What this class covers
ANZSIC class 6620, Farm Animal and Bloodstock Leasing, classifies businesses whose primary activity is leasing out live farm animals or bloodstock to other operators. This is a specialised segment of the rental and hiring services industry. The defining feature is that the business owning the animals does not manage them; the lessee (the person or business renting the animals) takes on full responsibility for their care, feeding, and day-to-day control. The owner's business model is centred on the rental agreement itself.
This classification is used by various Australian government agencies and industry bodies for data collection, market analysis, and policy development related to the agricultural and equine sectors. It helps distinguish businesses that provide capital assets (the animals) from those that use them for primary production.
Concrete examples of businesses in this class include:
- A company that owns a herd of dairy cows and leases them to sharemilkers, who milk the cows and share in the proceeds.
- An operation that purchases thoroughbred racehorses and leases them out to racing syndicates or trainers for a season.
- A business specialising in leasing breeding stock, such as stud bulls or prize-winning rams, to other farmers to improve genetics.
- An investor who leases out alpacas or goats for land management purposes like weed control.
Primary activities in plain English
Businesses in this class are primarily engaged in the following activities, rephrased into plain English:
- Leasing bloodstock: Racing or breeding horses (e.g., thoroughbreds) to other parties for a fee.
- Leasing dairy cattle for sharemilking: Providing dairy cows to operators who manage the milking process, with profit shared according to the lease agreement.
- General farm animal leasing: Renting out other types of livestock, such as sheep, cattle, or goats, for agricultural purposes.
- Racehorse leasing: Specifically leasing horses for competitive racing, distinct from training or owning them for personal racing.
Exclusions and nearby codes
It is important to note which activities are excluded from this class and classified elsewhere in the ANZSIC system.
The key exclusion is the farming of animals. If your business is directly engaged in breeding, raising, or managing animals for agricultural production (e.g., for meat, wool, or milk), you are not in this leasing class. These activities are included in the appropriate classes of Subdivision 01: Agriculture.
Another important exclusion is training racehorses. Businesses that train horses for racing are classified in Class 9129: Other Horse and Dog Racing Activities, not here. This class is purely for the leasing of the animal asset.
This class sits within Group 662 (of the same name), which is part of the broader Subdivision 66: Rental and Hiring Services (except Real Estate).
Practical guidance
If you operate a business that leases farm animals or bloodstock, accurate classification is crucial for regulatory and administrative purposes.
For ABN registration and tax returns, you must select the industry code that best matches your main business activity. Using ANZSIC class 6620 ensures your business is correctly categorised by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Your Business Industry Code (BIC), used for GST and other reporting, will be derived from this classification (BIC 66200). You may need to register for GST if your annual turnover is $75,000 or more.
For workers' compensation insurance, your state or territory's authority (e.g., WorkSafe, WorkCover) uses these classifications to determine your premium rates. Providing an incorrect classification can lead to incorrect premiums.
When applying for certain grants or industry support, your eligibility may be assessed against your ANZSIC code. This class is specific to leasing services, not primary production, which may affect which programs you can access. Always check the specific criteria of any grant or subsidy.