Government and industry priorities for research and advisory activities are typically based on analysis of a system to identify opportunities and problems. It is recommended that surveys be used to derive relative values to use in combination with absolute statistical data to derive accurate herd measures. Implications: This research may have large impact on priorities for Australian beef business and associated environmental management. Also, there is an on-going opportunity to derive benefit from improving cattle survival, reproduction and growth and from improving the feed base. 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.Ĭonclusions: The main conclusion is the size, performance, production and productivity of the Australian cattle herd are quite different from that determined from surveys. Approximately a quarter each of the change was due to increased reproductive output and to steer growth. 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. Despite consistent herd size, productivity of the cattle herd increased from ~2.5 to 4.5 Mt of liveweight annually over 35 years. The dairy herd remained at ~10% of the beef herd. 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%. A principle applied was that model performance should dictate input variables, moderating information derived from publications and professional opinion. 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. 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.Īims: 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. Context: Businesses within the Australian cattle industries and associated research and advisory agencies require accurate data on production and performance of the national herd.
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