Slight production increase projected for NZ beef

For 2025, production is forecast to rise 1.3%

The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS) post in Wellington forecasts production for 2025 to increase by 1.3% to 760,000 metric tons (MT) carcass weight equivalent (CWE) relative to the revised 2024 MY estimate of 750,000 MT CWE, according to a recent US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report.

In the most recent seasonal outlook, forecasts are that prime beef from steers and heifers in the first half of 2025 are expected to be up on carcass weight. If the forecast is realized, it would be the highest annual production on record. 

The average carcass weight of animals slaughtered each year is increasing by almost 1% per year. This results from productivity improvements in the national herd, as well as the changing composition of the national livestock herd species to more cattle over sheep and deer.