A study by ANZ has valued Australia’s farm dog workforce at a staggering $3 billion as farmers struggle to hire and retain good staff.<\/p>\n
The study estimated the nation’s 270,000 working livestock dogs contributed to the economy at an amount similar to Australia’s beef exports to the US in 2023-24.<\/p>\n
ANZ executive director for food, beverage and agribusiness Michael Whitehead said the $3 billion value could be broken down into a number of components.<\/p>\n
“Roughly $800 million is what is being saved in labour by the sector by having dogs there rather than having people,” Mr Whitehead said.<\/p>\n
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Michael Whitehead says working dogs are critical for farmers and regional towns. (Supplied: Michael Whitehead)<\/p>\n
“We’ve estimated about $600 million is in a boost to regional towns from spending that comes from the farm efficiency gain from having these dogs.”<\/p>\n
Mr Whitehead said the benefits stem all the way down to lower vehicle costs, the ability to have larger flocks and herds, and a range of on-farm perks.<\/p>\n
“It’s hard to imagine having enough people to run around the sheep and cattle of Australia, in the yards and the paddocks,” he said.<\/p>\n
“If we didn’t have [the dogs] it would be just a completely different landscape for agriculture, for the regional towns, for the way the whole food supply chain works \u2026 and even the export markets as well.”<\/p>\n
Hoover, the dog that sold for $35,200 at the Casterton Working Dog Auction in 2021. (Supplied: David Lee)<\/p>\n
Working dogs in demand<\/p>\n
Casterton Kelpie Association president Karen Stephens said the demand for working dogs had increased over the past 10 years.<\/p>\n
“We think [the increase] is triggered by the lack of available staff to support farmers in their day-to-day farming activities, which 1756004587 they’re relying on their team of working dogs,” she said.<\/p>\n
“[The dogs] they sit at the back door waiting, they’re keen to work and they always want to work, and they’ll work from the sun-up to sundown, they don’t take holidays, and they don’t take sick leave, so they’re pretty reliable when it comes to that.”<\/p>\n