The dairy industry is Australia's third largest rural industry, valued at $3.17 billion at the
farm-gate in 2004/05.
It is the largest value-added food industry, increasing values more than three-fold, through processing, to contribute $9 billion to the Nation's economy.
With product exports of around one million tones, to more than 130 countries, the industry generates an estimated $3 billion in export income each year. The industry has about $20 billion in capital assets on-farm and $2.3 billion in manufacturing.
The Australian dairy industry involves about 100,000 people through activities such as:
It is the largest value-added food industry, increasing values more than three-fold, through processing, to contribute $9 billion to the Nation's economy.
With product exports of around one million tones, to more than 130 countries, the industry generates an estimated $3 billion in export income each year. The industry has about $20 billion in capital assets on-farm and $2.3 billion in manufacturing.
The Australian dairy industry involves about 100,000 people through activities such as:
- farming (about 9266 farms supporting or employing 50,000 people);
- services to farming including veterinary, genetics, animal nutrition, milking machinery, seed and fertiliser, and fodder contracting - an estimated 10,000 people);
- manufacturing (including cheese, yogurt, ice-cream, butter, chocolate, powders, dairy ingredients and pharmaceutical products - estimated at up to 30,000 people);
- transport (from on-farm milk pick-up to container shipping); and
- research (in areas such as agriculture, environment, human nutrition, manufacturing processes and food technology).
