Yes, sustainable practices are widely used on Australian dairy farms, and the industry is committed to driving continuous improvement through initiatives like the Australian Dairy Industry Sustainability Framework.

All dairy farms are unique and operate in different ways. However, the Australian dairy industry has together made a commitment to ensuring a sustainable future and has set goals and targets to drive improvement and practice change where necessary, including on the farm.

Australian dairy's sustainability commitments include:

1. Ensuring best care for all our animals
2. Reducing our environmental impact
3. Providing nutritious and safe products
4. Creating a rewarding livelihood for those that work in the industry.

The Australian Dairy Industry Sustainability Framework allows us to measure and publicly report against these commitments. This supports continuous improvement and practice change where necessary, across the whole supply chain.

Here are just a few examples of sustainable practices being used on dairy farms to meet these goals:

• adding solar panels to the dairy to reduce the farm’s carbon footprint
• fencing-off waterways to improve water quality
• recycling water from dairy sheds
• having cooling facilities and shade options for cows in hot climates
• planting trees
• safeguarding a portion of land for conservation and biodiversity
• capturing effluent (liquid waste) in the dairy to use as liquid fertiliser and compost on the pastures.

Learn more about sustainable practices in the dairy industry (including case studies) and Australian dairy's sustainability goals and targets in the Industry and Sustainability section.

Resources

Australian Dairy Sustainability Framework