Beef cattle were introduced to Australia in 1788 with the first herd of cattle from the Cape of Good Hope. Two bulls and five cows arrived on the First Fleet, and they escaped from an area which today is Sydney's Domain, and were found, breeding successfully, on the Cowpastures, near Menangle. British breeds were introduced from 1800.
Australia's red meat livestock industry contributes more than $20 billion annually to the national economy.