The Monbeef slaughterhouse, owned by Bindaree Food Group and situated roughly 100 kilometers south of Canberra, now processes around 200 cattle daily—an increase from the 30-40 head handled two years ago. The plant may further boost capacity to 220 cattle per day in the coming months.
The plant is one of several beef processing expansions across Southern Australia. It is not a coincidence that these projects are happening simultaneously as the Australian cattle herd is experiencing a significant surge. The June quarter was a record one for beef production, with the industry reporting 648,763 tonnes produced—14% higher than Q1 2024 and 19% more than last year.
Strong export demand and higher domestic prices are driving the increase in cattle production. According to Meat & Livestock Australia, exports measured by shipped weight were up 51% this year compared to last year.
High red meat export volumes show that overseas demand is growing as the world’s herds shrink. In addition to the United States, demand is increasing in Japan and South Korea, where Australia has grown its market share as U.S. shipments decline, customs data shows.
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While global demand is undoubtedly growing, there’s also a sense that Australia is strategically positioned to capitalize on its own backyard opportunity. The country is flush with cattle after four wet years and enjoys trouble-free access to the biggest importers of beef, the United States, Japan, and South Korea. Unlike South American producers, who face tariffs in the United States and are barred from exporting to Japan and South Korea because of foot-and-mouth restrictions, Australian farmers can sell directly into these markets without a middleman.
A record-high female turnoff in 2018 combined with four years of rebuilding and maintenance has created a large herd. The latest ABS data show the first lift to the ‘females per head of adult bulls’ ratio (FSR) since 2019. This ratio is a key indicator of the industry’s growth, suggesting that the industry is moving into a destocking phase.
Northern NSW processor Bindaree Food Group last year bought the mothballed Monbeef processing plant near Cooma in the state’s south. The plant, previously closed or ‘mothballed’ due to economic reasons, is now being revived to contribute to the current expansion. The small-scale hot-boning export plant typically kills around 150 to 180 cows and bulls a day, primarily producing beef manufacturing. Bindaree plans to upgrade the plant to total single-shift capacity, initially processing about 1100 heads a week. E.C. Throsby, the company that operates the former Hilltop Meats plant at Young in the NSW southwestern slopes region, is also expanding its killing capacity.