THERE has been a sharp rise in seedstock cattle registrations across Australia over the past 12 months, data recorded by the Australian Registered Cattle Breeders Association shows.

Driven by a return to more favourable seasonal conditions and the start of herd rebuilding after drought – as well as the confidence-driven commercial cattle market – seedstock registrations recorded by ARCBA for the 2020 year rose by more than 5pc to 145,806 head.

Following similar patterns seen earlier, British breeds and their derivatives accounted for 74,600 registrations or more than 51pc of total. Tropical breeds represented 22.4pc of registrations last year (32,700 head); European breeds and other derivatives 13.5pc (19,700 head); and ‘Other’ breeds (mostly Wagyu and Speckle Park), 12.9pc or 18,790 head.

The ARCBA records covered 37 breed societies, although some breeds are represented by more than one organisation. Data is collected on both primary and secondary registrations.

The performance-recording oriented Angus breed continued to dominate statistics, accounting for almost 67,000 registrations in total last year, or more than 32pc of the total for all beef cattle.

The Angus breed’s primary registrations were the second highest on record, at 45,666 head.

Brahmans came next with 30,442 head (14.7pc), followed by Herefords (20,642 or just short of 10pc).

While the Wagyu seedstock industry has grown dramatically over the past ten years, that trajectory slowed last year, with registrations totalling 17,848 head or 8.61pc, up 6pc on the year before.

Next largest among the top ten breeds were Santa Gertrudis (16,821 head or 8.11pc), Charolais (8462 head or 4.08pc), Droughtmaster (8195 head or 3.95pc), Limousin (5777 head or 2.79pc), Simmental (5188 head or 2.5pc) and Brangus (5107 head or 2.46pc).

Note that some breeds record female inventory only, female inventory combinations, or use within-breed ‘systems.’

Almost all breeds showed a pronounced decline in registrations the year before, directly caused by drought. Click this link to view 2019 year’s ARCBA report

The ratio of primary to secondary registers is virtually unchanged over the past 14 years, with primary registers continuing to account for around 70pc of all registrations.

• Click this link to access the full ARCBA 2020 seedstock registration report