Meat capability overview

Australia’s huge land mass, combined with sophisticated herd management practices and stringent quality control standards make it perfectly equipped to produce and export safe, top quality meat products.

In 2005-06, the meat industry generated revenue of $12.2 billion and Australia proudly maintained its position as one of the world’s biggest exporters of top quality beef, mutton and lamb.

There is also growing international demand for other quality Australian meat products such as pork, deer, goat and buffalo.

Australia’s expansive grazing lands also nurture the production of quality delicacies such as venison, kangaroo, ostrich, emu and crocodile.

The poultry industry, while not a large exporter, is meeting increasing demand from the domestic market and includes products such as chicken, turkey, pheasant, quail and duck.

Further opportunities for exporting should emerge as trade liberalisation continues to open more markets to Australian meat processors.

Export markets
In 2005-06, Australian meat exports (excluding poultry) were worth $7.6 billion (Source: IbisWorld). Japan continues to be the dominant market, absorbing 47 per cent of Australian meat exports in 2005-06. The US follows, accounting for 28 per cent.

Major export markets:

• Beef – USA, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Taiwan, South East Asia, Europe
• Lamb – USA, North Asia, Pacific, European Union, Mexico, Middle East
• Mutton – Middle East, North Asia, USA, South East Asia, Mexico, South Africa
• Pork – Singapore, Japan, South East Asia
• Poultry – South Africa, Hong Kong, Pacific region, China, Sri Lanka, Cameroon, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore
• Goat – USA, Canada, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Korea

Beef and veal
Just over three quarters of meat produced in the industry is beef and veal. Australia is the second largest beef exporter in the world and, despite the drought of 2006-07, the market remains strong.

The Australian beef industry also continues to benefit from Japan and South Korea’s ban on beef exports from the US and Canada, following a BSE outbreak in those countries.

The value of beef and veal exports was $4.3 billion in 2005-06 (Source: ABARE) and that figure is forecast to rise to $4.33 billion in 2006-07. Most processed beef and veal is exported to the US and Japan, but other major beef markets include South Korea, Canada and Taiwan.

In 2005-06, the industry exported 388,000 tonnes of beef and veal to Japan and approximately 295,000 tonnes to the US.

Lamb
Australian mutton and lamb is sold to more than 70 nations and in 2005-06, the industry exported around 294,000 tonnes of lamb and mutton meat products. 

The US is the most important market for lamb exports, but other significant markets include the Middle East, the UK, and South Africa.

Pork
Pig meat represents the smallest meat export sector, with just 43.3kg tonnes being exported in 2005-06, mainly to Asia.

Poultry
Poultry products generated revenue worth $3.9 billion (with chicken meat accounting for 78 per cent of that revenue), while poultry exports were worth $27 million.

The biggest market for Australian poultry exports is South Africa (which represented 39 per cent of poultry exports in 2005-06), but other significant markets include Hong Kong, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Quality assurance
Australia’s commitment to quality assurance is supported with national programs such as CATTLECARE and FLOCKCARE. Both programs address issues such as reducing the risk of contamination, animal welfare, cattle movement and transaction records, feeds and staff training.

Furthermore, Australian meat producers are monitored by organisations including:

• Ausmeat – a national accreditation authority responsible for quality and safety standards.
• Meat Standards Australia (MSA) – a beef and sheep products eating quality program that labels meat with a guaranteed grade.

Examples of technological innovation include:

• National Livestock Identification Scheme (NLIS) – an identification system to trace the origin of livestock using electronic microchips.
• VIAscan – computerised equipment to measure meat quality.
• Flavaloc retail ready packaging – extends shelf life by packing meat in either carbon dioxide or a mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
• Periscoping technology – efficient packing of processed products increases shelf life by more than 35 per cent and reduces air freight costs.

And, thanks to research and development by Meat & Livestock Australia, new technologies have helped improve product development; processing engineering; food safety; occupational health & safety; environmental issues; waste management and staff training and education.

For more information please visit:
www.daff.gov.au – Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
www.ausmeat.com.au – Ausmeat
www.halalaustralia.com – Australian Halal Food Directory
www.mla.com.au – Meat & Livestock Australia
www.msa.com – Meat Standards Australia