Dairy Farming in Australia
Aimanur Rahman
Environmental Impacts of Dairy Farming
- Production of milk has a large impact on the environment. Cows produce methane and nitrous oxide in there digestive system, which are greenhouse gases. This causes the dairy industry to contribute 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
- Cows manure pollutes water and soil, and can disturb the natural nutrient balance needed for normal plant growth.
- The Australian diary industry uses huge amounts of land and water. In 2004-05, it used 19% of all water used by the agriculture industry, which is more than 12% of all the water used in Australia.
- Deforestation is also caused by the need to produce cattle feed.
Social Impacts of Dairy Farming
- In 2011-12, the Victorian dairy industry produced 6.21 billion liters of milk, which is something many people around Australia consume everyday. The average annual per capita consumption of milk is 107 liters.
- Provides regional and rural dairy communities with an improved/good quality of life.
- The dairy industry directly employs 43,000 people on farms and factories, while also indirectly employing 100,000 people, through things like transport or any other services needed for dairy farming. This provides people with an income, contributing to a better quality of life.