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Dairying in Australia

Dairy Research Unit, University of Sydney, University Farms, Camden, New South Wales 2570, Australia

ABSTRACT

The highly developed dairy industry in Australia has evolved in a little less than 200 years. Indeed, the original cattle, 2 bulls and 5 cows, arrived with the First Fleet in May, 1788. Although the breed was not specified, it has been assumed these were Cape cattle, as later reports described cattle in the colony with wide-spreading horns, humps, and thin tails. Thus, dairy breeds as we know them today were brought to Australia some time after 1788 (8). The first report of the presence of dairy breeds was in 1805, when an Alderney bull was sold in New South Wales for £50 (8). By 1861 the dairy cattle population in the colony had increased to 197,332 from 155 cattle of all types 25 years before (4).

The importation of pedigreed cattle (Ayrshires, Jerseys, and Friesians) began in the 1850's and the first Australian herdbook (Ayrshire Breeders' Society) was published in 1892.