NEW research has shown Australia cattle exports meet the demand for beef from more people in Indonesia than the entire Australian population.

Local beef sales at an Indonesian wet market. Picture: Dr Michael Patching

The project – funded by the Livestock Export RD&E Program, a collaboration between LiveCorp and Meat & Livestock Australia – quantified economic, social and animal welfare benefits across four key markets – Indonesia, Vietnam, Kuwait and China.

It showed the impacts of the trade go well beyond the trade itself, including improved food security, job creation, skills development, higher animal welfare standards and more responsible production practices, as well as enduring international partnerships.

LiveCorp CEO Wayne Collier said the outcomes reflect decades of collaboration, investment and trust across the supply chain.

“Long-standing livestock export relationships support livelihoods and communities by providing jobs and reliable income and supply fresh meat for tens of millions of people, while also providing Australian producers with a reliable and resilient market,” Mr Collier said.

In Indonesia, the feeder cattle trade continues to deliver significant economic and social benefits.

The supply chain generated an estimated AUD $929 million in-market wholesale revenue in 2024 and supported thousands of jobs across feedlots, abattoirs and smallholder farming communities.

Australian cattle also played a critical role in meeting Indonesia’s domestic demand, supplying more than 91,000 tonnes of beef (including offal) providing a consistent source of high-quality, culturally appropriate protein to 32.1 million Indonesians.

Capacity building has been identified as a central driver of these outcomes.

Since 2021, more than 14,000 Indonesians have participated in industry training programs focused on animal welfare, supply chain efficiency and biosecurity.

Long-standing initiatives have strengthened professional capability and improved on-the-ground practices, including the Forum Animal Welfare Officers (FAWO), a collaboration with importers, the Indonesian feedlot association and Australian exporters.

The report highlights continued improvements in handling and processing standards across multiple destination markets, with comparable benefits seen in Vietnam, Kuwait and China through targeted training, knowledge exchange and investment in livestock and processing infrastructure.

Mr Collier says animal welfare improvement is a core element of the relationships built along Australia’s livestock export supply chain.

“About 90 percent of Indonesian abattoirs receiving Australian cattle now operate with stunning in place. Australian assistance during recent foot and mouth and lumpy skin disease outbreaks also supported the vaccination of more than 400,000 animals, reinforcing regional biosecurity and trade continuity.”

Across the globe, livestock exports respond to the specific needs of each market.

Vietnam relies on slaughter cattle imports to meet growing demand for high-quality beef, Kuwait values Australia’s high quality, disease-free sheep, and more than one million dairy breeders exported to China are now contributing to domestic milk production and improved nutritional outcomes.

Source: LiveCorp. The report Contribution of livestock exports to international development goals is available on the LiveCorp website:livecorp.com.au