Australia - Holstein-Friesian flavour-of-the-month
Published:May 18, 2006
Source :Farm Weekly
Australian Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle are attracting interest from overseas buyers because of their performance and ability to adapt to local conditions.
Australian Minister for Agriculture, Peter McGauran, last night addressed the Holstein-Friesian Association of Australia in Sale, Victoria.
Mr McGauran said one of the reasons for the overseas buying interest was the association’s ‘Maternal Might Team’, an exceptional group of 12 young bulls.
Selected for their production, classification, longevity, show ring performance and total quality, the 12 bulls will maintain and improve the quality of Australia’s dairy livestock.
The Australian Dairy Herd Improvement Scheme is another reason for the overseas buying interest because it offers a national Australian database of performance and pedigree details for individual dairy animals, he said.
“The information provided by the Holstein-Friesian Association helps breeders calculate information that considerably enhances our ability to produce top-quality cattle for domestic production and export,” Mr McGauran said.
“Our dairy industry can proudly claim it has the world’s best genetic material, and overseas buyers know this.”
Holstein-Friesian cattle make up an estimated 70pc of Australia’s dairy herd.
The dairy industry is one of Australia’s most important agricultural industries.
It contributes more than $3.2 billion a year to gross value of production and $2.6 billion a year in export income.
Mr McGauran congratulated the Holstein-Friesian Association for their efforts to involve young people in the industry, in attracting them to dairy-related careers, to make sure Australia’s leading dairy industry has a strong future.
