New Zealand Farming
Fast Facts:
- New Zealand has 11,618 dairy herds and 4.25 million dairy cows and heifers in milk in (2008/09). Over time, the number of dairy herds has been decreasing while herd sizes have been on the rise.
- Holstein-Friesian is the prevalent dairy cow breed in New Zealand making up 43% of total dairy cows.
- New Zealand produces about 2% of total world production at around 16 billion litres per annum but, unlike most other countries, around 95% of it's dairy produce is exported rather than consumed by the domestic market.
- New Zealand is the world’s largest butter exporter and accounts for about 44% of all traded butter.
- New Zealand is also an important exporter of skim and whole milk powders, contributing about 27% and 38%, respectively, of world trade.
- Dairy is one of New Zealand’s largest industries, contributing approximately 25% of total merchandise export earnings ($NZ10 billion in 2008-09).
- In recent years, premium speciality cheese products manufactured in New Zealand have increased substantially and there are now over 30 boutique cheese makers, including prize-winning goats’ milk cheeses.
- Development of functional foods is a growing trend in New Zealand’s dairy industry, and includes products such as low-fat, high calcium and protein milk, and biomedical and biohealth products, such as colostrum-based health supplements.
- Organic dairy farms are a growing sector in New Zealand. The largest dairy company, Fonterra, has a number of organic suppliers.
- In 2007-08 16.2 million litres of goats’ milk was processed by the Dairy Goat Co-operative; the main focus of the co-operative lies in manufacturing nutritional products such as infant formula. The Dairy Goat Co-operative developed the world’s first goats’ milk-based infant nutritional product in 1988.
- The Dairy industry's major markets vary for different products. Britain and the European Union are New Zealand's most valuable market for butter. The primary markets for casein and cheese are the United States, Japan, and the European Union, with New Zealand being the world's largest exporter of casein and caseinate products. Our most important milk powder markets are in Central and South America, and Southeast Asia. New Zealand also has the two largest milk powder plants in the world, these being in Hamilton and Taranaki.
The temperate climate is perfect for Dairy Farming and 95% of milk production is from grass. No cattle are wintered indoors. The only crops given are green feed brassica (turnips). Maize is given out as silage or green food.
The main Dairying Areas are Canterbury, Southland, Taranaki and Waikato, but most areas have at least some Dairy Farming. Eighty-five percent of dairy farms are located in the North Island, with one third of all New Zealand dairy farms located in the Waikato/South Auckland region. Taranaki is the second most heavily populated region at 17%. South Island dairy farms account for 15% of the national total.
The Dairy cattle population in New Zealand for the end of 2006 was estimated at around 5.2 million, with the total number of cows & heifers in calf or in milk being estimated to have risen to 4.2 million.
The most popular breeds are - Friesians (59%), and Jerseys (25%) with mixed breeds comprising an additional 16%. Genetic heritage of the herds are New Zealand, Dutch, and American. The average herd size is 322 cows with the average live weight 440 kilograms (across all breeds). Stocking rates average 2.77 cows per hectare with a maximum of 4 cows per hectare.
The average cow production is 325 kilograms of milk solids per cow per year. (Solids are fat and protein). Over 14 billion liters of milk and 1.2 billion kilograms of milk solids are being processed by dairy companies annually. Milking sheds are predominantly Herringbone averaging between 14 to 60 per side. Rotary sheds are becoming more prevalent in larger South Island herds. The average calving season starts around the 20th July (mid Winter) over an 8-10 week period with the bulk of cows calving in the first 4 weeks. Artificial Breeding - 85 % of the national Dairy herd is mated from 10 weeks after start of calving for period of 6 weeks.
References:
www.marketnewzealand.com/MNZ/aboutNZ/sectors/14413/13784.aspx
www.stats.govt.nz/store/2006/12/agricultural-production-statistics-provisional-jun06-mr.htm
www.investmentnz.govt.nz/common/files/Dairy_Feb06.pdf
LIC Dairy Statistics (2005-06)
