How black cattle bypassed Herefords in Australia

Once upon a time, Herefords were the most popular beef cattle breed in Australia, but over time they lost their primacy to black cattle. According to a survey by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), between 2023 and 2025 it was the Angus that provided the largest increase in the national herd, growing by 1.76 million head.

According to market analyst Charles Boag, precise tracking of breed preferences is difficult due to the lack of mandatory livestock registration at auctions. Nevertheless, data from the trade publication Beef Central for 2025 show high demand: 11,328 Angus bulls were sold at auctions against 1,780 Herefords.

Expert Brad Hines from the organization Angus Australia attributes the success of Angus to skillful promotion. In 1995, the association introduced standards for verified labeling, and the growth of beef exports to Japan in the 1990s created a premium market for black cattle. McDonald's premium Angus-branded products, sold worldwide from 2009 until June of the current year, brought additional fame to the breed. AuctionsPlus data also indicate that farmers fetch more money per head of Angus livestock.

At the same time, Herefords Australia CEO Hamish Chandler noted that over the past five years, the number of association members has stabilized, and over the past two to three years, the population of Hereford cows in the national breeding herd has increased by approximately 26 percent. He expressed confidence in the future significance of the breed thanks to the development of genetic research.

According to agricultural consultant Alastair Rayner, in the future the herd structure in the country will stabilize, and there will no longer be the dominance of any single breed, since different conditions require the selection of specific livestock animals. MLA data also record growth in other areas: the Santa Gertrudis and Droughtmaster breeds took second and third places in herd growth rates, respectively.