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