dairy industries
The Tasmanian dairy industry is of major significance to both the agricultural and manufacturing sectors of the State, as well as being an important export industry. Dairy manufacturers and processors add value to the milk and provide employment in regional areas. About 8% of the State's milk production is consumed as drinking milk, the balance is manufactured by dairy companies into products such as cheese, milk powders, butter, and confectionery.
A new type of faecal test has been formally approved for use in dairy herds. The Herd Environmental Culture (HEC) can be used
1. as a surveillance tool in dairy herds in Free and Protected Zones
2. as a test equivalent to the Check Test and a Maintenance Test (i.e. use for maintenance of herd status in a CattleMAP herd)
For more information about the HEC, please click here or contact Debbie Grull at DPIPWE
A Check Test is a test of adult animals in the herd biased to increase the probability of detecting infection. It may only be undertaken in herds in which there is no suspicion of infection and be used only to support a Vendor Declaration for animals bred in that herd (ie “home bred”) and for animals introduced with a Vendor Declaration as originating from a Check Tested herd or a herd of higher status.
tasmanian dairy industy
The TFGA Dairy Council represents the interests of Tasmanian dairy farmers. Through Dairy Council, dairy farmers benefit from the activities of the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association and Australian Dairy Farmers Ltd (ADF).
The Dairy Council:
• Works constructively with dairy industry stakeholders, ensuring that positive outcomes
for dairy farmers are achieved;
• Provides dairy farmers with a voice on a diverse range of issues; and
• Keeps in touch with the local dairy community and maintains current knowledge on the important
issues facing the industry as a whole as well as individual dairy farm businesses.
Your Dairy Council Chairperson is Andrew Lester of Herrick.
If you have a dairy related issue or query contact:
Nick Steel
Email: Nick.Steel@tfga.com.au
For comparison purposes a model farm was developed for a “typical”
King Island dairy farm in 2008.
The idea was to present the costs and returns for this model farm, and to compare those with a farm operating at the same level of efficiency on mainland Tasmania but with mainland Tasmanian milk prices and input prices.
This report updates the original with 2010-11 income and cost estimates.
The model farm is assumed to be a reasonably efficient operation milking 335 cows on 180 hectares (450 acres). Young stock are assumed to be carried on-farm and around 0.3 tonnes of grain fed per cow.
The assumed milk supply profile has significant winter and summer production but does have a spring peak.
Milk price schedules used are the KID announced prices as at November 2010, and for Fonterra’s seasonal schedule – announced prices to date plus an assumed 40c/kgMS (70c/kMF) in additional step-ups. While it is acknowledged that no one farm accurately represents the King Island dairy farm sector, it is considered that the comparison should still be valid. The King Island model farm could be made more or less efficient but this could also apply to the Tasmanian comparison.
To view the comparison report, please click here
The Tasmanian dairy industry takes its responsibilities for animal welfare seriously and has developed A Guide to Tasmanian Dairy Cattle Welfare. This guide has been produced through a collaboration of all industry sectors including farmers, milk processors, animal welfare groups, veterinarians and The Department of Primary Industry, Water and Environment. This demonstrates the whole of industry commitment to deliver good animal welfare, including improvement where relevant.
The guide is a valuable resource, providing practical information and guidance for farmers working with dairy cattle, and assists them in their understanding of the expectations the industry holds.
The animal husbandry practices used by Tasmanian dairy farmers are intrinsically linked with animal welfare. Most dairy farmers realise to deliver safe, quality dairy products, and they must practice sound animal husbandry and keep their animals in peak condition.
A demonstrated commitment to animal welfare is becoming increasingly important, both domestically and for access into the international trade arena. To continue to grow as a competitive, innovative and sustainable industry, it is essential that we are able to demonstrate and communicate our credentials in animal welfare.
Our industry supports good practice. We need to ensure all interested groups understand that we can, and do, deliver excellent animal welfare through our existing husbandry practices.
It gives me great pleasure to present the dairy industry’s A Guide to Tasmanian Dairy Cattle Welfare.
Alan Davenport
Chairman
Dairy Animal Health & Welfare Action Group
