Sheep outnumber people in New Zealand. Outranked only by China and Australia, the country is one of the biggest sheep producers in the world and is well-known for its high-quality lamb.
According to the OECD, the consumption of sheep's meat—including both lamb and mutton—is most popular in Kazakhstan, Australia, and Turkey.
New Zealand has long produced lamb for its wool industry. This breed is of small stature and many believe is of the least quality compared to American and Australian lamb. Consequently it is also the least expensive lamb. Many customers use this product because of its attractive cost and consistent sizing.
DOMESTIC VS.
The lamb that you buy in the store comes from a few different places—both domestic and imported. Domestic lamb is distinguished by its larger size and milder flavor, while lamb imported from Australia or New Zealand features a gamier taste.
Australian Lamb is the #1 source of quality lamb in the US. Lamb from Down Under has the all-natural advantage. It's free-range and naturally fed on our abundant pasturelands, so it's mild tasting and naturally lean and tender. A pure product of its pure environment.
Like New Zealand lamb, Australian lamb tends to come from smaller animals that have been entirely grass-fed on open pasture. It is leaner and has a deeper flavor than American lamb.
The Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines are some of the best in the world, considering factors like pain relief, mental health, and the cow's environment. Such protocol is applied to all red-meat producers in the nation, states Good Meat.
Australian lamb is among the finest meats in the world, renowned across the globe for its delicate texture and buttery flavour.
High prices are being driven by strong international demand from China and North America, combined with low flock numbers. A trade lamb currently costs nine per cent of the average weekly wage — its highest point since the early 1980s.
Japan is an Asian economic powerhouse and a country renowned for its high-quality beef. In 2021, Japan exported 4,388 tons of beef worth $491 million, making it the most valuable per kilogram. Some of the most well-known beef varieties in the world are from Japan, including the Kobe and Wagyu beef families.
Christians, Jews and Muslims celebrate with lamb, an essential part of the cuisine on Easter, Passover and Ramadan. Lamb is symbolic of spring, sacrifice, fertility and it unites people around a table of delicious food.
Lambs produced in the Cowra region have the reputation of being the best lambs in Australia. The genetics in the breeding are second to none.
Western Australia (WA) produces some of the finest lamb, mutton and wool in the world and exports to over 100 countries. Sheep are produced in the south west of the State on broadacre farms, with world class welfare, food safety and environmentally responsible systems.
New Zealand lamb has traditionally been cheaper than British lamb because of lower farming costs, higher meat yields and a favourable exchange rate.
2/ Australian beef is packed full of flavour (and nutrition)
In Australia, around 97% of cattle is grass fed thanks to our plentiful grazing pastures. Many steak aficionados prefer the taste of grass-fed beef as it tends to be more flavoursome and has a classic “meaty” profile.
Australian beef is leaner by virtue of the All-Grass diet with a much more distinct fresh Grass-Fed flavor and sweeter aroma. US beef which will tend to be much lighter in color and fattier by virtue of grains being used more.
Australian beef is popular
Australia produces both grassfed and grainfed beef, with strong demand for both around the world. Australia produces 4% of global beef production and accounts for about 16% of world trade.
New Zealand has some of the best conditions in the world for raising lamb, which might explain why their population outnumbers humans. Cultural traditions in New Zealand make it the industry standard to raise meat humanely and naturally.
Lamb chops or cutlets are the most expensive cuts of lamb, but are incredibly delicious and tender. They are taken from the ribs of the lamb and cooked individually, normally over a grill or a barbecue.
A Texel lamb has set a new world record price after being sold at auction for almost 368,000 pounds ($666,042) in Scotland.
Victoria is Australia's largest sheep meat producer, producing around half (46%) of Australian sheep meat followed by NSW (28%).
Over 90% of Australian lambs are grassfed. While most of the remaining are grain assisted with access to grain in the paddock, a smaller number have been finished on a nutritionally balanced, high-energy ration for a specified minimum number of days. Australian organic lamb is raised as nature intended.
Junee Prime Lamb - Australia's Leading Producer of Premium Lamb.