How Much Does A Cow Cost In Australia

Australian cattle prices have only rarely topped equivalent prices in the US in A$ terms in the past ten years, last occurring briefly during 2016, when Australian producers were intent on rebuilding cattle herds, at a time when international beef demand was on the rise. At the same time, US cattle prices were being pushed lower by drought turnoff.

The gross value of production for the livestock sector is forecast to increase by 8% to $33.4 billion in 2021–22 due to an increase in prices of most meat and livestock products. Global demand for livestock products is forecast to increase as countries continue to reopen. This reopening has prompted a return to positive global economic growth – increasing disposable income, boosting consumer confidence, and giving consumers more opportunities to spend savings accumulated during lockdown.

Australia is now home to some of the world’s most expensive cattle. Pregnant cows, worth $1,200 a head in northern New South Wales three years ago now have a $2,000 price tag, while heifers have gone from $350 a head to $800 in three years.

How High Can Prices Go?

A growing number of analysts believe the market is way too hot and there is a price correction on its way.

Independent analyst Simon Quilty felt the market had potentially reached its peak.

“If you look at the meat processors, they continue to lose significant amounts of money, their losses are around $300 to $350 a head on cows and [they are] losing $250 to $300 a head on heavy steers — that’s unsustainable,” he told ABC Rural.

Registered Bull Record Prices At Auction:

Brahman:

$325,000 for NCC Justified sold by NCC Brahmans, Inverrio, Duaringa, Qld, to Rodger and Lorena Jefferis’ Elrose Brahman Stud, Cloncurry, Qld, at NCC Brahmans on-property sale, October 31, 2017. The previous all-breeds record was $300,000 for Lancefield Burton Manso sold by Lancefield Brahmans, Dululu QLD to Happy Valley Brahman Stud, Mackay QLD – Tartrus Lancefield Sale 2006, Gracemere QLD.

While this list is restricted to registered bulls, it’s worth noting that $96,000 was paid at the 2016 Big Country Brahman sale in Charters Towers for a Grey Brahman unregistered herd bull,  Kenilworth 4899, bred by Kelvin Maloney, Kenilworth, Mt Coolon, and bought by Brian and Cindy Hughes, Lanes Creek, Georgetown. The price was an all-breeds Australian record, and most likely a world record for a herd bull.

Angus:

$280,000 for Millah Murrah Paratrooper R38, sold by Ross Thompson’s Millah Murrah Angus Stud, NSW to Rodger Pryce, Brooklana Angus Stud, Dorrigo, NSW, at the 2021 Millah Murrah Sale, September 2021. The sale also set a new all-breeds Australian record for sale average price, at $34,220. Theresult easily broke the previous Angus bull record of $225,000 set in July 2021 by Texas Iceman R725, sold by the Mayne family, Texas Angus, Warialda NSW.

Droughtmaster:

$180,000 for Glenlands Prince sold by B & V Childs, Glenlands Stud, Bouldercombe QLD to Fortus Stud, Ballogie QLD – 2012 Inaugural Glenlands on-property sale, Rockhampton QLD

Hereford/Poll Hereford:

$160,000 for Injemira Redford J006 Q287 sold by Injemira Herefords, Book Book, NSW to ABS Global – Australia Beef, Ardno Herefords & Vielum Pastoral Co, Mudgee at the 2021 Injemira autumn bull sale, February 2021. Previous record was $121,000 for Inverary Dominator D56, sold by Don Anderson and family at the Inverary Collection Sale on-property in 1986.

Santa Gertrudis:

$150,000 for Yarrawonga Katmandu R236 sold by Bassingthwaighte family, Yarrawonga Cattle Co, Wallumbilla QLD to Glen Oaks Santa Gertrudis QLD at the annual Yarrawonga and Waco studs’ sale held at Wallumbilla, QLD, September  2021.

Brangus:

$110,000 for Telpara Hills Van Damme sold by the Pearce family, Telpara Hills Stud, Atherton QLD to Mal & Sue Burston, Broadlea Station, Moranbah QLD – Rockhampton Brangus Sale 2014.

Charolais:

$83,000 for Moongool Lunar Rise (P) sold by Price family, Moongool, Yuleba Qld to David and Lynette Whitechurch, Fourway Stud, Inverell NSW, at Moongool’s annual bull sale, September 2017. A second entry in the same catalogue, Moongool L67E, also eclipsed the previous $61,000 Charolais breed record held by a Palgrove bull, when he sold for $64,000. While this list is limited to bulls sold at auction, special mention should be made to Rick Pisaturo’s Mandalong Chock, sold privately in 1986 for a reported $165,000 to Scott Cluning.

Black Simmental:

$52,500 paid for Woonallee Messiah M170  sold by Baker Group, Woonallee, Millicent, SA to Lewis Farms, Alberta, Canada at Woonallee’s annual sale February 2018.

Blonde d’Aquitaine

$50,000 for Rupari Joiner d’Poll, bred by Greg and Linden Roberts Rupari Polled Blondes, Yarrawonga, Vic, and bought by Bob Andrews, Wangaratta and genetics dealer Agri-Gene, via a silent Helmsman auction on Facebook in March 2015. The price is believed to be a world record for a Blonde d’Aquitaine bull.

Braford:

$50,000, set twice at the same sale for Carinya Yenda, sold by John & Jacquie Amor, Carinya Stud, Dulacca QLD to Russell and Donna Kenny, Harriett Valley, Gayndah; and Double C P124 Playboy  sold by the a Chad families, Donrinda and Double C Studs, Dubbo, NSW to Daniel and Arlie Treloar, Rockhampton – both sold at the National Braford Sale, Gracemere QLD in September 2021.

Senepol:

$40,000 for Five Star 190609, sold by Geoff Maynard, Maynard Cattle Co, Jambin QLD at the Five Star Senepol Sale September 2021, Gracemere QLD.

Charbray:

$40,000 for Rosewood Napoleon sold by Rosewood Stud to EJ & D Euston, Glastonbury QLD at the Charbray National Sale, Gracemere QLD September 2020.

Ultrablack:

$35,000 for Palgrove Quantum, sold by Palgrove Stud, Dalveen QLD to Robert and Anna Hick, Julia Creek QLD, at Palgrove’s annual bull sale September 2021.

Registered Female Record Prices At Auction:

Wagyu:

$280,000 for registered Fullblood Wagyu heifer Mayura N1229 (AI) offered by Scott de Bruin, Mayura Wagyu, Millicent SA, and bought by Brian Stamps, Oklahoma USA, bidding via AuctionsPlus at the 2019 Elite Wagyu National Sale, Adelaide South Australia, May 2019. Also eclipsing the previous all-breeds female record was Trent Bridge K0034, a September 2014-born cow, sold in calf, offered by Wal and Jenny Perry’s Trent Bridge Wagyu Stud, Armidale, NSW and bought for $200,000 by GeneFlow, a recently-launched IVF company based out of Tocumwal in southern NSW.

Angus:

$190,000 for Millah Murrah Prue M4 (ET) sold by Ross Thompson, Millah Murrah Angus, Bathurst, NSW to Brooklana Angus stud, Brooklana, NSW, at the Millah Murrah female sale, October 2017. A second heifer in the same sale, MM Prue H112, also eclipsed the previous $45,000 Angus female record set at the Vermont Angus dispersal in 2010, selling for $54,000. The same sale may have set an all-breeds record for registered females, when 250 cows and heifers sold in a complete clearance averaging $13,790.

Poll Hereford:

$160,000 for Baldrudgery Lisa sold by Bruce, Beth and Vera Hodges, Baldrudgery, Baldry, NSW to Denis, Lois and Julie Brancourt, at the Sydney Royal Easter Show sale in 1990. The result was claimed to be a world record for a registered female at the time. A second Baldrudgery heifer by the same sire (Beartooth Quester), sold at the sale made $140,000 when sold to Bob, Brenda, Trudy and Tony Newham. There was a frenzy of interest among Australian Poll Hereford breeders in new US genetics at the time, following the historic first importation of live cattle from the US the previous year, after a 30-year Australian market closure. That first consignment of new genetics, imported via the new Cocos Island quarantine station, included bulls and heifers from the Hereford, Poll Hereford, Brahman and Santa Gertrudis breeds, plus others. Note reader comments below.

Speckle Park:

$75,000 (Australian and world record for the breed) for Wattle Grove P503 Cara S101, 9mths, sold by Wattle Grove Stud, Oberon NSW to Ivery Downs Cattle Co, at the Wattle Grove annual sale October 2021. The new record eclipsed the previous high of $57,000 set in May the same year.

Charolais:

$70,000 for Palgrove Maxine, 43(P), sold by Prue & David Bondfield’s  Palgrove Stud, Dalveen QLD to Greg Clyde-Smith, Atherton QLD – Palgrove Female Sale 2008.

Brahman:

$63,000 for Cambil Dienka 5826 (IVF) (H) sold by Lawson Camm, Cambil Brahmans, Proserpine to the Brownson family, Brownson Brahmans, Charters Towers at the inaugural Great Northern Brahman Sale at Proserpine, North QLD in October 2020. The previous record of $61,000 was set in 2005.

Brangus:

$60,000 for Telpara Hills Miss Van Damme 15M3 (P) (ET) sold by the Pearce family from Telpara Hills Stud, Atherton QLD to Troy Mitchell, Coffs Harbour, NSW (telephone bidding from Chile) – Rockhampton Brangus Sale October 2017.

Simmental:

$48,000 for Tusmore Nicole, sold by Jim Mahoney, Tusmore, SA to John McQuay – Tusmore herd dispersal 1990, SA. Although it does not qualify based on this list’s ‘at auction’ proviso, a record for Black Simmental females at $22,000 was set by WA breeder Mike Introvigne for the paddock sale of  Bonnydale Glendive K199 with calf at foot, bought by Valley Creek Simmentals, Bowral, NSW. Top priced registed female among Fleckvieh cattle was $10,600 paid for Tennysonvale Kellie (P) bred by Tennysonvale Simmentals & Fleckvieh’s, and bought by Nobbs Cattle Co at Tennyson’s sale in 2016.

Santa Gertrudis:

$34,000 for King Ranch Jewell, sold by King Ranch, Macquarie Downs Leyburn QLD to John Bolster, The Lakes Stud, Woodenberg NSW – King Ranch Dispersal Sale 1990, Macquarie Downs QLD.

Senepol:

$16,000 for AACo SE2M13, sold by Australian Agricultural Co, QLD to Ian Manly, Antigua Stud, Lower Wonga QLD – AA Co Senepol herd dispersal 2006

Belmont Red:

$10,250 for a 30-month-old PTIC heifer offered by Seifert Belmont Reds, Jandowae QLD, in calf to the Australian record-priced Belmont bull, Seifert Princeton, bought at the 2019 Seifert Belmont Red Sale.

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