Thoroughbred Horses

AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses

Commencing in the 2017-18 financial year, a new levy will support priority research, development and extension activities to address thoroughbred industry challenges and opportunities.

This levy provides greater certainty about future RD&E funding for investment in longer term projects.

Key components of the program

Along with breeding productivity and research into reducing horse diseases and parasites, the program may explore:

Research to reduce injury and breakdown of horses in work and training
Improve the safety of industry participants
Enhance the environmental sustainability of the industry.

About the industry

Australia has the second largest thoroughbred breeding industry in the world after the United States, with 660 stud farms across the country, predominantly in NSW, Victoria and Queensland.

These stud farms supply thoroughbred horses to both the domestic and overseas markets. In the 2014–15 season, 19,368 mares were covered to produce 12,871 live foals.

Australia stages more races with more runners than most of Western Europe combined, with Australian-bred mare Winx the top-rated racehorse on turf in the world in 2017.

The thoroughbred racing industry is worth approximately $5 billion/annum to the Australian economy, and employs more than 65,000 people, particularly in rural and regional areas.

Funding

The program is funded by statutory levies paid by industry participants which are matched dollar for dollar by the Australian Government (up to 0.5% of the industry’s GVP).

The levy will be set at a rate of $10/mare covered per season, paid by the stallion owner and $10/mare returned per season, paid by the broodmare owner.

The levy is expected to collect $400,000 from the industry per annum.

Industry Advisory Panel

AgriFutures Australia is committed to working with industry to deliver research and development outcomes. We work in partnership with advisory panels to decide on research priorities and to make investment decisions each year.

Meet the Thoroughbred Horses Advisory Panel

RD&E plan

AgriFutures Australia is currently developing a five-year RD&E plan for the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program.

AgriFutures Australia has undertaken R&D for the broader horse industry since 1995, and delivered valuable outcomes such as improvements in equine neonatal care.

Interim Thoroughbred RD&E Plan 2017-2022

Program news

Contact

Annelies McGaw
Manager, Research
02 6923 6913
0407 987 738
Annelies.McGaw@agrifutures.com.au

Thoroughbred Breeders Australia

Racing Australia

About your levy

Australian primary industries that choose to invest in the levies system prescribe the amount of levy or charge applied to a commodity under the Primary Industries (Customs) Charges Act 1999, Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Act 1999, National Residue Survey (Customs) Levy Act 1998 and the National Residue Survey (Excise) Levy Act 1998.

Levy and charge revenue can be directed to biosecurity preparedness and emergency plant pest and animal disease responses, residue testing, marketing and research and development. It is the decision of a primary industry to determine the proportion of how a levy or charge is directed to each of these activities.

AgriFutures Australia receives the Research & Development levy allocation to invest in line with the industry objectives of the Five Year Research & Development Plan. Up to half of program expenditure, including R&D expenditure, is matched by the Australian Government at up to 0.5% of industry GVP. The graphs below represent the levy breakdown and the annual Program investment inclusive of levy, government and any third party contributions.

The Levy is collected and distributed via the Department of Agriculture. For more information, visit the Department of Agriculture Water and the Environment website.

View the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program income and expenditure for 2018-19 statement.

*Financials are accurate as at March 2020 and subject to change.