September 4, 2013

Australia's milk production down 3.5% in July

Australia's milk production recorded a 3.5% decline for July, but Tasmanian production was 3.8% up on-year at 30.65 million litres and northern Victorian milk supply recorded a 3.6% lift.

Dairy Australia figures show 637.47 million litres was produced across Australia in the first month of the new production season with Victorian dairy farmers accounting for almost 66% of supply.

Milk supply was down 3.3% in Victoria at 418.83 million litres with the largest production decline in Western Victoria at -8.6%. Western Victoria produced 35.1% of the state's milk, with Gippsland attributing 31.3%.

South Australia had the biggest milk supply decline, down 9.4% to 38.57 million litres, while Western Australia was steady with a 0.8% lift.

New South Wales milk supply slid by 5.3% to 83.13 million litres and Queensland declined by 3% to 38.48 million litres.

The average national protein percentage in July was 3.33%, down 0.9% from last year. Average milk fat was 3.99%, no change from July 2012.