Lotfeeding for the long haul: strengthening Australia’s beef supply chain through climate extremes

This report investigates the role of feedlots in supporting the resilience of Australia’s beef supply chain, particularly during drought. As climate variability intensifies, producers face increasing challenges in maintaining consistent production, market access, and animal welfare. Feedlots have emerged as a vital tool to buffer the effects of these disruptions, helping absorb drought-affected cattle, stabilise prices, and ensure continuity for processors and consumers alike.

The Australian feedlot industry has expanded rapidly over the past decade, with cattle on feed more than doubling since 2010. This growth reflects not only changing seasonal conditions, but also structural shifts in the red meat supply chain. Feedlots now provide flexibility for producers to finish cattle when pasture availability is low, and they underpin high-value export programs that demand regular turnoff and product consistency.

Feeding systems vary across regions and are shaped by local conditions, infrastructure, and supply dynamics. The ability of feedlots to adapt their operations in response to changing seasonal and market pressures is critical. This adaptability is a core feature of resilient production, but resilience also relies on trust and systems that underpin continuity, especially during drought.

Certification and compliance frameworks are essential to maintaining market confidence in this environment. They ensure animal welfare, traceability, and contingency planning are upheld, even under pressure. International comparisons show that systems built around flexibility, coordination, and investment recover faster and maintain throughput during climatic extremes.

This report concludes that feedlots are not just finishing systems, they are resilience infrastructure. They provide a stabilising function in Australia’s beef sector, allowing the industry to navigate drought and other shocks while maintaining market confidence and supply continuity. Recognising their role in national drought planning, strengthening producer-feedlot relationships, and supporting adaptable feeding systems are key steps to safeguarding the future of Australian beef.