Australia has been an exporter of livestock for over 150 years and it is one of the first industries established in the Northern Territory. This encouraged the opening of large cattle stations in the NT and Kimberley in the 1880’s, which was largely influenced by the potential of exports to Asian markets and the NT’s strategic location.
Between the 1960s and the 1990s, the northern Australian cattle industry was built on the 3 ‘Bs’ – Brahmans, BTEC and Boats.
Brahman genetics produced an animal that could finally thrive in the tropical conditions of northern Australia – fine coated, heat and parasite resistant animals capable of walking long distances for food and water. Their bloodlines would soon become infused across the north, taking over from a predominantly short-horn herd.
The Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Eradication Campaign (BTEC) was the wake-up call the northern industry needed in the 1980s as cattle producers were forced to muster and test all of their livestock for these diseases. Like ESCAS more than 30 years later, BTEC was a form of control and traceability. Also, like ESCAS, it provided significant improvements for animal welfare with regular mustering and important infrastructure allowing regular weaning.
“I want my children and their children to have access to cattle and to the land just like I did, and like my father and grandfather did. I want our customers and producers to share the ACE story with their friends and families.”
Managing Director, Patrick Underwood
The last of the ‘Bs’ refers to Boats. Live exports started to gain momentum in the 1980s as the geographical proximity and logic of our northern neighbours pointed to the obvious market for Australia’s northern cattle herd. While many abattoirs across northern Australia closed their doors in the late twentieth century, many others in countries north of Australia opened theirs. But what South East Asia really offered northern Australian cattle was high quality feed. Our neighbours produced en masse cheap agricultural bi-products all year round that were capable of feeding Australia’s northern cattle a diet that could finally grow and finish them. A short 4-day voyage on a modern ship to feedlots in our markets could finally break the nexus of thrive and survive for northern cattle as they traversed between the short wet and the long dry seasons in the north of Australia.
Livestock farming remains a vital trade in the Top End of Australia which continues to encourage development in rural communities, boost income create employment opportunities, increase export revenue and support the economic growth of the Northern Territory. Northern Territory cattle producers supply an extensive range of Australia’s markets, both export and domestic, and maintain a world class reputation for being a superior, safe, and reliable producer of high quality Australian livestock.