cattle

CATTLE

Cattle are the most important domesticated animals used by man but they are not very efficient converters of food. For example, a pig may turn about one third of it's food into meat compared with a rate for beef cattle of only about one twentieth. However, cattle have the ability to make use of foods otherwise useless to man and can be grazed on poor pastures in the world's arid regions.

LIVESTOCK

The numbers of each of the principal categories of livestock in Australia are shown in TABLE 1 at 10-yearly intervals from 1861 to 2000, and then yearly.

LIVESTOCK NUMBERS 1861 TO 2000
TABLE 1 LIVESTOCK NUMBERS(a)

	CATTLE ‘000	SHEEP AND LAMBS ‘000	PIGS '000
1861	3,958	20,135	351
1871	4,276	41,594	543
1881	7,527	62,184	816
1891	10,300	97,881	891
1901	8,640	70,603	950
1911	11,745	98,066	1,026
1921	13,500	81,796	674
1931	11,721	110,568	1,072
1941	13,256	122,694	1,797
1951	15,229	115,596	1,134
1961	17,332	152,579	1,615
1971	24,373	177,792	2,590
1981	25,168	134,407	2,430
1991	(b)23,662	163,238	2,531
1992	(b)23,880	148,203	2,570
1993	(b)24,062	138,099	2,646
1994	(b)25,758 1	32,569	2,775
1995	(b)25,731	120,862	2,653
1996	(b)26,377	121,116	2,526
1997	(b)26,695	120,228	2,555
1998	(b)26,851	117,491	2,768
1999	(b)26,578	115,456	2,626
2000	(b)27,588	118,552	2,511

(a) Prior to 1943, livestock numbers were recorded at different times of the year in different States. In 2000, the collection period was changed from 31 March to 30 June to better align with other ABS surveys. (b) Excludes house cows.
Source: Agricultural Commodities, Australia (7121.0).

Cattle farming is carried out in all States and Territories. While dairy cattle are restricted mainly to southern and coastal districts, beef cattle are concentrated in Queensland and New South Wales.

TABLE 2 shows the number of cattle by age, sex and purpose.

Cattle numbers in Australia increased slowly during the 1960s and 1970s, despite seasonal changes and heavy slaughtering, to a peak of 33.4 million in 1976. Beef cattle production is often combined with cropping, dairying and sheep. In the northern half of Australia, cattle properties and herd sizes are very large, pastures are generally unimproved, fodder crops are rare and beef is usually the only product. The industry is more intensive in the south because of the more favourable environment, including improved pasture (see DIAGRAM 1).

Drought conditions in the early 1980s led to a decline in the beef herd until 1984. For the next five years the size of the herd remained relatively stable. Between 1989 and 1998, cattle numbers gradually increased despite unfavourable weather conditions continuing in many parts of Australia. After a slight decline in 1999, cattle numbers again increased in 2000 to 27.6 million.

TABLE 2 CATTLE (a) BY AGE SEX AND PURPOSE.

	*1995* ‘000	*1996* ‘000	*1997* ‘000	*1998* ‘000	*1999* ‘000	*2000* ‘000
MILK CATTLE
- Cows (in milk and dry)	1,821	1,884	1,977	2,060	2,155	2,171
- Other milk cattle	919	923	982	1,015	1,065	969
Total	2,740	2,808	2,958	3,076	3,220	3,140
MEAT CATTLE
Bulls used or intended for service	555	553	551	547	528	5
Cows and heifers (1 year and over)	11,213	11,667	11,879	11,783	11,621	12,282
Calves under 1 year	5,806	5,768	6,029	6,026	5,740	5,872
Other cattle (1 year and over)	5,418	5,581	5,278	5,420	5,469	5,774
TOTAL	22,991	23,569	23,736	23,776	23,358	24,448
TOTAL ALL CATTLE	25,731	26,377	26,695	26,851	26,578	27,588

(a) Excludes house cows.

Source: Agricultural Commodities, Australia (7121.0).

TABLE 3 CATTLE (A) BY STATE/TERRITORY

	*NSW*	*VIC*	*QLD*	SA	WA	*TAS*	NT	*AUST (b)*
1995	6,236	4,280	9,974	1,216	1,899	693	1,421	25,731
1996	6,390	4,396	10,214	1,219	1,924	718	1,503	26,377
1997	6,511	4,411	10,415	1,181	1,909	725	1,530	26,695
1998	6,351	4,142	10,867	1,214	1,973	728	1,567	26,851
1999	6,291	4,125	10,748	1,183	1,931	724	1,567	26,578
2000	5,970	4,264	11,808	1,184	2,165	617	1,571	2

(a) Excludes house cows.

(b) Includes the Australian Capital Territory.

Source: Agricultural Commodities, Australia (7121.0).

CATTLE FOR ALL PURPOSES Excluding House Cows - 31 March 1997

(a) This map has been generated using small area data from the 1996-97 Agricultural Census. Source: AgStats (7117.0).

See BEEF HERD

REGIONAL VARIATIONS

Cattle production is carried out in all parts of Australia under many different climatic and farm systems. Australia's cattle herd was estimated to be about 27.5 m in 2000. The majority of cattle are run on extensive grazing properties while intensive production occurs mainly, on dairies and feedlots.

THE NORTH

The northern region of Australia specialize in beef production. The average bullock is slaughtered at about 5 years of age, is slab sided and a carcase of low quality. Not much can be done to improve beef production in the northern region except better management by culling one of twin calves, utilizing the best feed for pregnant cows and the culling of old calves. However, such management practices are difficult because:

Of the large size of the properties
There is a lack of subdivisional fences because the high expense
Fencing is subject to high wear and tear from feral animals. For example, buffalos and camels.
A lack of cattle yards.

During the short lush times the stock cannot eat all the available grass and therefore, the surplus should be converted into hay.

The monsoon climate (a summer "wet season") means that it is not uncommon for stations to be "cattle only". For example, a stations of 4 000 square miles running up to 50 000 head of cattle. These stations have minimal fencing (if any) and the bulls run with the cows all year round. Generally, there are 2 musters per year which combine branding and calf markings with dipping for cattle ticks.

Herd management has been improved by the use of light aircraft and helicopters to assist mustering and by the introduction of "trapping" systems. The traps are usually located around the watering points and when the cattle pass through the traps to water throughout the year. At mustering time they are closed off to trap the cattle as they come to water. These techniques have enabled graziers with larger herds ranging in vast and almost inaccessible areas to introduce more effective cross breeding and herd improvement programs. Through the better management of bulls and more successful mustering of "mickey" or uncut bull calves.

EAST AND SOUTH

Some high quality beef is produced in the more favoured parts of eastern and southern Australia. About one quarter of the beef produced in Australia is culled dairy stock in the southern states. Dairy cattle generally, produce high quality beef. the average property size is about 1 000 - 1 500 ha, often with improved pasture.

In the temperate zone, the more effective pattern of rainfall, cattle are often run in conjunction with other forms of agriculture. Bulls are normally joined for a restricted period (normally 12 weeks) and calves are weaned off at the appropriate time. In this area, costs of production are substantial such that they often preclude the prudent storage of fodder against reasonably regular drought periods (underground silage is most suitable for this purpose).

THE OUTBACK

The comments above for the north apply nearly as well to the outback. Beef properties in the Outback are very large. Since there is little surface water cattle have to walk a long distance to watering troughs filled from artesian bores. Feed is poor because the low and uncertain rainfall causes great variations in vegetation density. Typical carrying capacity is about 50 hectares/beast or even less. The typical size of an outback beef property is 80 000 100 000 hectares.

European cattle grow thick coats in the winter and in the spring, the winter coats are shed. In the hot north most Bos Taurus cannot shed their long winter coats and therefore, suffer from the summer heat. Further, Whitefaces such as Herefords suffer badly from eye cancer.

Better herd management has enabled the better management of available pasture and by taking weaners away from the main herd and placing them on better feed, some stations are now turning off more 2 year old steers instead of having to wait a further 2 years or more for the right seasonal conditions for fattening.

In response to a chemical residue problem in 1987, Australian agricultural authorities and cattle producers acted quickly to mitigate the problem. An extensive education and awareness campaign has resulted in greater understanding in the use of chemicals particularly, only at the recommended dose rates. In addition, Australia now has in place stringent ongoing sampling procedures at all meat works where random samples are taken and tested for chemical residue levels.

See BEEF PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

See CATTLE SPECIES

See BEEF FARM MANAGEMENT

See CATTLE DISEASES

See SELLING SYSTEMS

See DAIRY CATTLE

A TYPICAL FARM CALENDAR FOR A CATTLE BREEDING PROPERTY

MONTH	BREEDING	MARKETING	SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING & DISEASE CONTROL	GENERAL MANAGEMENT
JANUARY	Joining Marking and vaccination.			Poison treatment of timber.
FEBRUARY				Poison treatment of timber.
MARCH	Pregnancy testing of breeding stock	Sell steers live weight 450kg. Vealers; 280kg.	Drench all stock for fluke and round worm.	Poison treatment of timber.
APRIL	Move bulls to new pasture.			Repair boundary fence.
MAY	Wean early calves. Move to new pasture.	Sell cows culled for age.	Worm before turning out.	Repair internal fencing.
JUNE	Wean late calves. Move to new pasture.	Commencefeeding: 1 bale/4 cows per week. Put out molasses/urea blocks. Graze oats.		Repair fencing.
JULY	Turn cows out for winter. Keep maidenheifers in.	Feed and check stock.		Repair subdivision fencing.
AUGUST	Feed and check stock.			Repair yards.
SEPTEMBER	Manage heifers calving. All breeding stock to calving paddocks	Feed and check stock.	Worm and drench.
OCTOBER	Flush bulls on oats or grain. Cows calving. Cull old cows.	Move bulls to new pasture.	Treatment ofweeds.
NOVEMBER	Joining 1 bull/30 cows. Separate paddocks.			Treatment of blackberries.
DECEMBER	Joining.	600 bails of hay. Buy now if required.		Repair sheds.