Dairy breeds in Australia
Dairy cattle, semen and reproductive material have all been successfully exported from Australia to countries across the globe. The major dairy breed in Australia is the Holstein-Friesian, comprising nearly 80% of the total dairy herd. Jersey cattle, at around 10%, are the second major breed, while a number of other breeds are present in lesser numbers. These traditional breeds are the Guernsey, Ayrshire and the Dairy Shorthorn, all of which have long and proven histories in Australia. The Australian-developed breed, Illawarra, has shown a continued surge in popularity, particularly in the humid coastal and hotter northern areas. The Australian Red Breed and the Brown Swiss each have small niches in the marketplace.
Two composite tropical breeds have been developed in Australia. These are the Australian Friesian Sahiwal (AFS) and the Australian Milking Zebu (AMZ). Both breeds are well adapted to the heat, humidity and tick parasites of the tropical and sub-tropical areas of Australia, but their development has been limited.
Various breeds of Australian dairy cattle have been exported to many destinations around the world including the Middle East, Indian sub-continent, China, South East Asia, Pacific Islands, New Zealand and Central America.
The major export interest has been in Holstein Friesian, Jersey and the two tropical breeds, the AFS and the AMZ.
