, with seven of the top ten NRM regions for beef numbers and eight of the top 20. The largest was the Fitzroy region, with more than 2.64 million head.
Queensland's status as the country's leading beef producer is further reinforced by the presence of several top beef producers and exporters in the state. These companies operate state-of-the-art processing facilities and have a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, and quality control. Examples include Kilcoy Global Foods, Australian Country Choice (ACC), and Stanbroke, a division of the Australian Family Investment Company (AFIC).
The Queensland government actively supports the beef industry through initiatives like fast-tracking the development of a new beef processing facility capable of handling 200,000 head of cattle annually. Additionally, the state has witnessed investments from prominent cattle families, such as the recent $66 million acquisition of Taylors Plains by the Hughes family.
Queensland's cattle country spans diverse regions, from the Mungallala district in the south to Central Queensland, where innovative technologies like night-time thermal-imaging drones are being utilised for cattle mustering near Clermont. The state's cattle stations, such as Moray Downs, contribute significantly to its beef production capabilities. With its vast cattle population, supportive government policies, and prominent industry players, Queensland remains at the forefront of Australia's beef industry.
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Northern Territory: Rangelands NRM region
Queensland is Australia's beef powerhouse, with more than twice as many cattle as New South Wales, the state with the second-highest number of cattle. However, the Northern Territory is also a significant region for cattle rearing, accounting for 2.23 million head in June 2016.
The Northern Territory, a single region under NRM boundaries, is an extensive area with a substantial cattle population. The Rangelands NRM region within the Northern Territory is particularly noteworthy for its cattle industry. Rangelands is characterised by its vast expanse of land, occupying about 80% of Western Australia. While the region has few major towns and no cities, it is home to many of Australia's Indigenous people and various mining and tourism enterprises.
Grazing cattle and sheep is an important agricultural activity in the Rangelands NRM region. The climate in the region varies, with seasonally reliable monsoonal influences in the north and low and variable rainfall patterns in the centre and south. This variability in rainfall makes the Rangelands region particularly susceptible to the impacts of climate change, and NRM groups are working to address these challenges.
The Northern Territory has a long history of cattle stations, some of which were previously owned by English companies that did not pay taxes to the Australian government until 1950. The introduction of income tax in 1950 led to the subdivision of large stations, making land more accessible to stockmen who could muster unbranded cattle on their own property.
Territory Natural Resource Management (TNRM) is an organisation that has been working to ensure the sustainable management of water, land, soils, and biodiversity in the Northern Territory since 2003. They collaborate with various stakeholders, including landholders, community groups, industries, and the government, to identify and address NRM issues and opportunities.
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South Australia: Anna Creek Station
Australia is a country with a large cattle population, and Queensland is the country's beef powerhouse, accounting for more than twice as many cattle as New South Wales. However, the largest cattle station in the world is Anna Creek Station, located in South Australia.
Anna Creek Station is a large farm, equivalent to an American ranch, and its main activity is the rearing of cattle. It is located in a secluded outback area of South Australia, 160 km east of Coober Pedy and 16 km west of William Creek. The property was originally established in 1863 by Julius Jeffreys, John Warren, and William Bakewell, who mainly ran sheep. However, due to constant attacks by dingoes, the station shifted its focus to cattle in 1866. In 1872, the station was relocated to its current location.
Anna Creek Station covers an area of 23,677 square kilometres (9,142 square miles or 5,851,000 acres), making it the world's largest working cattle station. It is over seven times the size of the United States' biggest ranch, King Ranch in Texas. The station is arid pastoral land, characterised by sandy hill country, swamps, and extensive gibber tablelands, with vital waterholes that sustain the region's wildlife. The area experiences an annual rainfall of just 140 mm.
The station has a main homestead where the property owner or manager lives, and nearby cottages provide housing for employees. In addition to the necessary storage sheds and cattle yards, the station also has a mechanic's workshop, a schoolroom, and a small general store. The homestead is very isolated but has satellite telecommunications, including television and internet access.
Anna Creek Station has changed hands several times over the years. In 2016, it was sold to the Williams Cattle Company, a South Australian family business, for an estimated $16 million. The Williams family planned to invest in new water facilities and trucking yards to increase the number of cattle the station could support.
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Western Australia: Merinos and wool
Queensland is Australia's beef powerhouse, with more than twice as many cattle as New South Wales, the next largest state for cattle. However, Western Australia is a top region for sheep and wool production, with a particular focus on Merinos.
Western Australia is home to the apparel brand Swoolly by Scanlan, which uses Merino wool grown by clients of the family-owned Scanlan Wools, based in Fremantle. The brand is creating retail demand for the state's wool, exporting its products to India and seeking brand partners in Australia.
Scanlan Wool partners with farmers who share its values and respect for local ecosystems. The company's Merino wool is celebrated for its softness, breathability, insulation and versatility, and is used to create clothing such as sweaters, scarves, thermals and cardigans.
Western Australia's Rangelands NRM region occupies about 80% of the state and accounted for 1.11 million head of cattle in 2015-16. The state is also home to the world's largest cattle station, Anna Creek Station, which covers an area of 23,677 square kilometres.
Merino Country Australia also sources its Merino wool from a family sheep station in Outback Australia, adding value to the raw wool produced by its sheep.
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Victoria: Glenelg/Hopkins
Queensland is Australia's beef powerhouse, with more than twice as many cattle as New South Wales, the next largest state for cattle. However, Victoria is also a significant cattle region, with 3.5 million head of cattle, accounting for three of the top 20 NRM regions. One of these regions is Glenelg/Hopkins, which is ranked 9th in Australia and is home to 800,000 cattle.
Victoria's cattle industry has a long history, with the state being known for its traditional "British" breeds that thrive in its temperate areas. However, over time, Victoria, like the rest of Australia, has seen the introduction and diversification of cattle breeds to adapt to different environments. This includes the introduction of tropical breeds like Bos Indicus, which can withstand the heat and ticks that British breeds struggle with.
The Glenelg/Hopkins region is a significant contributor to Victoria's cattle industry. It spans across the state, covering a large area of land. The region is known for its lush pastures and grazing lands, providing ample feeding grounds for the cattle. The region's climate and geography also play a vital role in the health and well-being of the cattle, influencing the style and quality of the beef produced.
Cattle farming in Glenelg/Hopkins is primarily pasture-based, with the cattle spending their entire lives grazing on the rich grasslands. This results in the production of highly sought-after grass-fed beef, renowned for its natural health benefits, including lower fat and cholesterol content and higher levels of Omega 3 fatty acids. The region's grass-fed beef is thus increasingly sought after in the global market.
The cattle industry in Glenelg/Hopkins is well-established and plays a crucial role in Victoria's economy. The region's farmers and graziers are dedicated to rearing healthy, high-quality cattle, contributing to the state's reputation for premium beef production. The area's natural resources and environmental conditions make it ideal for cattle farming, and the industry is expected to continue thriving in the region.
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Frequently asked questions
Queensland is Australia's beef powerhouse, with more than twice as many cattle as the next largest state, New South Wales.
The top 10 cattle-producing shires in Australia are all in Queensland or the Northern Territory.
In Australia and New Zealand, a cattle station is a large farm where cattle are reared. The owner of a cattle station is called a grazier.
The North Australian Pastoral Company Pty Limited (NAPCO) has 14 cattle stations in Queensland and the Northern Territory. Heytesbury Beef Pty Ltd owns eight stations in the East Kimberley, Victoria River and Barkly Tablelands regions in Northern Australia. The largest cattle station in the world is Anna Creek Station in South Australia.
