Aberdeen-Angus Society members from down under have gained an interesting insight into the demand of the breed in Australia.
Aberdeen-Angus is the most widespread and keenly sought after temperate beef breed in the world.
Breed societies are present across the globe in order to represent and protect the much-loved breed,
whilst promoting and enhancing the value of the Aberdeen-Angus to society members and non-members.
Angus Australia is one of fourteen overseas breed societies, currently boasting a total of 3,756 members. The growth of the Aberdeen-Angus within Australia continues to be unabated.
In the seedstock realm, Aberdeen-Angus topped the list of breeds once again and has experienced a growth in registrations of 40% over the last decade.
In 2016, a record number of bulls, amounting to 8,405, were sold at auction, a 128% increase from 1998.
A total of 105,233 females were retained on the female inventory in 2016 and a total of 75,784 calves were registered.
'Profitability'
The popularity of the breed within Australia is due to the greater profitability achieved from using Aberdeen-Angus compared to that of others, resulting in a price premium.
Diana Wood, marketing manager of Angus Australia discusses some of the reasons why beef producers are choosing Angus in Australia: "There are various reasons including superior fertility, maternal ability and their ability to consistently produce the finest high-quality beef.
"However, the breeds hardiness and efficiency, all-round balance and large documented gene pool also heavily shapes the reasons why Australians love the Aberdeen-Angus breed."
In Australia, the market demand for Aberdeen-Angus is high and the cattle are well known for their
market versatility and consistent performance across a range of Australian markets.
The beef is widely used for domestic retail and quality food service markets, and is the preferred choice by many exporters.
The first black cattle in Australia
Aberdeen-Angus cattle were first imported to Australia on the 20th of January 1824.
Records state that eight black cattle were unloaded at the Hobart Town docks before being taken to Dennistoun, the property of Captain Patrick Wood, near Bothwell.
These cattle were regarded as the first cattle to come to Australia similar to those that formed the Aberdeen-Angus breed in the following 60 years.
The genes of these cattle remain in the existing Edgell family’s Dennistoun herd, which to this day is the oldest property to continuously run Aberdeen-Angus cattle in Australia.
Development of the Aberdeen-Angus in Australia has predominantly been catalysed by the formation of the society in 1919. When the first herd book was published in 1922, it listed 14 members from every state except South Australia, only 65 bulls, 313 cows, and several cattle in the appendices.
Future is bright
The future looks bright for the Australian breed and society. Dr Peter Parnell, Chief Executive Officer of Angus Australia highlights that confidence in the beef industry is an at all time all high: "In the Angus breed we have consistently seen record sale clearances and average prices achieved for breeders of well recorded, registered bulls.
"This is a positive reward for those breeders who have invested in the long-term genetic improvement of their seedstock for performance traits valued in the beef value chain – such as growth, marbling and yield."
Market demand for Aberdeen-Angus genetics is strong, with current trends indicating that the demand is increasing each year. As the breed continues to make outstanding genetic improvements, the cattle will continue to be sought after.
