Yield
Improved herd genetics, as well as advances in pasture management and supplementary feeding regimes, have seen average annual yield per Australian dairy cow increase.
Over the past four decades yields have more than doubled from 2,900 litres in 1980 to 6,170 litres in 2019–20. The average yield figure varies by state and with seasonal conditions.
The genetic evaluation of dairy cattle is conducted by DataGene.
Average annual milk production per cow
YEAR |
NSW |
VIC |
QLD |
SA |
WA |
TAS |
AUST |
1979–80 |
2,870 |
3,012 |
1,984 |
3,163 |
3,105 |
2,958 |
2,848 |
1989–90 |
3,602 |
3,920 |
3,122 |
3,934 |
4,205 |
3,791 |
3,781 |
1999–00 |
4,827 |
4,989 |
4,349 |
6,790 |
6,338 |
4,381 |
4,996 |
2000–01 |
4,687 |
4,977 |
3,943 |
6,369 |
5,903 |
4,177 |
4,859 |
2001–02 |
5,030 |
5,391 |
4,067 |
5,933 |
5,402 |
4,646 |
5,215 |
2002–03 |
4,996 |
4,885 |
4,230 |
6,556 |
5,348 |
4,304 |
4,913 |
2003–04 |
5,093 |
4,944 |
4,162 |
6,021 |
5,285 |
4,219 |
4,925 |
2004–05 |
4,295 |
5,101 |
3,735 |
5,862 |
5,418 |
4,497 |
4,983 |
2005–06 |
5,039 |
5,221 |
4,076 |
5,791 |
5,369 |
4,581 |
5,108 |
2006–07 |
5,151 |
5,261 |
4,033 |
6,417 |
5,235 |
4,696 |
5,182 |
2007–08 |
5,031 |
5,393 |
4,163 |
5,799 |
5,907 |
4,961 |
5,275 |
2008–09 |
5,420 |
5,807 |
5,032 |
6,053 |
6,355 |
5,140 |
5,691 |
2009–10 |
5,329 |
5,518 |
5,052 |
5,907 |
6,641 |
4,640 |
5,448 |
2010–11 |
5,409 |
5,860 |
4,980 |
6,257 |
6,637 |
5,379 |
5,758 |
2011–12 |
5,760 |
6,027 |
5,008 |
6,646 |
5,967 |
5,636 |
5,930 |
2012–13 |
5,534 |
5,473 |
4,667 |
7,099 |
5,996 |
5,166 |
5,498 |
2013-14 |
5,542 |
5,639 |
4,640 |
6,896 |
5,443 |
5,578 |
5,615 |
2014–15 |
6,572 |
5,795 |
4,388 |
7,411 |
5,752 |
6,400 |
5,917 |
2015-16 |
6,721 |
5,621 |
4,644 |
7,634 |
6,669 |
5,981 |
5,841 |
2016–17 |
6,431 |
5,749 |
4,823 |
6,520 |
6,342 |
5,511 |
5,812 |
2017–18 |
6,948 |
6,058 |
4,670 |
7,196 |
6,199 |
5,805 |
6,108 |
2018–19 |
6,683 |
5,620 |
4,320 |
6,927 |
6,674 |
5,203 |
5,714 |
2019-20 (e) |
7,067 |
6,261 |
4,443 |
7,033 |
6,560 |
5,212 |
6,170 |