Current levies

B+LNZ is funded and directed by farmers via commodity levies paid on all sheep, beef and dairy cattle processed in New Zealand. 

image of couple working in cattle yards

Last updated August 2026 

Compulsory sheepmeat and beef levies are governed by the Commodity Levies Act and enacted through the Commodity Levies (Meat) Order 2021.  

Current maximum levy rates for this levy order period are as follows – see below for actual current levy rates: 

  • sheepmeat = 95 cents per head maximum 
  • beef = $5.95 per head maximum.  

Levies 2025–26 

Under the Commodity Levies (Meat) Order 2021, the current rates of sheepmeat and beef levies (exclusive of GST) are unchanged from 2024/25 and are: 

  • sheepmeat levy – all sheep slaughtered 75 cents per head 
  • beef levy – all cattle slaughtered (including beef cattle and dairy cattle but excluding bobby calves) $5.20 per head.  

Further information  

For more information about what happens to levies, visit the ‘Levy investment’ webpage.