Organisation

The ARGE Rind as an umbrella organisation is coordinating the activities of 7 cattle production communities in the federal states of Austria. Simultaneously, the organisation functions as a stakeholder for all cattle producers in Austria. The ARGE Rind also negotiates about the marketing terms and pricing conditions between farmers and customers. This in turn positively influences the development of regional quality programmes. The programmes are then optimally positioned on the market and thus available for the end customers. The commercialisation through ARGE Rind ensures not only the sale of cattle, but also provides the payment of bonuses if one takes part in special quality programmes. This, naturally, means a profit for the farms and enterprises that decide to market their products through ARGE Rind.
The organisation’s aim is to increase the added value for cattle farms.

Data and facts

In 2019, the total turnover was
262 Mio. Euros,
which are approximately 3,54% less than in 2018.

The share of meat stock sold through quality programmes made up
75%
of the total quantity marketed in 2019.

The total quantity marketed in 2019 was
291.261 units,
2.546 units less than in 2018.

Development of the “ARGE-Cattle Marketing”

Distribution of meat stock

Meat stock	2017		2018		2019
	Stück	%	Stück	%	Stück	%
young bulls	59.115	36	62.097	36	61.225	36
bulls	2.137	1	1.968	1	2.037	1
bullocks	10.246	6	11.012	7	11.701	7
heifers	25.028	15	26.287	15	27.820	16
Cows	44.783	27	46.291	27	44.132	26
young cattle	12.458	8	12.454	7	11.850	7
vealers	12.014	7	11.601	7	10.973	7
Total	165.781	100	171.710	100	171.710	100

Distribution of livestock

Livestock	2017		2018		2019
	Stück	%	Stück	%	Stück	%
domestic calves	71.237	59	74.393	61	73.437	60
cattle suited for fattening	41.704	35	43.515	35	43.532	36
domestic cattle	2.493	2	2.333	2	2.650	2
breeding cattle	4.602	4	1.856	2	1.904	2
Total	120.036	100	122.097	100	122.097	100

Distribution of quality programmes

Quality programmes	2017		2018		2019
	Stück	%	Stück	%	Stück	%
organic beef and organic vealers	35.538	21	37.566	22	36.045	21
AMA-certificate young bulls, Premium beef, Donauland beef	35.454	21	39.471	23	39.840	23
quality programmes *	22.596	14	23.573	14	28.130	17
M-Cattle	22.445	14	23.573	14	23.277	14
standard quality	49.748	30	46.140	27	42.446	25
Total	165.781	100	171.710	100	169.738	100

Management

Chairman

Josef Fradler
E-Mail:

Manager / CEO

DI Werner Habermann
E-Mail:

History

Geschichte

Cooperation agreement

On 29th November 1999 a cooperation agreement was concluded between BVG, EZG Steirisches Rind, Rinderzucht Salzburg and Österreichische Rinderbörse.

Association of the working group Rind

The cooperation was transferred into the association of the working group Rind on the 28th of March in 2001. Purpose of the association: The purpose of the association, whose activities are not aimed at making a profit, is to promote Austrian cattle farming. In particular, it strives to achieve following aspects:

advising cattle farmers on all aspects of production and marketing
the development and implementation of the brand programme
the development and implementation of quality assurance measures

Foundation of ARGE Rind

13th of September, 2004: Foundation of ARGE Rind reg. Gen.m.b.H. Founding members were BVG, EZG Steirisches Rind, Rinderzucht Salzburg, Österreichische Rinderbörse, Tiroler Viehmarketing, Gut Streitdorf. In 2005, the Raiffeisengenossenschaft Osttirol was accepted as a further cooperative member.

Quality strategy

In 2004, the quality strategy of ARGE Rind was launched in coordination with AMA marketing, as part of an umbrella brand workshop. The strategies of the ARGE-Rind umbrella organisations are being further developed until today!

2004 – 2007:

Cooperation with McDonalds Austria and ESCA Food Solution (today OSI Food Solution) in Enns – M-Rind (M-cattle)
Premium beef brand in food retailing
The ARGE-Infosystem was launched as an information platform for all cattle suppliers of the producer communities