May 17, 2010

Australia's dairy exports show increase

In the 12 months to February, live export heifers accounted for 4.5% of the Australian milking herd of 1.6 million cows. Overall, Australian dairy cattle exports increased by 38% last year - 71,200 head were sold worth AUD119 million (US$106 million).

Dairy Australia national industry analyst, Peter Wilson said Victoria was the biggest source of dairy heifers. Victoria exported 25,000 head, or about 4% of its heifers.

Wilson said that, traditionally, Western Australia sold the highest percentage of its heifers to export, but this year that state sold just 6%.

According to Dairy Australia's National Dairy Farmer Survey, low milk prices and difficult seasonal conditions were the reasons South Australian and Tasmania dairy farmers increased their export dairy cattle sales. Up to 11 % of Tasmania's dairy heifers were exported in the year to February, while South Australia exported 7%.

China was Australia's largest dairy cattle export market during the past year, representing 54% of trade, an increase of 15%.

A new entrant into Australia's dairy cattle export market, Indonesia, was the second highest market with 32%, while exports to Middle Eastern countries dropped 25% to 9%. Exports to Russia dropped from 34 % last year to 1% this year and Mexico is out of the market after representing 19% of business last year.