Farm facts

The majority of Australian dairy farms remain family-owned and operated, with about 15$ involving share farmers. The number of dairy farms has halved over the past two decades, form 22,000 in 1980 to fewer than 11,000 in 2003.

This reflects a general trend in agriculture across many countries, as reduced price support and changing business practices have encouraged a shift to larger, more efficient operating systems.

An average herd size increased form 85 cows in 1980, to an estimated 195 in 2002/03. Furthermore, we are also seeing the emergence if very large farm operation where the one property might support up to 10 individual herds of 50 to 1,000 head of dairy cattle.