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Buffalo Industry Continues Rapid Export Growth

Office of the Chief Minister

The Northern Territory Buffalo Industry has marked its emergence as an up-and-coming economic powerhouse by launching a new Code of Practice today.

Prepared by the Northern Territory Buffalo Industry Council, the practical Code of Practice handbook covers weed management, bushfire management, animal welfare and biosecurity.

The code forms part of the NT buffalo industry’s self-regulation process and promotes public safety, industry productivity and efficiency and encourages innovative, safe and collaborative business practices.

Live buffalo is an emerging export market for the Territory and has been showing strong growth in recent years, including:

  • 10,254 buffalo exported through Darwin Port in 2017-18, a 24 per cent increase on the previous financial year and the highest result on record.

  • 2017 saw the highest yearly volume of buffalo exported through Darwin Port since the Department of Primary Industry and Resources began recording buffalo export statistics in 1990.

  • 9,916 buffalo were exported in 2017 – 4,406 to Malaysia, 4,008 to Vietnam, 1,229 to Indonesia, 148 to Brunei and 125 to Sabah.

  • 2018 also saw high exports of buffalo with 8,673 exported through Darwin Port.

Buffalo industry stakeholders will voluntarily sign up to the code, which is a good step in getting the buffalo industry to take responsibility for the conduct of all parts of the supply chain.

The Code of Practice is available to download from the NT Buffalo Industry Council: www.ntbuffalo.com/code-of-practice/. Printed copies are also available from the Buffalo Industry Council.

Quotes from Minister for Primary Industry and Resources, Paul Kirby:

“The Northern Territory Buffalo Industry is benefiting from a growing export market, something that will help to strengthen the Territory’s economy and create jobs. 

“It is estimated there are more than 150,000 wild buffalo in the Territory and the industry contributes to the Territory economy through export of animals, processing at local abattoirs, and employment in Indigenous communities.

“By implementing the Code of Practice all parties in the buffalo supply chain are signalling their positive intentions to adhere to animal welfare, transport, biosecurity and food safety standards.”

Quotes from Northern Territory Buffalo Industry Council President, Angus Fleming:

“Animal welfare is a critical issue for the Northern Territory buffalo industry to be productive and profitable, and in order to maintain our social licence to operate. 

“The code is commercially significant as a form of industry self-regulation and is intended to create, and maintain confidence in the Northern Territory’s buffalo industry.

“Top End, wild caught buffalo are a world class, clean and green protein source, entirely suitable for feeding the increasingly affluent middle class in South East Asia.”

Media Contact: Carl Pfeiffer 0417 910 720






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