The 2012-13 national cattle herd increased by 3% over the previous year to 29.3 million head.
Total dairy cattle numbers increased by 4% to 2.8 million head. Nationally, cows in milk and dry numbers declined by 1% to 1.7 million head.
The total number of meat cattle rose by 3% to 26.5 million head. A decrease in numbers in South Australia and Western Australia was offset by increases in all other states, with the largest growth in Queensland. Nationally, meat cows and heifers one year and over decreased by 1% to 13.4 million head.
Total sheep and lamb numbers increased by 1% to 75.5 million head. The total number of breeding ewes in Australia has declined by 10% to 40.3 million head.
Pig numbers continued to decline with a 2% decrease from 2011-12 to 2.1 million head.
The number of chickens for meat rose by 4% to 84.0 million birds and chickens for egg production increased 9% to 14.6 million.
LIVESTOCK, Australia, year ended 30 June 2013
Number on holding
Change in number on holding since
2011-12
'000
%
CATTLE AND CALVES
Dairy cattle
Cows in milk and dry
1 688
-1
All other dairy cattle (a)
1 146
11
Total dairy cattle
2 834
4
Meat cattle
Cows and heifers one year and over
13 430
-1
All other meat cattle (b)
13 027
8
Total meat cattle
26 457
3
Total cattle and calves
29 291
3
Proportion of total herd
Dairy cattle (%)
10
Meat cattle (%)
90
SHEEP AND LAMBS
Breeding ewes one year and over (c)
40 250
-10
All other sheep (d)
35 298
18
Total sheep and lambs
75 548
1
PIGS
Breeding sows (e)
225
-5
All other pigs (f)
1 874
-1
Total pigs
2 098
-2
CHICKENS
For meat production
84 035
4
For egg production (g)
14 618
9
(a) Includes bulls, steers, calves and heifers
(b) Includes bulls, steers and calves
(c) Including maiden ewes intended for breeding
(d) Includes rams, marked lambs, wethers, hoggets and non-breeding ewes
(e) Excluding unmated gilts
(f) Includes boars, gilts, suckers, weaners, growers and finishers
(g) Including hens in moult
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