Chart of the Week

With large expansion of the Chinese dairy herd expected over the coming years, we have started to see a stabilization of Australian heifer exports (mostly to China), as well as a rally in prices. High domestic Chinese milk prices are spurring most large milk producers in the country to grow their herd, with industry forecasts expecting a 10-12% rise in the number of milking cows over the coming 3 years. However, such herd expansion takes time – with newborn female calves taking 2 years to reach their first milking, heifer imports can fill some of the gap.

Australian heifer exports