The industry says that a third of all Australian dairy farmers are exporting parts of their herd overseas.
Lisa Dwyer and her husband Eddie run a dairy farm at Hawkesdale, in south west Victoria.
Ongoing volatility in the dairy industry, a drought and the global financial crisis prompted the couple to diversify their business.
Exporting dairy heifers is just one part of that diversification, something Mrs Dwyer, a non-executive director of the Australian Livestock Export Corporation, expects more dairy farmers will start to embrace.
«We have exported our dairy heifers for a number of years and we consider that it is a very valuable component to our business,» she said.
«Particularly when you do encounter adverse seasonal conditions, or an adverse milk price, it just provides us with a little bit more diversity to be able to continue in a profitable manner.»
The Dwyers’ cattle travel just 90 kilometres to leave Australia from the Port of Portland.
The port’s CEO Jim Cooper says wood chips, mineral sands and grain make up the majority of exports.
Mr Cooper says exports of sheep are practically non-existent from his port and he expects cattle exports will remain steady.
«They’re going off to countries which are trying to improve their dairy herds,» he said.
«They’re all dairy cattle.
«They’re going off to Russia, Turkey and China.»
Agribusiness Elders has been exporting dairy cattle to China since 2003.
The company’s Cameron Hall says export numbers have ebbed and flowed in the years since.
«China is probably the most influential market for dairy exports at the moment,» he said.
«That’s being driven really by a strong commitment from the Chinese government and in China to increase the amount of domestic fresh milk available within the market place.»
Female dairy cattle just five months old are now worth more than $1500 to live export to China.
It’s not just China wanting Australian dairy cattle.
The Western Australian-based exporter Wellard is sourcing more than 22,000 dairy heifers for Sri Lanka’s Department of Economic Development.
Alison Penfold, the CEO of the Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council, says she expects live dairy exports will grow for foreseeable future.
«We’ve exported about 60,000 head of dairy heifers, largely to China,» she said.
«The figure that is being quoted to me is that one in three dairy farmers are now producing dairy heifers for the live trade.
«That’s a significant number of dairy farmers who are seeing live exports as an alternative income source for their business, which is something that will benefit dairy communities.»
Source: ABC