Australia Yearbook - 2001

Chapter 15—Agriculture 637
15.36 CATTLE, By Age, Sex and Purpose—At 31 March
1994 1995 1996 1997
’000 ’000 ’000 ’000 ’000 ’000
Milk cattle
Cows (in milk and dry) 1 786 1 821 1 884 1 977 2 060 2 155
Other milk cattle 892 919 923 982 1 015 1 065
Total 2 678 2 740 2 808 2 958 3 076 3 220
Meat cattle
Bulls used or intended for service 557 555 553 551 547 528
Cows and heifers (1 year and over) 12 076 11 213 11 667 11 879 11 783 11 621
Calves under 1 year 5 388 5 806 5 768 6 029 6 026 5 740
Other cattle (1 year and over) 5 058 5 418 5 581 5 278 5 420 5 469
Total 23 080 22 991 23 569 23 736 23 776 23 358
Total all cattle(a) 25 758 25 731 26 377 26 695 26 851 26 578
(a) Excludes house cows.
Source: AgStats (7117.0); Agricultural Commodities, Australia, 1998–99 (7121.0).
1998
1999
NSW
15.37 CATTLE, By State/Territory(a)
Vic.
Qld SA WA
31 March
’000 ’000 ’000 ’000 ’000 ’000 ’000 ’000
1994 6 515 4 189 9 942 1 202 1 806 679 1 435 25 758
1995 6 236 4 280 9 974 1 216 1 899 693 1 421 25 731
1996 6 390 4 396 10 214 1 219 1 924 718 1 503 26 377
1997 6 511 4 411 10 415 1 181 1 909 725 1 530 26 695
1998 6 351 4 142 10 867 1 214 1 973 728 1 567 26 851
1999 6 291 4 125 10 748 1 183 1 931 724 1 567 26 578
(a) Excludes house cows. (b) Includes the Australian Capital Territory.
Source: AgStats (7117.0); Agricultural Commodities, Australia, 1998–99 (7121.0).
Tas.
NT
Aust.(b)
Cattle
Cattle farming is carried out in all States and
Territories. While dairy cattle are restricted mainly
to southern and coastal districts, beef cattle are
concentrated in Queensland and New South
Wales. Table 15.36 shows the number of cattle by
age, sex and purpose.
Cattle numbers in Australia increased slowly
during the 1960s and 1970s, despite seasonal
changes and heavy slaughtering, to a peak of
33.4 million in 1976. Beef cattle production is
often combined with cropping, dairying and
sheep. In the northern half of Australia, cattle
properties and herd sizes are very large, pastures
are generally unimproved, fodder crops are rare
and beef is usually the only product. The industry
is more intensive in the south because of the
more favourable environment, including
improved pasture (see map 15.38).
Drought conditions in the early 1980s led to a
decline in the beef herd until 1984. For the next
five years, the size of the herd remained relatively
stable. Since 1989, cattle numbers have gradually
increased despite unfavourable weather
conditions continuing in many parts of Australia.
Table 15.37 shows the number of cattle by State
and Territory.