MLA survey calls for responses following changes to Australian cattle data collection

• MLA is calling grassfed cattle producers for responses over the next month.  

• The survey will continue to provide visibility and transparency of industry.  

• Growing the coverage of the survey of larger producers to gain a better insight into the herd. 

Conducted three times a year, Meat & Livestock Australia’s (MLA) Beef Producers Intentions Survey is calling for responses throughout this November in light of recent changes impacting how Australian cattle statistics will be presented.  

Recently, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released the topline national figures for the 2024 financial year. 

The figures have traditionally included data on meat and dairy cattle herd population.  

However, as the ABS has decided that they will be modernising of agricultural statistics to reduce the burden on producers, statistics on the sex and age breakdown of Australian cattle herds will no longer be included.  

Following these changes to the data collected by the ABS on cattle, as well as an additional announcement that the Rural Environmental & Agricultural Commodities Survey (REACS) will be discontinued, MLA has made the decision to utilise the Beef Producers Intentions Survey (BPIS) to replace the ABS in providing valuable data to Australian beef industry.   

Survey breakdown 

The BPIS has been considered an essential tool for industry, highlighting current domestic and international market opportunities and changes, as well as providing updates on industry wide changes in the herd.  

The November wave of the survey aims to provides an overview on the herd profile, producer sentiment, breed demographics, producer intentions, and sales to date.  

Previously, this wave of the survey has covered approximately 10% of producers across the country.  

However, as more producers participate in the survey, the more benefits the survey results can provide to industry.  

The April wave, which will be the first to take place in 2025, aims to gain visibility on producer decisions regarding spring and autumn calving periods.  

As part of the April survey, MLA aims to cover factors that impact producer decision making, including branding percentage, age of spring calving, turn-off weight and actual vs expected sales.  

In July, MLA follows up with respondents for the PULSE survey. The data collected ranges from the following topics:  

• producer intentions over the last 12 months  

• planned autumn calf drop  

• forecasted sales over the first half of the year (January to June). 

Since the survey’s initial launch, it has steadily increased in value thanks to the growing coverage and participation from grassfed cattle producers.  

Through taking part in the BPIS as a beef cattle enterprise, participating producers will continue to allow for huge increased value and quality of information - improving transparency in the industry.  

You can complete the survey here