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Dairy Statistics

Australian Dairy Industry

Industry 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 Change from previous period
Cows 1.870 million 1.810 million  1.700 million
(6.08%)
Dairy Farms 8,844 8,055  7,953 (1.27%)
Annual litres of milk per cow
5,108 litres
5,163 litres
 5,231 litres
1.32%
National milk production 10,089 million litres  9,582 million litres 9,223 million litres
(3.99%)
Farmgate milk price 33.1 cents/litre  33.2 cents/litre  49.6 cents/litre
49.3%
Export value $2.66 billion  $2.53 billion  $2.88 billion
13.83%
Export share of production 50% 47%  45% (7.84%) 

Source: Dairy Australia
() = Negative
Note: 2007-08 state-by-state statistics are only available for milk production.
Note: cow numbers and yield per cow will not equal total production as there are other factors incorporated in these calculations.

Cow Numbers (000 head)

Year NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS Total number of cows Change from previous period
2006-07 (e) 205 1,180 125 100  65  135  1,810  (3.21%) 
2005-06 215 1,210  136  101 71  138  1,870  (6.97%) 
2004-05 245 1,295 150 115  70  135  2,010  (1.37%) 
2003-04 248 1,297 171  116  74  133  2,038
(0.59%) 

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 5,346 734 354 222  475  8,055  (8.92%) 
2005-06 1,024 5,892  802  383 245  498  8,844  (4.32%) 
2004-05 1,063 6,108 885 402  278 507  9,243 (3.83%) 
2003-04 1,096 6,242 967  458  305  543  9,611  (9.79%) 

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

Dairy Farm Exits

Year NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS Total  Change from previous period
2006-07 (e) 100 546 68 29  23  23  789  (8.93%)
2005-06 39 216  83  19 33  399   (4.32%)
2004-05 33 134 82 56  27  36  368   (3.83%)
2003-04 194 559 158  58  20 54  1,043   (9.79%)

Source: Dairy Australia
(e) = Estimate

Average annual milk production per cow (litres)

Year NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS Total
2006-07 (e) 5,200 5,236 4,011 6,497  5,028  4,679  5,163
2005-06 5,039 5,221  4,076  5,791 5,369 4,581  5,108
2004-05 4,925 5,101 3,735 5,862  5,418  4,497  4,983
2003-04 5,093 4,944 4,162  6,021  5,285 4,219  4,925 

Source: Dairy Australia
(e) = Estimate

Milk Production (million litres)

Year NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS Total
2007-08 (p)
1,049 6,102
485
606
319
662
9,223
2006-07
1,105 6,297 534 655  349  642
9,582
2005-06 1,197 6,651 597  646 377 622  10,089
2004-05 1,218 6,613 619 679  398 600  10,127
2003-04 1,271 6,434 674  703  403 590  10,075

Source: Dairy Australia
(p) = Predicted

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, March quarter 2008.

National supermarket price of milk (dollars per litre)

Year Branded* fresh white full cream 2 litre Supermarket label fresh white full cream 2 litre
June 2008 1.83 1.19
January 2008 1.70 1.19
June 2007 1.53 1.16
January 2007 1.52 1.15
June 2006 1.45 1.15
January 2006 1.52 1.13

Source: Dairy Australia
*Private label: includes non-supermarket specific brands such as Dairyfarmers, Pauls, Pura milk etc.

Dairy Exports*

Year Value (A$ billion) Volume (tonnes)
2007-08
$2.88
723,203
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