Queensland dairy family faces herd cull after processor ends milk contract

Jason Rozynski, whose family celebrated eight decades of dairying on their Mary Valley property, now fears the loss of a milk contract could end their operation. In June, Maleny Dairies, an independent processor that buys from 11 farms in south-east Queensland, announced it would not renew the supply agreement that has lasted ten years. With about 3.3 million litres of milk produced annually from two farms near Imbil, Rozynski says the farm may have to cull its 600 Brown Swiss cows if a new buyer cannot be found.

Ross Hopper, co-owner of Maleny Dairies, described the move as a business decision driven by an oversupply of milk in the state. The family’s search for another processor has been unsuccessful, even though the Queensland Dairy Plan, launched six months ago, aims to boost milk production by five percent. Industry observers note that limited processing capacity and competition from cheaper southern milk threaten the plan’s goals.