Sustainability is the defining narrative of modern beef production. For Herefords Australia, sustainability isn’t a new direction; it’s an inherent strength of the breed and a foundation we continue to build on through data, genetics and performance.
No matter what your personal views may be on geopolitical drivers, the reality is clear consumers are demanding a positive environmental story behind the food they buy, and particularly the beef they consume. Across the supply chain, that story is increasingly underpinned by evidence of reduced environmental impact and efficient production.
The number one driver of a positive sustainability outcome is reducing days to slaughter. Simply put, the less time cattle spend on the planet, the fewer resources and emissions are required to produce a kilogram of beef. Herefords are naturally aligned with this sustainability metric through their inherent attributes which include rapid growth, superior feed conversion, fertility, and longevity, all while delivering exceptional eating quality outcomes.
Herefords continue to lead across a number of economically important traits, including fertility, weight for age, longevity and feed efficiency. These are all key indicators of sustainability. As commercial pressures mount for the beef industry to meet growing global sustainability expectations, the breed is well positioned to contribute to meaningful solutions in collaboration with the wider beef value chain.
The evidence supports this position. Herefords Australia has worked closely with members to collate and analyse data from the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) database, validating what breeders have long known, Herefords produce a consistently high-quality, sustainable beef product. With over 30,000 carcase records contributed from all eastern states, Hereford and Hereford-cross cattle are achieving an average MSA Index of 60.8, and in some cases as high as 69. This data places the breed at within the top 25% of quality benchmarks nationally. In most cases this high standard of quality is being driven by good weight for age performance demonstrated by the heavy carcase weights with low ossification values.
This data places the breed within the top 25 per cent of quality benchmarks nationally.
When it comes to feed efficiency and sustainability, data from US Meat Animal Research Centre revealed a lot fed Hereford steer eats an average of 0.9kg less per day than an Angus steer. This was extrapolated over the 165,634 head of Hereford and Hereford influenced cattle fed under the Certified Hereford Beef brand in 2021.
Herefords consumed 86.8kg less of corn per steer over their feeding period compared to the Angus steers. Because of the efficiency advantage, Certified Hereford Beef cattle reduced corn consumption by 1.64 million kg. That equates to 30 days of corn feeding a 100,000 head feed yard in the US. Given it takes 204 litres of water to grow 0.45kg of corn, Certified Hereford Beef cattle required 6.46 billion less litres of water.
To further strengthen the breed’s alignment with sustainability, Herefords Australia introduced two new Hereford BREEDPLAN indexes in November 2024. The Sustainability Production Index and MSA Production Index. The implementation of these indexes, which aligns to our strategic direction, allows us to make more informed decisions in our breeding programs which in turn has better impacts on sustainability.
Recent heterosis analysis by the University of Tennessee has revealed Hereford bulls increase a commercial operation’s net worth per cow (on current input prices) by $90 per year and average income generated per cow over time.
This is due to the direct weaning weight advantage with more kilograms to sell, a healthier calf to take through the feedlot, longevity, and the maternal heterosis of the cow enabling a better body condition score, less feed and increased fertility.
Methane production, often seen as a proxy for wasted energy, is a key sustainability indicator and an area of growing focus. More efficient animals and production systems naturally produce less methane. By improving the accuracy of Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) for traits such as mature cow weight and net feed intake, breeders can make selection decisions that deliver direct gains in both productivity and performance.
Herefords Australia’s long-term strategy is to continue developing new breeding values for traits directly linked to sustainability, such as methane output, while leveraging the strengths the breed already possesses which include adaptability, resilience, and longevity.
Ultimately, sustainability summarises everything Herefords stand for. It is reflected in our cattle’s ability to thrive across Australia’s diverse environments, deliver consistent returns for producers, and meet the growing expectations of environmentally conscious consumers. By championing this message and backing it with hard data, Herefords Australia is ensuring the breed remains front and centre of the industry’s sustainability story.
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