Official figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show that farmers across the country produced more than 730,000 tonnes of beef in the opening quarter of 2026.

Industry body Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) has said this represents an increase of 2% on the last quarter of 2025 and growth of 8% compared to the first quarter of last year.

MLA said the figures mean Australia’s beef industry has begun 2026 with its strongest start on record. Cattle slaughter reached 2.30 million head over the three-month period, up by 3% on the same quarter last year.

It added that carcase weights also continue to trend upward, reaching an average of 317 kilos in the March quarter. 

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