New figures from New South Wales underline the continuing strength of the Angus breed even as the overall breeding herd expanded in 2025. For farmers in Angus and across eastern Scotland, the data offers a reminder that international herd trends can feed through to markets and influence local breeding and sales decisions.
What the numbers show
The NSW producer survey estimates the state’s breeding female herd rose from 3.73 million head in 2024 to 4.13 million in 2025 — an increase of about 404,100 head or 10.8%. Within that growth the Angus share slipped only slightly, from 69% to 68%, but because the total herd became larger the estimated number of Angus breeding females still rose from about 2.57 million to 2.81 million — an uplift of roughly 237,500 head.
- Overall herd growth: 3.73m → 4.13m (+404,100)
- Angus breeding females: ~2.57m → ~2.81m (+237,500)
- Notable gains: Hereford, Euro breeds, Wagyu
Breed shifts beneath headline growth
Although Angus remains dominant, other breeds recorded notable percentage or numerical changes. Hereford rose from 9% to 10% of the breeding herd, adding about 77,700 head. Continental or ‘Euro’ breeds such as Simmental and Limousin moved from 4% to 5%, adding roughly 57,500 head. Wagyu doubled its share from 1% to 2%, increasing breeding female numbers from around 37,300 to approximately 82,600 — a gain of about 45,400.
| Breed | Share 2024 | Share 2025 | Approx. 2024 head | Approx. 2025 head |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angus | 69% | 68% | ~2,570,000 | ~2,810,000 |
| Hereford | 9% | 10% | ~335,700 | ~413,400 |
| Euro breeds | 4% | 5% | ~149,200 | ~206,700 |
| Wagyu | 1% | 2% | ~37,300 | ~82,600 |
Local relevance and practical implications
What does this mean for farmers in Angus? First, herd expansion overseas can influence international prices and demand for breeding stock and finished cattle. While the exact mechanics differ between markets, larger supplies tend to exert downward pressure on some commodity prices, and shifts toward particular breeds can change demand for bulls, semen and genetics.
Second, the growth in Euro breeds and Wagyu — and a modest recovery in Hereford — signals breeders responding to niche and premium markets as well as broader volume opportunities. Local producers considering diversification or targeting specialist markets should weigh these signals alongside domestic demand, processing capacity and feed costs.
Finally, the persistence of Angus as the leading breed underlines its broad adaptability and market acceptance. For many farmers here who run Angus or Angus-cross cattle, the NSW data is a reminder that the breed’s strength is global, even if local conditions — climate, forage, and market channels — remain decisive.
Producers in Angus County would do well to keep an eye on liveweight and prime cattle price movements, and to discuss with their agents and breed societies whether increasing numbers abroad are affecting demand for specific genetics or finished cattle in the UK market.
