Improved seasonal conditions saw increases in production of some major broadacre crops in 2008–09, however livestock numbers remained flat or continued their falls of recent years, according to preliminary estimates released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today.
Wheat and barley production increased from recent lows, and although grain sorghum fell from 2007–08's record, production remained at a historically high level.
In comparison, while both rice and cotton lint production increased significantly from the previous year, production for these crops remained at historically low levels.
At 71.6 million head, sheep and lamb numbers were at their lowest levels since 1905.
This is a further sevent per cent decrease from 76.9 million head in 2007-08.
Pig numbers continued their falls of recent years, with an estimated herd size of 2.2 million being the smallest reported since 1978.
Beef cattle were down slightly at 24.5 million head, while dairy cattle numbers remained steady at 2.5 million head in 2008–09.
Of the major crops wheat production increased by 54pc to 20.9 million tonnes; barley production increased by 7pc to 7.7mt; and oat production decreased by 20pc to 1.2mt.
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