What this class covers
ANZSIC class 0160 classifies Australian businesses primarily engaged in dairy cattle farming operations focused on milk production. This classification encompasses operations where the main activity is maintaining dairy herds for raw milk production, which is typically supplied to processors for pasteurisation, cheese-making, or other dairy products. The class includes traditional dairy farms across Australia's major dairy regions including Victoria's Gippsland, Tasmania's northwest, and New South Wales' Riverina.
Practical examples include large-scale commercial dairy operations with hundreds of cows using rotary milking systems, family-run farms supplying milk to local cooperatives, and operations that combine pasture grazing with supplementary feeding systems. The classification also specifically includes sharemilking arrangements, where farmers contract to milk another owner's herd in exchange for a percentage of milk income, a common practice in the Australian dairy industry.
Primary activities in plain English
Businesses in this class typically engage in one or more of these core activities:
- Operating dairy farms primarily for milk production rather than meat
- Producing raw (unprocessed) cattle milk for supply to processors
- Sharemilking arrangements where farmers milk herds under contract for a share of income
- Managing dairy herds including breeding, feeding, and herd health management
- Operating milking sheds and related milk storage and cooling facilities
Exclusions and nearby codes
This class specifically excludes operations focused on dairy cattle for purposes other than milk production. Farming dairy cattle for replacement stock or providing agistment services for dairy cattle falls under ANZSIC 0142: Beef Cattle Farming (Specialised), even when involving dairy breeds.
Businesses primarily processing milk rather than farming (such as cheese factories or milk pasteurisation plants) are classified in manufacturing divisions. Similarly, operations focused on agricultural support services like artificial insemination or veterinary services have separate classifications outside this dairy farming class.
Practical guidance
When registering your business, use ANZSIC 0160 if dairy cattle farming for milk production is your primary activity. This classification affects your Business Industry Code (BIC) for Australian Business Register purposes and helps determine your correct workers' compensation insurance category under state-based schemes.
Dairy farmers should maintain accurate records of milk production and sales for BAS reporting and income tax purposes. This classification may also affect eligibility for certain agricultural grants and disaster assistance programs specifically targeted to the dairy industry. The Australian Bureau of Statistics uses this classification for industry data collection, so accurate reporting helps maintain reliable industry statistics.