Dairy Statistics

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Dairy Statistics

Australian Dairy Industry

Industry 2005-06 2006-07 Change from previous period
Cows 1.870 million 1.810 million (3.21%)
Dairy Farms 8844 8055 (8.93%)
Average annual milk production per cow (1) 5108 litres  5163 litres (1.07%)
National milk production 10 089 million litres  9582 million litres (5.00%)
Farmgate milk price 33.1 cents/litre  33.2 cents/litre  0.30%
Export value $2.66 billion  $2.53 billion (4.89%)
Export share of production 50% 47% (6.00%) 

Source: Dairy Australia
1 Source: Dairy Australia - spring peak figures
() = Negative

Cow Numbers (000 head)

Year NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS Total number of cows Change from previous period
2006-07 (e) 205 1180 125 100  65  135  1810  (3.21%) 
2005-06 215 1210  136  101 71  138  1870  (6.97%) 
2004-05 245 1295 150 115  70  135  2010  (1.42%) 
2003-04 248 1297 171  116  74  133  2039  (0.04%) 

Source: Dairy Australia
(e) = Estimate
() = Negative

Dairy Farm Numbers

Year NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS Total  Change from previous period
2006-07 (e) 924 5346 734 354 222  475  8055  (8.93%) 
2005-06 1024 5892  802  383 245  498  8844  (4.32%) 
2004-05 1063 6108 885 402  278 507  9243 (3.83%) 
2003-04 1096 6242 17967  458  305  543  9611  (9.79%) 

Source: Dairy Australia
(e) = Estimate
() = Negative

Dairy Farm Exits

Year NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS Total 
2006-07 (e) 100 546 68 29  23  23  789
2005-06 39 216  83  19 33  399 
2004-05 33 134 82 56  27  36  368 
2003-04 194 559 158  58  20 54  1043 

Source: Dairy Australia
(e) = Estimate

Average annual milk production per cow (litres)

Year NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS Total
2006-07 (e) 5200 5236 4011 6497  5028  4679  5163
2005-06 5039 5221  4076  5791 5369 4581  5108
2004-05 4925 5101 3735 5862  5418  4497  4983
2003-04 5093 4944 4162  6021  5285 4219  4925 

Source: Dairy Australia
(e) = Estimate

Milk Production (million litres)

Year NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS Total
2006-07 (e) 1105 6297 534 655  349  643  9,582
2005-06 1197 6651 697  646 377 622  10 089
2004-05 1218 6613 619 679  396 600  10 125
2003-04 1271 6434 674  703  403 590  10 075

Source: Dairy Australia
(e) = Estimate

Weighted average of farmgate milk price

Year Cents per litre
2008-09* 54.0
2007-08 45.0
2006-07 33.2
2005-06 33.1
2004-05 31.5
2003-04  27.9

Source: Dairy Australia
*Forecast: ABARE Commodities, June quarter 2008.

Dairy Exports*

Year Value (A$ billion) Volume (tonnes)
2006-07 $2.53 846 271
2005-06 $2.66 882 061
2004-05 $2.58 872 460
2003-04 $2.38 891 378

Source: ABS/DA Rank Tables
*2007-08 year to date at February: value $A1.93 billion, volume 479 388 tonnes.