New Zealand Dairy Statistics 2014 15

New

Zealand Dairy Statistics 2014-15

New ZealandDairy Statistics 2014-15

Copyright in this publication (including text, graphics, logos and icons) is owned by or licensed to DairyNZ and LIC. Other than for the purposes

of, and subject to the conditions prescribed under, the Copyright Act 1994 and similar legislation which applies in your location, and except as

expressly authorised by these terms and conditions, you may not in any form or by any means adapt, reproduce, store, distribute, print, display,

perform, publish or create derivative works from any part of this publication or commercialise any information, products or services obtained

from any part of this publication without our written permission.

Price for hand-held copy: $35.00 (excl. GST). Levy-paying dairy farmers can obtain a free copy by contacting DairyNZ.

New Zealand Dairy Statistics is also available online, at no charge, at: www.lic.co.nz (select News and Publications, followed by Publications), or

at: www.dairynz.co.nz/dairystatistics

LIC

Private Bag 3016

Hamilton 3240

New Zealand

Telephone: 64-7-856 0700

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.lic.co.nz

© 2015 Livestock Improvement Corporation Limited and DairyNZ Limited

DairyNZ

Private Bag 3221

Hamilton 3240

New Zealand

Telephone: 0800 4 DAIRYNZ

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.dairynz.co.nz

DNZ30-004

New Zealand Dairy Statistics 2014-15 1

Contents1. Introduction 4

2. Nationaldairystatistics 5

A.Industrystatistics 5

i)Production 5

ii)Population 6

B.Herdproductionstatistics 8

i)Productionpercowandperhectare 9

ii)Herdsizedistribution 11

3. Regionaldairystatistics 13

A.Region 13

B.District 16

C.Operatingstructures 20

D.Breedbreakdown 24

4. Herdimprovement 25

A.Useofherdtesting 25

B.Herdtestaverages 27

i)Seasonalaverages 27

ii)Monthlyaverages 29

iii)Breedcategoryaverages 31

C.ArtificialBreeding(AB)statistics 33

D.Herdreproduction 38

E.Calving 41

i)Plannedstartofcalvingandmediancalvingdates 41

ii)Calvinginterval 42

F.AnimalEvaluation 43

i)SireEvaluations 43

ii)CowEvaluations 45

5. Pricesreceived 49

A.Milkprices 49

B.Dairyfarmlandprices 50

6. Diseasecontrol 51

A.Tuberculosis(Tb)control 51

Appendix1:Farmingregionsanddistricts 52

New Zealand Dairy Statistics 2014-152

List of tables2.1 Summaryofmilkproductionstatisticsforthelast35seasons 5

2.2 Summaryofherdstatisticssince1975/76 7

2.3 Summaryofherdproductionsince1975/76 8

2.4 Averageproductionpercowbyherdsizein2014/15 11

3.1 Herdanalysisbyregionin2014/15 14

3.2 Herdproductionanalysisbyregionin2014/15 15

3.3 Herdanalysisbydistrictin2014/15 16

3.4 Herdproductionanalysisbydistrictin2014/15 18

3.5 Herdanalysisbyoperatingstructurein2014/15 20

3.6 Herdproductionanalysisbyoperatingstructurein2014/15 21

3.7 Trendinthepercentageofherdsineachoperatingstructureforthelast10seasons 21

3.8 Trendinthenumberofherdsineachoperatingstructureforthelast10seasons 21

3.9 Operatingstructurebyregionin2014/15 22

3.10 Operatingstructurebyherdsizein2014/15 23

4.1 Trendintheuseofherdtestingservicesforthelast20seasons 25

4.2 Useofherdtestingbyregionin2014/15 26

4.3 Seasonherdtestaveragespercowbyregionin2014/15 27

4.4 Trendinthenationalherdtestaveragesforthelast20seasons 28

4.5 Monthlyherdtestaveragesbyregionin2014/15 29

4.6 Herdtestaveragesbybreedcategoryandcowagein2014/15 31

4.7 Liveweightbyageandbreedcategoryofcowin2014/15 32

4.8 TrendinArtificialBreedinguseforthelastnineseasonsbyregion:CowsandyearlingstoAB 33

4.9 Meanherdreproductiveperformancesince2008/09 38

4.10 Mean6-weekin-calfratebyfarmingregionforthelastthreeseasons 39

4.11 Actual6-weekin-calfratein2014/15 39

4.12 Estimated6-weekin-calfratein2014/15 40

4.13 Meancalvingintervalbybreedsince2000/01 42

4.14 Economicvaluesusedfrom16February2015 43

4.15 AverageBreedingValuesandBreedingWorthof2010-bornbulls 44

4.16 Numberofsiresbybirthyearandbreedcategory 44

4.17 HerdBreedingWorthin2014/15 45

4.18 HerdProductionWorthin2014/15 45

4.19 CowBreedingWorthin2014/15 46

4.20 CowProductionWorthin2014/15 46

4.21 AverageBreedingWorthandBreedingValuesofallcowsbybreedcategorybornin2012 48

4.22 Survivabilitypercentagessince1996/97 48

5.1 Trendinpricesreceivedformilksolidsforthelast20seasons 49

5.2 Trendindairylandsalevaluessince2009/10 50

6.1 Tuberculosis(Tb)testingandresultsin2014/15 51


List of graphs2.1 Trend in the number of herds and average herd size for the last 30 seasons 6

2.2 Milksolid production per cow and per effective hectare since 1992/93 9

2.3 Distribution of herds by milksolids production per cow for the last three seasons 10

2.4 Herd size distribution for 2014/15 compared with 2004/05 12

3.1 Regional distribution of dairy cows in 2014/15 13

3.2 Breed category percentages of cows for New Zealand in 2014/15 24

3.3 Breed category percentages of cows by region in 2014/15 24

4.1 Trend in the percentage of herds testing for the last 30 seasons 26

4.2 Average milkfat and protein production per cow by region in 2014/15 28

4.3 Liveweight by age and by breed category of cow in 2014/15 32

4.4 Trend in the percentage of cows to Artificial Breeding for the last 30 seasons 34

4.5 Average number of inseminations per cow for the last 20 seasons 35

4.6 Ayrshire semen usage (%) over breed category for the last five seasons 35

4.7 Holstein-Friesian / Jersey Crossbreed semen usage (%) over breed category for the last five seasons 36

4.8 Jersey semen usage (%) over breed category for the last five seasons 36

4.9 Holstein-Friesian semen usage (%) over breed category for the last five seasons 36

4.10 Trend in the percentage of inseminations of each breed category for the last 40 seasons 37

4.11 Mean actual and estimated 6-week in-calf rate since 2008/09 38

4.12 Distribution of actual 6-week in-calf rate in 2014/15 39

4.13 Distribution of estimated 6-week in-calf rate in 2014/15 40

4.14 Planned start of calving and median calving dates for cows (excluding first calvers) by region 41

4.15 Trend in planned start of calving dates for cows (excluding first calvers) by region 42

4.16 Genetic trend of proven dairy bulls by year of birth 44

4.17 Distribution of Herd Breeding Worth in 2014/15 45

4.18 Distribution of Herd Production Worth in 2014/15 45

4.19 Distribution of Cow Breeding Worth in 2014/15 46

4.20 Distribution of Cow Production Worth in 2014/15 46

4.21 Trend in Breeding Worth for all cows 47

4.22 Trend in Production Worth for all cows 47

5.1 Trend in milksolids payout to dairy farmers for the last 30 seasons 50


1. Introduction

The purpose of New Zealand Dairy Statistics is to provide statistical information related to the New Zealand Dairy Industry. Funding is provided

by Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) and DairyNZ Incorporated (dairy farmer levy). Contributors include New Zealand Animal Evaluation

Limited.

Data are sourced from the LIC Herd Improvement Database, New Zealand dairy companies, Animal Evaluation database, TB Free New Zealand,

Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, and Statistics New Zealand.

New Zealand Dairy Statistics 2014/15 is a report that shows historical information up to and including the 2014/15 season. Data for seasons

prior to 2006/07 were released under Dairy Statistics from 1998/99 to 2005/06, Annual Report (Livestock Improvement Division) in 1987/88,

Livestock Improvement Report from 1984/85 to 1986/87, and New Zealand Dairy Board Farm Production Report up to 1983/84.

Prior to 1991/92 the information for the Dairy Statistics publication was obtained primarily from the analysis of the New Zealand Dairy Industry

Cow Census (an annual survey of all dairy farmers). The 1991/92 Dairy Statistics publication was a transition year for which only minimal data

was available.

As of March 2002, LIC became a user-owned co-operative, with responsibility for farm production activities and, in particular, dairy herd

improvement and herd records.

LIC’s activities can broadly be described as genetics, information and advice. Services provided to farmers include farm management

information, automation technologies, herd testing and artificial breeding services, DNA analysis, a farm advisory service, research to improve

farm profitability, statistical information related to the New Zealand dairy industry, and herd recording on the LIC Database. For more

information, visit www.lic.co.nz.

DairyNZ is the industry organisation representing New Zealand’s dairy farmers, funded by farmers through a levy on milksolids. DairyNZ’s

purpose is to secure and enhance the profitability, sustainability and competitiveness of New Zealand dairy farming. For more information, visit

www.dairynz.co.nz.


2. National dairy statistics

A. Industry statistics

i) Production

• 3.6% increase in milksolids processed

In 2014/15, dairy companies processed 21.3 billion litres of milk containing 1.89 billion kilograms of milksolids (Table 2.1). Total milksolids

processed increased by 3.6% from the 1.83 billion kilograms processed in the previous season. This was a record level of milk production and

56 per cent higher than 2004/05.

Table 2.1: Summary of milk production statistics for the last 35 seasons

Season Milk processed (million litres)

Milkfat processed (million kgs)

Protein processed (million kgs)

Milksolids processed (million kgs)

1980/81 5,868 282 209 491

1981/82 5,979 282 209 491

1982/83 6,096 290 214 505

1983/84 6,733 324 239 564

1984/85 6,965 332 245 578

1985/86 7,326 350 257 609

1986/87 6,385 301 222 524

1987/88 6,921 333 245 579

1988/89 6,533 311 237 541

1989/90 6,868 330 242 572

1990/91 7,077 343 254 599

1991/92 7,454 365 270 637

1992/93 7,629 373 277 651

1993/94 8,603 423 313 736

1994/95 8,633 422 311 733

1995/96 9,325 452 335 788

1996/97 10,339 506 375 880

1997/98 10,651 513 378 891

1998/99 10,563 503 377 880

1999/00 11,630 560 421 981

2000/01 12,925 626 470 1,096

2001/02 13,607 657 495 1,152

2002/03 13,906 676 515 1,191

2003/04 14,599 716 538 1,254

2004/05 14,103 694 519 1,213

2005/06 14,702 724 543 1,267

2006/07 15,134 750 566 1,316

2007/08 14,745 722 548 1,270

2008/09 16,044 791 602 1,393

2009/10 16,483 817 622 1,438

2010/11 17,339 859 654 1,513

2011/12 19,129 954 731 1,685

2012/13 18,883 939 719 1,658

2013/14 20,657 1,034 791 1,825

2014/15 21,253 1,067 823 1,890

Note: Prior to 1998/99, Table 2.1 consisted of milk production statistics that were processed into export products (i.e., town milk supply was excluded). These statistics on milk, milkfat, protein and milksolids processed were provided by the New Zealand Dairy Board and are no longer available. Consequently, totals from 1998/99 include all milk processed by New Zealand dairy companies, including milk for the domestic market.


ii) Population

• Seventh consecutive season of small increase in the number of herds

• Cow numbers surpass 5 million cows

Between 1980/81 and 2007/08 total herd numbers declined at an average rate of about 170 herds per season (Graph 2.1). However, the total

number of herds in the 2014/15 season increased by 43 to 11,970. This was the seventh consecutive season of small increases in herd

numbers.

The average herd size was 419 in 2014/15, up 6 cows on the previous season. The average herd size has tripled in the last 30 seasons, and has

increased by over 100 cows in the last 10 seasons. Expansion of the dairy herd in the South Island has assisted the increase in average herd

sizes.

Graph 2.1: Trend in the number of herds and average herd size for the last 30 seasons

20,000

19,000

18,000

17,000

16,000

15,000

14,000

13,000

12,000

11,000

10,000

9,000

8,000

7,000

6,000

5,000

1984

/85

1985

/86

1986

/87

1987

/88

1988

/89

1989

/90

1990

/91

1991

/92

1992

/93

1993

/94

1994

/95

1995

/96

1996

/97

1997

/98

1998

/99

1999

/00

2000

/01

2001

/02

2002

/03

2003

/04

2004

/05

2005

/06

2006

/07

2007

/08

2008

/09

2009

/10

2010

/11

2011

/12

2012

/13

2013

/14

2014

/15

480460440420400380360340320300280260240220200180160140120

Season

Num

bero

fher

ds

Her

dsi

ze

Number of herds Average herd size


The total cow population in the 2014/15 season was 5.02 million (Table 2.2), an increase of 1.9% over the previous season. This is the first

time cows milked have surpassed 5 million. In 2007/08 (7 seasons ago) cows milked surpassed 4 million for the first time. Average effective

hectares increased slightly to 146 hectares. A stocking rate of 2.87 cows per hectare was similar to previous seasons. Total effective hectares

(support block excluded) were 1.75 million – an increase of about 30,000 ha on the previous season.

Table 2.2: Summary of herd statistics since 1975/76

Season Herds Total cows

Total effective hectaresa

Average herd size

Average effective hectaresb

Average cows per hectareb

1975/76 18,442 2,091,950 - 113 - -

1980/81 16,089 2,027,096 - 126 - -

1985/86 15,753 2,321,012 1,008,192 147 64 2.30

1990/91 14,685 2,402,145 1,023,545 164 70 2.35

1991/92 14,452 2,438,641 - 169 - -

1992/93 14,458 2,603,049 1,069,892 180 74 2.43

1993/94 14,597 2,736,452 1,122,509 188 77 2.44

1994/95 14,649 2,830,977 1,175,940 193 80 2.41

1995/96 14,736 2,935,759 1,208,352 199 82 2.43

1996/97 14,741 3,064,523 1,267,726 208 86 2.42

1997/98 14,673 3,222,591 1,276,551 220 87 2.52

1998/99 14,362 3,289,319 1,306,942 229 91 2.52

1999/00 13,861 3,269,362 1,292,566 236 93 2.53

2000/01 13,892 3,485,883 1,329,173 251 96 2.62

2001/02 13,649 3,692,703 1,404,930 271 103 2.63

2002/03 13,140 3,740,637 1,463,281 285 111 2.56

2003/04 12,751 3,851,302 1,421,147 302 111 2.71

2004/05 12,271 3,867,659 1,411,594 315 115 2.74

2005/06 11,883 3,832,145 1,398,966 322 118 2.74

2006/07 11,630 3,916,812 1,412,925 337 121 2.77

2007/08 11,436 4,012,867 1,436,549 351 126 2.79

2008/09 11,618 4,252,881 1,519,117 366 131 2.80

2009/10 11,691 4,396,675 1,563,495 376 134 2.81

2010/11 11,735 4,528,736 1,638,706 386 140 2.76

2011/12 11,798 4,634,226 1,638,546 393 139 2.83

2012/13 11,891 4,784,250 1,677,395 402 141 2.85

2013/14 11,927 4,922,806 1,716,464 413 144 2.87

2014/15 11,970 5,018,333 1,746,156 419 146 2.87

- Not available a Total effective hectares between 1981/82 and 1999/00 are estimates.b Average effective hectares and average cows per hectare for 1981/82 to 1990/91 are based on factory supply herds only.Note: The number of cows used to calculate the average herd size since 1992/93 includes all cows lactating in that season, whereas in earlier years the number of cows used to produce the average herd size was based only on those cows lactating on 31 December. This change in method has had a small effect on reported cow numbers


B. Herd production statistics

• Record milk production

Herd production has increased most years since 1992/93 (Table 2.3). Exceptions were evident in 1998/99, 2007/08 and 2012/13 when

production declined due to drought conditions. In contrast, the average milksolids per effective hectare of 1,082 kg in 2014/15 was a new

record, and 19 kg/ha higher than the previous season. Production per cow increased by 1.6% in 2014/15 to an average of 377 kg milksolids

(comprising 213 kg milkfat and 164 kg protein).

Table 2.3: Summary of herd production since 1975/76

Season Average litres per

herd

Average kg milkfat per

herd

Average kg protein per

herd

Average kg milksolids

per herd


effective hectare


effective hectare


per effective hectare

Average litres per

cow

Average kg milkfat

per cow

Average kg protein

per cow


per cow

1975/76a - 15,700 - - - - - - 137 - -

1980/81a - 18,864 - - - - - - 147 - -

1985/86a - 23,489 - - 379 - - - 157 - -

1990/91a - 24,495 - - 351 - - - 148 - -

1991/92b - 26,567 - - - - - - 157 - -

1992/93 554,040 26,982 20,138 47,120 374 279 653 - 148 111 259

1993/94 618,139 30,220 22,458 52,678 407 301 708 - 160 119 278

1994/95 614,203 29,886 22,117 52,002 386 285 671 - 156 115 271

1995/96 663,248 32,050 23,827 55,877 405 300 705 - 163 120 283

1996/97 728,874 35,436 26,387 61,823 425 316 741 - 173 128 301

1997/98 752,399 36,383 26,984 63,367 430 318 748 - 168 124 292

1998/99 735,544 35,047 26,254 61,301 392 292 684 - 147 109 256

1999/00 839,066 40,365 30,396 70,761 439 329 768 - 165 123 288

2000/01 930,047 45,063 33,850 78,914 472 353 825 - 177 133 310

2001/02 996,904 48,137 36,300 84,436 471 353 824 - 175 132 307

2002/03 1,058,307 51,447 39,174 90,621 471 357 828 - 179 136 315

2003/04 1,144,938 56,150 42,171 98,321 509 380 889 3,737 184 138 322

2004/05 1,149,262 56,520 42,305 98,825 494 368 862 3,574 176 132 308

2005/06 1,237,228 60,955 45,705 106,660 520 387 907 3,763 186 139 325

2006/07 1,301,308 64,495 48,687 113,182 534 400 934 3,791 189 142 330

2007/08 1,289,337 63,158 47,876 111,033 498 375 873 3,567 175 132 307

2008/09 1,381,573 68,116 51,850 119,966 524 396 921 3,710 184 139 323

2009/10 1,409,875 69,859 53,184 123,043 519 392 912 3,642 181 137 318

2010/11 1,477,531 73,184 55,762 128,946 524 399 923 3,829 190 144 334

2011/12 1,621,344 80,875 61,936 142,811 582 446 1,028 4,128 206 158 364

2012/13 1,587,980 78,948 60,462 139,410 560 429 988 3,947 196 150 346

2013/14 1,731,985 86,682 66,330 153,012 602 461 1,063 4,196 210 161 371

2014/15 1,775,501 89,152 68,734 157,885 611 471 1,082 4,235 213 164 377

- Not available a Figures prior to 1991/92 exclude town milk herdsb 1991/92 figures include some town milk herds


i) Production per cow and per hectare

Average milksolids per cow in 2014/15 was 377 kg, compared with 371 kg last season (Graph 2.2). Average milk production per hectare was

1,082 kg – well above last season’s 1,063 kg. Variations from season to season are masked by the considerable effect of the weather on each

season’s actual production. For example, widespread drought in 2012/13 caused milk production to decline while in 2013/14 and 2014/15

favourable pasture growth conditions, coupled with increased supplementary feed use enabled record milk production.

Graph 2.2: Milksolid production per cow and per effective hectare since 1992/93

400

360

320

280

240

200

1,200

1,100

1,000

900

800

700

600

1992

/93

1993

/94

1994

/95

1995

/96

1996

/97

1997

/98

1998

/99

1999

/00

2000

/01

2001

/02

2002

/03

2003

/04

2004

/05

2005

/06

2006

/07

2007

/08

2008

/09

2009

/10

2010

/11

2011

/12

2012

/13

2013

/14

2014

/15

Ave

rage

kg

milk

solid

spe

rcow

Ave

rage

kg

milk

solid

spe

reff

ectiv

ehe

ctar

e

Season

Average kg milksolids per cow Average kg milksolids per effective hectare


Average production per cow varies considerably from farm to farm. This variation is caused by many factors, including temperature, rainfall,

soil fertility, stocking rate, the genetic merit of the herd, level of supplementary feed and farm management practice. Graph 2.3 shows the

distribution of milksolids production in 2014/15 compared with the previous two seasons. Thirty-six per cent of the herds had an average

production of over 400 kilograms milksolids per cow, compared with 33% the previous season and 21% in 2012/13.

Graph 2.3: Distribution of herds by milksolids production per cow for the last three seasons

18

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

<150

150-

174

175-

199

200-

224

225-

249

250-

274

275-

299

300-

324

325-

349

350-

374

375-

399

400-

424

425-

449

450-

474

475-

-499

500-

224

525-

549

550-

574

575-

599

600+

Perc

enta

geo

fher

ds

Averagekgmilksolidspercow

2012/13 2013/14 2014/15


ii) Herd size distribution

• 12% of herds have 750 or more cows

A little over 50% (6,135) of herds have between 100 and 349 cows (Table 2.4). In 2014/15, 3,435 (29%) had 500 or more cows, 1,458 (12%)

had 750 or more cows, and 612 (5%) had 1,000 cows or more. Averages of milkfat, protein and milksolids per cow, by herd size, are also

included in Table 2.4.

Aside from the 225 herds with fewer than 100 animals, the average milksolids per cow varies between 306 kg (herds with 1,500+ cows) and

398 kg (herds with 850-899 cows).

Table 2.4: Average production per cow by herd size in 2014/15

Herd size Number of herds

Percentage of herds

Number of cows

Percentage of cows

Average kg milkfat per cow

Average kg protein per cow

Average kg milksolids per cow

10-49 6 0.1 231 0.0 230 172 401

50-99 219 1.8 17,134 0.3 153 117 270

100-149 714 6.0 89,597 1.8 189 145 334

150-199 1,309 10.9 226,428 4.5 202 154 356

200-249 1,658 13.9 366,074 7.3 210 160 370

250-299 1,244 10.4 334,886 6.7 214 163 377

300-349 1,210 10.1 386,006 7.7 212 162 374

350-399 806 6.7 297,219 5.9 214 163 377

400-449 783 6.5 327,432 6.5 218 167 384

450-499 586 4.9 274,172 5.5 216 166 382

500-549 568 4.7 292,861 5.8 220 169 389

550-599 445 3.7 253,463 5.1 217 167 384

600-649 414 3.5 254,884 5.1 222 171 393

650-699 282 2.4 187,661 3.7 219 170 388

700-749 268 2.2 191,461 3.8 220 173 393

750-799 233 1.9 178,809 3.6 220 172 392

800-849 221 1.8 179,665 3.6 221 172 393

850-899 131 1.1 113,427 2.3 224 174 398

900-949 161 1.3 146,749 2.9 219 169 388

950-999 100 0.8 96,409 1.9 218 171 389

1000-1099 182 1.5 186,916 3.7 213 166 379

1100-1199 129 1.1 146,395 2.9 215 169 384

1200-1499 168 1.4 218,943 4.4 210 164 375

1500+ 133 1.1 251,511 5.0 172 134 306

Total/Avg 11,970 5,018,333 213 164 377


The herd size distribution presented in Graph 2.4 shows an increase in larger herds (400+ cows) and a decrease in herds with fewer than 350

cows compared with 2004/05. The most common herd size remains in the range 200 to 249 cows (comprising 13.9% of herds, compared

with 17.6% in 2004/05).

Graph 2.4: Herd size distribution for 2014/15 compared with 2004/05

20

18

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

10-4

9

50-9

9

100-

149

150-

199

200-

249

250-

299

300-

349

350-

399

400-

449

450-

499

500-

549

550-

599

600-

649

650-

699

700-

749

750-

799

800-

849

850-

899

900-

949

950-

999

1000

-109

9

1100

-119

9

1200

-149

9

1500

+

Perc

enta

geo

fher

ds

Herdsize

2004/05 2014/15


3. Regional dairy statistics

A. Region

• 74% of dairy herds located in North Island

• 60% of dairy cows located in the North Island

The majority of dairy herds (74%) are located in the North Island, with the greatest concentration (29%) situated in the Waikato region.

Taranaki, with 14% of dairy herds, is the next largest region.

Although South Island dairy herds account for 26% of the national total, they contain 40% of all cows (Graph 3.1). Twenty-three per cent of

all dairy cows are located in the Waikato region, followed by North Canterbury (13%), Southland (11%) and Taranaki (10%).

Graph 3.1: Regional distribution of dairy cows in 2014/15

Northland

5.7%

Nelson/Marlborough

1.7%

Otago

5.3%

North Canterbury

13.4%

West Coast

3.1%

Manawatu

4.4%

Taranaki

9.9%

Western Uplands

0.9%

Waikato

23.4%

Auckland

2.3%Bay of Plenty

4.0%

Central Plateau

5.2%Hawkes Bay

1.0%

Wairarapa

3.4%

South Canterbury

4.9%

Southland

11.4%

East Coast

0.1%NorthIsland

60.2%

SouthIsland

39.8%


• 2 million cows in the South Island

• Largest average herd size (808) in North Canterbury

• South Island average herd sizes increasing faster than North Island

Farms in the South Island are, on average, larger than those in the North Island (both in terms of farm area and cow numbers, see Table 3.1).

Sixty per cent of all cows are in the North Island, with 23% in the Waikato region. The average herd size in both islands continues to increase.

Within the South Island, North Canterbury has the largest average herd size (808 cows). In the North Island, Hawkes Bay has the largest

average herd size of 652 cows. The smallest average herd sizes are in Auckland, Taranaki, and Northland, averaging 272, 291 and 311 cows

respectively. North Canterbury has the highest average cows per hectare (3.50), followed closely by South Canterbury (3.41). The regions with

the lowest average cows per hectare are the West Coast (2.20), Northland (2.28) and Auckland (2.42).

Table 3.1: Herd analysis by region in 2014/15

Farming region Total herds Percentage of herds

Total cows Percentage of cows

Total effective hectares

Percentage of effective

hectares

Average herd size

Average effective hectares

Average cows per

hectare

Northland 917 7.7 285,395 5.7 125,101 7.2 311 136 2.28

Auckland 419 3.5 114,078 2.3 47,063 2.7 272 112 2.42

Waikato 3,507 29.3 1,173,420 23.4 395,304 22.6 335 113 2.97

Bay of Plenty 597 5.0 200,764 4.0 70,788 4.1 336 119 2.84

Central Plateau 483 4.0 261,995 5.2 95,952 5.5 542 199 2.73

Western Uplands 90 0.8 46,265 0.9 18,388 1.1 514 204 2.52

East Coast 8 0.1 4,690 0.1 1,740 0.1 586 218 2.70

Hawkes Bay 75 0.6 48,920 1.0 17,323 1.0 652 231 2.82

Taranaki 1,705 14.2 496,464 9.9 174,321 10.0 291 102 2.85

Manawatu 555 4.6 220,020 4.4 79,950 4.6 396 144 2.75

Wairarapa 462 3.9 169,077 3.4 60,949 3.5 366 132 2.77

NorthIsland 8,818 73.7 3,021,088 60.2 1,086,879 62.2 343 123 2.78

Nelson/Marlborough 237 2.0 87,694 1.7 30,895 1.8 370 130 2.84

West Coast 376 3.1 155,535 3.1 70,812 4.1 414 188 2.20

North Canterbury 833 7.0 672,828 13.4 192,082 11.0 808 231 3.50

South Canterbury 304 2.5 244,075 4.9 71,476 4.1 803 235 3.41

Otago 431 3.6 263,993 5.3 87,074 5.0 613 202 3.03

Southland 971 8.1 573,120 11.4 206,938 11.9 590 213 2.77

SouthIsland 3,152 26.3 1,997,245 39.8 659,277 37.8 634 209 3.03

NewZealand 11,970 5,018,333 1,746,156 419 146 2.87


• Highest average production recorded in North Canterbury

South Island farms have, on average, higher herd production than herds in the North Island, with North Canterbury recording the highest

average herd production at 335,874 kilograms of milksolids (Table 3.2). This reflects a combination of larger herd sizes, a high stocking rate,

and high kilograms of milksolids per cow. In the North Island, Hawkes Bay recorded the highest average herd production of 233,909 kilograms

of milksolids, reflecting large herd sizes.

In 2014/15, average production per effective hectare and production per cow was higher in the South Island than in the North Island. North

Canterbury recorded the highest average milksolids per hectare in the South Island (1,457 kg), while Taranaki had the highest average

milksolids production per hectare in the North Island (1,124 kg).

North Canterbury also had the highest average milksolids per cow (416 kg). In the North Island, Taranaki and Manawatu had the highest

average milksolids per cow – both at 395 kg.

Table 3.2: Herd production analysis by region in 2014/15

Farming region Total kg milksolids

Per cent milk-solids

Average litres per

herd

Average kg milkfat

per herd


herd


per herd


effective hectare


effective hectare




cow


cow


per cow

Northland 90,337,798 4.8 1,125,105 55,985 42,529 98,515 410 312 722 180 137 317

Auckland 38,677,604 2.0 1,061,842 52,137 40,172 92,309 464 358 822 191 148 339

Waikato 434,369,678 23.0 1,398,100 70,338 53,520 123,858 624 475 1,099 210 160 370

Bay of Plenty 72,802,119 3.9 1,398,087 68,992 52,955 121,947 582 447 1,028 205 157 363

Central Plateau 97,829,041 5.2 2,306,108 115,312 87,232 202,545 580 439 1,020 213 161 373

Western Uplands 14,186,015 0.8 1,763,284 89,531 68,091 157,622 438 333 771 174 132 307

East Coast 1,409,204 0.1 2,021,840 99,347 76,803 176,150 457 353 810 169 131 300

Hawkes Bay 17,543,153 0.9 2,689,648 130,974 102,935 233,909 567 446 1,013 201 158 359

Taranaki 196,015,587 10.4 1,254,624 65,494 49,471 114,965 641 484 1,124 225 170 395

Manawatu 86,985,999 4.6 1,802,618 88,003 68,729 156,732 611 477 1,088 222 173 395

Wairarapa 60,786,623 3.2 1,466,345 74,651 56,922 131,573 566 431 997 204 156 360

NorthIsland 1,110,942,818 58.8 1,420,040 71,492 54,494 125,986 580 442 1,022 209 159 368

Nelson/Marlborough 31,925,139 1.7 1,482,336 76,657 58,048 134,705 588 445 1,033 207 157 364

West Coast 53,801,809 2.8 1,547,226 82,061 61,029 143,090 436 324 760 198 148 346

North Canterbury 279,782,803 14.8 3,801,201 187,499 148,375 335,874 813 643 1,457 232 184 416

South Canterbury 96,296,086 5.1 3,556,600 177,421 139,343 316,763 755 593 1,347 221 174 395

Otago 98,871,180 5.2 2,585,245 128,450 100,950 229,400 636 500 1,135 210 165 375

Southland 218,265,412 11.5 2,508,670 125,870 98,914 224,784 591 464 1,055 213 168 381

SouthIsland 778,942,429 41.2 2,769,935 138,555 108,571 247,126 662 519 1,182 219 171 390

NewZealand 1,889,885,247 100.0 1,775,501 89,152 68,734 157,885 611 471 1,082 213 164 377


B. District

South Taranaki continues to be the district with the most herds (1,021) followed by Matamata-Piako (972). The Southland district has the most

cows (422,343), followed by Ashburton (346,684) (Table 3.3). MacKenzie in South Canterbury has the highest average herd size with 904

cows. The next highest is Hurunui in North Canterbury, with 892 cows. The number of owner-operators and sharemilkers is included in Table

3.3. Sixty-seven per cent of herds are run as owner-operators, while the remainder are run as sharemilkers of various types (Table 3.5).

Table 3.3: Herd analysis by district in 2014/15

Region District Total herds Number of owner-

operators

Number of share-

milkers

Total cows Total effective hectares

Average herd size


Average cows per

hectare

Northland Far North 263 203 60 78,590 34,931 299 133 2.25

Whangarei 309 214 88 100,761 42,045 326 136 2.40

Kaipara 345 273 72 106,044 48,125 307 139 2.20

Auckland Rodney 157 105 52 43,340 19,731 276 126 2.20

Manukau / Papakura 17 9 8 3,688 1,476 217 87 2.50

Franklin 245 142 101 67,050 25,856 274 106 2.59

Waikato Waikato 687 461 224 231,517 81,729 337 119 2.83

Hamilton City 15 8 7 4,384 1,526 292 102 2.87

Waipa 570 376 194 202,331 65,807 355 115 3.07

Otorohanga 378 244 134 141,865 47,970 375 127 2.96

Thames-Coromandel 95 66 29 27,675 10,558 291 111 2.62

Hauraki 408 283 124 116,743 41,611 286 102 2.81

Matamata-Piako 972 592 380 294,701 94,484 303 97 3.12

South Waikato 382 254 128 154,204 51,619 404 135 2.99

Bay of Plenty Western Bay of Plenty 199 145 53 70,919 24,252 356 122 2.92

Tauranga 17 11 6 5,840 2,077 344 122 2.81

Kawerau/Whakatane 306 224 82 99,848 35,838 326 117 2.79

Opotiki 75 44 31 24,157 8,621 322 115 2.80

Central Plateau Taupo 161 116 45 121,861 45,295 757 281 2.69

Rotorua 322 221 101 140,134 50,657 435 157 2.77

Western Uplands Waitomo 63 41 22 33,642 13,405 534 213 2.51

Ruapehu 27 16 11 12,623 4,983 468 185 2.53

East Coast Gisborne / Wairoa 8 7 1 4,690 1,740 586 218 2.70

Hawkes Bay Napier / Hastings 32 27 5 19,903 7,151 622 223 2.78

Central Hawkes Bay 43 36 7 29,017 10,172 675 237 2.85

Taranaki New Plymouth 436 278 158 114,680 42,890 263 98 2.67

Stratford 248 172 76 61,880 23,123 250 93 2.68

South Taranaki 1,021 620 401 319,904 108,308 313 106 2.95

Manawatu Wanganui 21 16 5 8,186 2,969 390 141 2.76

Rangitikei 90 72 18 42,914 15,589 477 173 2.75

Manawatu 257 185 72 98,091 35,781 382 139 2.74

Palmerston North City 49 38 10 18,854 6,887 385 141 2.74

Horowhenua 118 89 29 46,088 16,374 391 139 2.81

Kapiti Coast / Upper Hutt 20 15 5 5,887 2,350 294 118 2.51

Wairarapa Tararua 306 215 91 101,637 37,451 332 122 2.71

Masterton 18 12 6 8,749 2,971 486 165 2.94

Carterton 56 49 7 21,369 7,798 382 139 2.74

South Wairarapa 82 56 26 37,322 12,729 455 155 2.93

NorthIsland 8,818 5,935 2,869 3,021,088 1,086,879 343 123 2.78


(table 3.3 continued)

Region District Total herds Number of owner-

operators

Number of share-

milkers

Total cows Total effective hectares

Average herd size


Average cows per

hectare

Nelson/Marlborough Marlborough 56 42 13 16,661 5,700 298 102 2.92

Kaikoura 24 14 10 10,662 3,512 444 146 3.04

Tasman / Nelson City

157 135 22 60,371 21,683 385 138 2.78

West Coast Buller 131 102 29 52,300 22,793 399 174 2.29

Grey 87 63 24 41,901 18,411 482 212 2.28

Westland 158 123 35 61,334 29,608 388 187 2.07

North Canterbury Hurunui 89 67 22 79,398 21,755 892 244 3.65

Waimakariri 105 74 31 65,213 19,119 621 182 3.41

Christchurch City 25 19 6 20,517 5,862 821 234 3.50

Banks Peninsula 8 5 3 2,161 889 270 111 2.43

Selwyn 218 168 50 160,955 49,063 738 225 3.28

Ashburton 389 264 125 346,684 95,854 891 246 3.62

South Canterbury Timaru 174 122 52 131,178 37,420 754 215 3.51

MacKenzie 15 8 7 13,567 4,789 904 319 2.83

Waimate 114 61 52 97,230 28,807 853 253 3.38

Otago Waitaki 141 59 82 103,665 30,592 735 217 3.39

Dunedin City 64 38 26 27,476 9,307 429 145 2.95

Clutha 200 124 61 110,703 39,004 554 195 2.84

Central Otago 26 17 9 22,149 8,171 852 314 2.71

Southland Gore 168 112 55 98,510 36,360 586 216 2.71

Invercargill 94 60 34 52,267 19,146 556 204 2.73

Southland 709 447 262 422,343 151,432 596 214 2.79

SouthIsland 3,152 2,124 1,010 1,997,245 659,277 634 209 3.03

NewZealand 11,970 8,059 3,879 5,018,333 1,746,156 419 146 2.87

Note: Districts with fewer than four herds have been added to a neighbouring district to preserve anonymity


Ashburton had the highest average production per herd with 374,191 kilograms of milksolids followed by Hurunui with 367,328 kilograms of

milksolids (Table 3.4). Ashburton district also had the highest average milksolids per effective hectare with 1,519 kilograms. Ashburton and

Waimakariri recorded the highest production per cow (420 kg of milksolids). The North Island district that has the highest milksolids production

per herd is Taupo with an average of 275,746 kilograms of milksolids. Of all the North Island districts, South Waikato produced the highest

average kilograms of milksolids per hectare (1,194). Horowhenua produced the highest average kilograms of milksolids per cow (403) followed

closely by South Taranaki (402).

Table 3.4: Herd production analysis by district in 2014/15

Region District Average litres per

herd


herd


herd


per herd


effective hectare


effective hectare




cow


cow


per cow

Northland Far North 1,062,042 52,460 39,883 92,343 395 300 695 176 133 309

Whangarei 1,204,333 60,805 45,822 106,627 447 337 784 186 141 327

Kaipara 1,102,219 54,355 41,598 95,953 390 298 688 177 135 312

Auckland Rodney / Auckland 999,583 49,983 38,101 88,084 398 303 701 181 138 319

Manukau / Papakura 839,051 40,646 31,156 71,802 468 359 827 187 144 331

Franklin 1,117,197 54,315 42,125 96,440 515 399 914 198 154 352

Waikato Waikato 1,380,369 68,856 52,546 121,401 579 442 1,020 204 156 360

Hamilton City 1,289,945 63,274 48,485 111,759 622 477 1,099 216 166 382

Waipa 1,523,503 76,587 58,314 134,901 663 505 1,168 216 164 380

Otorohanga 1,505,779 75,999 57,597 133,596 599 454 1,053 202 153 356

Thames-Coromandel 1,096,280 55,144 41,913 97,057 496 377 873 189 144 333

Hauraki 1,116,694 55,686 42,666 98,352 546 418 964 195 149 344

Matamata-Piako 1,274,097 64,930 49,189 114,119 668 506 1,174 214 162 376

South Waikato 1,831,714 91,547 69,778 161,325 677 516 1,194 227 173 400

Bay of Plenty Western Bay of Plenty 1,419,652 71,644 54,269 125,913 588 445 1,033 201 152 353

Tauranga 1,301,361 64,949 49,470 114,419 532 405 937 189 144 333

Kawerau/Whakatane 1,418,300 69,136 53,377 122,513 590 456 1,046 212 164 375

Opotiki 1,280,320 62,287 48,531 110,818 542 422 964 193 151 344

Central Plateau Taupo 3,122,535 157,231 118,515 275,746 559 421 980 208 157 364

Rotorua 1,897,895 94,353 71,591 165,944 600 455 1,055 217 165 381

Western Uplands Waitomo 1,775,141 90,187 68,604 158,792 424 322 746 169 128 297

Ruapehu 1,735,617 88,000 66,894 154,894 477 362 839 188 143 331

East Coast Gisborne / Wairoa 2,021,840 99,347 76,803 176,150 457 353 810 169 131 300

Hawkes Bay Napier/Hastings 2,374,178 116,622 89,936 206,558 522 402 924 188 145 332

Central Hawkes Bay 2,924,415 141,654 112,609 254,263 599 476 1,075 210 167 377

Taranaki New Plymouth 1,089,798 56,605 42,622 99,227 575 433 1,009 215 162 377

Stratford 1,067,987 55,020 41,775 96,795 590 448 1,038 221 167 388

South Taranaki 1,370,344 71,834 54,265 126,100 677 512 1,189 229 173 402

Manawatu Wanganui 1,739,493 79,651 64,411 144,063 563 456 1,019 204 165 370

Rangitikei 2,116,915 104,702 81,218 185,920 604 469 1,073 220 170 390

Manawatu 1,747,621 85,470 66,787 152,257 614 480 1,094 224 175 399

Palmerston North City 1,723,800 85,061 66,145 151,206 605 471 1,076 221 172 393

Horowhenua 1,817,011 88,360 68,937 157,297 637 497 1,134 226 177 403

Kapiti Coast / Upper Hutt 1,269,463 59,272 47,109 106,381 504 401 905 201 160 361

Wairarapa Tararua 1,330,990 68,458 51,796 120,255 559 423 983 206 156 362

Masterton 2,213,026 108,978 84,239 193,216 660 510 1,171 224 173 398

Carterton 1,530,284 76,181 58,878 135,059 547 423 970 200 154 354

South Wairarapa 1,763,877 89,180 68,716 157,896 574 443 1,017 196 151 347

NorthIsland 1,420,040 71,492 54,494 125,986 580 442 1,022 209 159 368


(table 3.4 continued)

Region District Average litres per

herd


herd


herd


per herd


effective hectare


effective hectare




cow


cow


per cow

Nelson/Marlborough Marlborough 1,255,411 64,491 48,587 113,078 634 477 1,111 217 163 380

Kaikoura 1,800,292 91,083 69,984 161,067 622 478 1,101 205 158 363

Tasman/Nelson City 1,514,672 78,792 59,598 138,390 571 432 1,002 205 155 360

West Coast Buller 1,462,830 76,905 56,885 133,790 442 327 769 193 142 335

Grey 1,908,801 100,684 75,170 175,854 476 355 831 209 156 365

Westland 1,418,106 76,081 56,679 132,760 406 302 708 196 146 342

North Canterbury Hurunui 4,144,935 205,872 161,457 367,328 842 661 1,503 231 181 412

Waimakariri 2,994,716 145,118 115,519 260,637 797 634 1,431 234 186 420

Christchurch City 3,745,398 186,545 146,882 333,427 796 626 1,422 227 179 406

Banks Peninsula 957,696 44,811 37,033 81,844 403 333 737 166 137 303

Selwyn 3,445,222 169,330 134,125 303,455 752 596 1,348 229 182 411

Ashburton 4,217,967 208,896 165,295 374,191 848 671 1,519 234 185 420

South Canterbury Timaru 3,351,084 165,172 130,466 295,638 768 607 1,375 219 173 392

MacKenzie 3,822,700 192,118 150,624 342,742 602 472 1,074 212 167 379

Waimate 3,777,975 190,737 149,032 339,769 755 590 1,345 224 175 398

Otago Waitaki 3,171,363 159,243 124,851 284,093 734 575 1,309 217 170 386

Dunedin City 1,988,357 97,109 76,717 173,826 668 528 1,195 226 179 405

Clutha 2,265,034 111,122 87,491 198,613 570 449 1,018 201 158 359

Central Otago 3,339,097 171,896 134,511 306,407 547 428 975 202 158 360

Southland Gore 2,422,782 121,817 95,427 217,244 563 441 1,004 208 163 370

Invercargill 2,333,209 116,166 91,852 208,018 570 451 1,021 209 165 374

Southland 2,552,285 128,117 100,676 228,794 600 471 1,071 215 169 384

SouthIsland 2,769,935 138,555 108,571 247,126 662 519 1,182 219 171 390

NewZealand 1,775,501 89,152 68,734 157,885 611 471 1,082 213 164 377

Note: Districts with fewer than four herds have been added to a neighbouring district to preserve anonymity


C. Operating structures

The main operating structures found on New Zealand dairy farms are owner operator, sharemilker and, to a lesser extent, contract milker.

Owner operators are farmers who either own and operate their own farms, or who employ a manager to operate the farm for a fixed wage.

Owner-operators receive all the farm income, although they may pay wages. Owner operators comprise the largest group of all operating

structures, being 69% of all herds.

Sharemilking has traditionally been the first step to farm ownership. Sharemilking involves operating a farm on behalf of the farm owner for an

agreed share of the farm receipts (as opposed to a set wage). Two types of sharemilking agreement are commonly used: Variable-order

sharemilking agreement and 50% agreements.

Under the 50% agreement (also called 50/50) the sharemilker owns the herd and any plant and equipment (other than the milking plant)

needed to farm the property. The sharemilker is usually responsible for milk harvesting expenses, all stock related expenses, and general farm

work and maintenance. The owner is usually responsible for expenses related to maintaining the property. The percentage quoted in a 50%

sharemilking agreement usually refers to the proportion of milk income the sharemilker receives. While this percentage is most commonly

50%, it can range from 45% to 55%. Under the 50% agreement the sharemilker receives the agreed percentage of milk income plus the

majority of income from stock sales, and the farm owner receives the remaining percentage of milk income.

Unlike the 50% agreement, where the owner may have little to do with farm management, a variable-order sharemilking agreement often

sees the owner heavily involved in management. The variable-order sharemilking agreement involves the farm owner retaining ownership of

the herd and bearing more of the farm costs, such as animal health and breeding. The amount of farm work required by the sharemilker is

determined by the individual agreement, with responsibility ranging from herd management only to carrying out all farm work.

Contract milkers are contracted to milk a herd at a set price per kilogram of milksolids produced. The rate is set according to the amount of

farm work done. In 2014/15, not all farms with contract milkers could be identified, and consequently any farms with contract milkers are

included with owner-operators.

• 67% of all herds are operated as owner-operators

• 53% of all sharemilkers are 50/50 sharemilkers

The number of herds farmed, average herd size, effective area and number of cows per hectare for each of the main operating structures are

shown in Table 3.5. Thirty-two per cent (3,879) of New Zealand dairy herds operated under a sharemilking agreement in 2014/15. Fifty-three

per cent (2,050) of all sharemilkers have 50/50 agreements. The majority of the variable order sharemilkers are between 20-29%.

Table 3.5: Herd analysis by operating structure in 2014/15

Operating structure Number of herds Percentage of herds Average herd size Average effective hectares

Average cows per effective hectare

Owner-operators 8,059 67.3 416 146 2.85

Sharemilkers:

less than 20% 179 1.5 718 226 3.18

20-29% 1,050 8.8 450 156 2.89

30-49% 171 1.4 398 141 2.82

50/50 2,050 17.1 386 133 2.90

over 50% 429 3.6 443 152 2.96

All sharemilkers 3,879 32.4 425 146 2.92

Unknown 32 0.3 520 188 2.76

Allfarms 11,970 419 146 2.87

Note: Contract milkers are included with owner-operators


Herd production in each of the main operating structure groups is shown in Table 3.6. The table shows that, on average, sharemilkers on less

than 20% agreements have the highest production.

Table 3.6: Herd production analysis by operating structure in 2014/15

Operating structure

Average litres per herd

Average kg milkfat per herd

Average kg milksolids per

herd


effective hectare


effective hectare

Average kg milkfat per cow


cow

Owner-operators 1,761,368 88,180 156,254 605 1,072 212 376

Sharemilkers:

less than 20% 3,280,198 164,355 293,326 728 1,299 229 409

20-29% 1,897,160 96,050 169,852 616 1,090 213 377

30-49% 1,631,194 82,280 145,297 583 1,029 207 365

50/50 1,631,750 82,692 145,956 622 1,098 214 378

over 50% 1,866,301 93,203 165,658 614 1,092 210 374

All Sharemilkers 1,805,578 91,220 161,375 625 1,106 214 379

Allfarms 1,775,501 89,152 157,885 611 1,082 213 377

Note: Contract milkers are included with owner-operators

Changes to the operating structure in the last ten seasons have seen the percentage of 50/50 sharemilkers decrease. The percentage of all

sharemilkers has dropped over the last ten seasons. Table 3.7 shows the percentage of herds in each operating structure type, whereas Table

3.8 gives the actual number of herds.

Table 3.7: Trend in the percentage of herds in each operating structure for the last 10 seasons

Operating structure 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

Owner-operators 63.9 63.4 63.1 63.6 65.1 65.4 65.8 64.6 65.5 67.3

Sharemilkers:

less than 20% 0.7 0.8 1.0 1.5 1.3 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.7 1.5

20-29% 8.6 8.8 9.1 10.4 10.5 10.9 9.9 9.6 9.7 8.8

30-49% 1.9 1.8 1.7 1.8 1.7 2.3 1.6 1.4 1.5 1.4

50/50 22.9 22.3 21.7 20.5 19.7 19.2 18.8 18.7 18.5 17.1

over 50% 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.4 0.2 1.8 3.5 2.9 3.6

All sharemilkers 35.8 35.4 35.4 36.0 34.6 34.6 34.2 35.2 34.2 32.4

Other/Unknown 0.2 1.2 1.5 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3

Table 3.8: Trend in the number of herds in each operating structure for the last 10 seasons

Operating structure 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

Owner-operators 7,594 7,374 7,215 7,384 7,616 7,677 7,764 7,679 7,812 8,059

Sharemilkers:

less than 20% 78 93 119 177 147 233 234 224 206 179

20-29% 1,026 1,019 1,045 1,206 1,222 1,274 1,173 1,140 1,151 1,050

30-49% 231 208 198 207 200 273 193 170 177 171

50/50 2,719 2,599 2,483 2,381 2,303 2,249 2,218 2,229 2,201 2,050

over 50% 206 203 199 207 169 29 216 417 346 429

All sharemilkers 4,260 4,122 4,044 4,178 4,041 4,058 4,034 4,180 4,081 3,879

Other/Unknown 29 134 177 56 34 0 0 32 34 32

Total 11,883 11,630 11,436 11,618 11,691 11,735 11,798 11,891 11,927 11,970


Table 3.9 compares the number (and percentage) of owner-operators with sharemilkers by region. In the South Island there were more variable

order sharemilkers than 50/50 sharemilkers, while the opposite was the case in 2014/15 in the North Island.

Table 3.9: Operating structure by region in 2014/15

Farming region Owner-operators

Owner-operators %

All share-

milkers

All share-

milkers %

50/50 share-

milkers

50/50 share-

milkers %

Variable order

share-milkers

Variable order

share-milkers %

Total herds (excl.

unknown)

Northland 690 8.6 220 5.7 114 5.6 106 5.8 910

Auckland 256 3.2 161 4.1 101 4.9 60 3.3 417

Waikato 2,284 28.3 1,220 31.4 770 37.6 450 24.6 3,504

Bay of Plenty 424 5.3 172 4.4 101 4.9 71 3.9 596

Central Plateau 337 4.2 146 3.8 91 4.4 55 3.0 483

Western Uplands 57 0.7 33 0.9 17 0.8 16 0.9 90

East Coast 7 0.1 1 0.0 0 0.0 1 0.1 8

Hawkes Bay 63 0.8 12 0.3 9 0.4 3 0.2 75

Taranaki 1,070 13.3 635 16.4 312 15.2 323 17.7 1,705

Manawatu 415 5.2 139 3.6 69 3.4 70 3.8 554

Wairarapa 332 4.1 130 3.4 63 3.1 67 3.7 462

NorthIsland 5,935 73.7 2,869 73.9 1,647 80.3 1,222 66.8 8,804

Nelson/Marlborough 191 2.4 45 1.2 27 1.3 18 1.0 236

West Coast 288 3.6 88 2.3 38 1.9 50 2.7 376

North Canterbury 597 7.4 237 6.1 105 5.1 132 7.3 834

South Canterbury 191 2.4 111 2.9 30 1.5 81 4.4 302

Otago 238 3.0 178 4.6 59 2.9 119 6.5 416

Southland 619 7.7 351 9.0 144 7.0 207 11.3 970

SouthIsland 2,123 26.3 1,011 26.1 403 19.7 608 33.2 3,134

NewZealand 8,059 100.0 3,879 100.0 2,050 100.0 1,829 100.0 11,938


Table 3.10 shows the number and percentage of owner-operators and sharemilkers by herd size.

Table 3.10: Operating structure by herd size in 2014/15

Herd size Owner-operators

Owner-operators

%

All share-

milkers

All share-

milkers %

50/50 share-

milkers

50/50 share-

milkers %

Variable order share-

milkers

Variable order share-

milkers %

Number of herds (excl. unknown)

Percentage of herds

10-49 6 0.1 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 6 0.1

50-99 197 2.4 21 0.5 11 0.5 10 0.5 218 1.8

100-149 573 7.1 139 3.6 72 3.5 67 3.7 712 6.0

150-199 944 11.7 363 9.4 241 11.8 122 6.7 1,307 10.9

200-249 1,111 13.8 546 14.1 328 16.0 218 11.9 1,657 13.9

250-299 843 10.5 399 10.3 259 12.6 140 7.7 1,242 10.4

300-349 751 9.3 458 11.8 263 12.8 195 10.7 1,209 10.1

350-399 508 6.3 297 7.7 153 7.5 144 7.9 805 6.7

400-449 487 6.0 293 7.6 150 7.3 143 7.8 780 6.5

450-499 363 4.5 220 5.7 104 5.1 116 6.3 583 4.9

500-549 354 4.4 210 5.4 81 4.0 129 7.1 564 4.7

550-599 289 3.6 153 3.9 75 3.7 78 4.3 442 3.7

600-649 256 3.2 156 4.0 66 3.2 90 4.9 412 3.5

650-699 190 2.4 91 2.3 40 2.0 51 2.8 281 2.4

700-749 173 2.1 94 2.4 41 2.0 53 2.9 267 2.2

750-799 148 1.8 85 2.2 32 1.6 53 2.9 233 2.0

800-849 148 1.8 72 1.9 27 1.3 45 2.5 220 1.8

850-899 94 1.2 36 0.9 11 0.5 25 1.4 130 1.1

900-949 110 1.4 51 1.3 22 1.1 29 1.6 161 1.3

950-999 65 0.8 35 0.9 15 0.7 20 1.1 100 0.8

1000-1099 126 1.6 55 1.4 22 1.1 33 1.8 181 1.5

1100-1199 96 1.2 32 0.8 12 0.6 20 1.1 128 1.1

1200-1499 123 1.5 45 1.2 16 0.8 29 1.6 168 1.4

1500+ 104 1.3 28 0.7 9 0.4 19 1.0 132 1.1

Total/Avg 8,059 100.0 3,879 100.0 2,050 100.0 1,829 100.0 11,938 100.0


D. Breed breakdown

Three types of dairy cattle: Holstein-Friesian, Jersey, and Holstein-Friesian/Jersey crossbreed, dominate the dairy cow inseminations carried out

in New Zealand, as recorded on the LIC National Database.

The Jersey breed dominated the national dairy herd until the late 1960s. By 1970, Holstein-Friesian was the dominant dairy breed in New

Zealand, as a result of changes in farm management practices and farmers raising larger numbers of dairy calves for beef. Of the other breeds

of cattle used to inseminate dairy cows, the main beef breed currently in use is Polled Hereford. Other beef breeds used to a lesser degree

include Angus, Belgian Blue, and Simmental. Other breeds of dairy cattle present in smaller numbers in New Zealand include Milking

Shorthorn, Guernsey and Brown Swiss. Holstein-Friesian/Jersey Crossbreed now makes up a large proportion of the national dairy herd.

The percentages of the major dairy breed categories for New Zealand and each region are shown in Graphs 3.2 and 3.3. Percentages are given

for Holstein-Friesian, Jersey, Holstein-Friesian/Jersey crossbreed and Ayrshire cows with the remaining breeds and crossbreeds grouped into

“Other”. Holstein-Friesian is the prevalent breed in Northland, Bay of Plenty/East Coast and Manawatu/Wairarapa. Holstein-Friesian/Jersey

crossbreed is the prevalent breed category in Waikato, Taranaki and all South Island regions. The Manawatu/Wairarapa region continues to

have the highest percentage of Holstein-Friesian cows (45%) followed by Bay of Plenty/East Coast (43%). Tasman/West Coast has the highest

proportion of Jerseys (18%) followed by Taranaki (16%). Marlborough/Canterbury has the highest proportion of Holstein-Friesian/Jersey

crossbreeds (52%), followed by Tasman / West Coast (50%) and Otago/Southland (also at 50%).

Graph 3.2: Breed category percentages of cows for New Zealand in 2014/15

Graph 3.3: Breed category percentages of cows by region in 2014/15

Holstein-Friesian / Jersey crossbreed

Holstein-Friesian

Jersey

Ayrshire

Other

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Perc

enta

ge

North

land

Waik

ato

Bay o

f Plen

ty / E

ast C

oast

Tara

naki

Man

awat

u / W

airar

apa

Tasm

an /

Wes

t Coa

stM

arlbo

roug

h / C

ante

rbur

y

Otag

o / S

outh

land

13.7 12.3 10.816.3

11.018.3

34.0 35.5

36.6

40.3

45.9

33.4

39.8

42.8

43.4

29.9

35.4

45.2

50.2

22.0

51.5

4.8

49.8

5.3

10.4%

0.6%8.6%

45.6%

34.7%

NewZealand

10.4%

0.6%

45.6%

34.7%


4. Herd improvement

A. Use of herd testing

Herd testing enables farmers to collect information about individual cows in their herds. The information gained from herd testing is vital for

effective herd management and decision making. Farmers are able to benchmark animal performance within herd, within region, and

nationally.

Farmers currently have the choice of two herd testing service providers (CRV AmBreed and LIC), and are able to choose the frequency of

testing. Data used in the following analysis includes figures from both herd test providers.

Herd testing involves the collection of individual milk samples from animals in the herd. A full herd test provides information on milk volumes,

milkfat and protein yields, and somatic cell counts.

Herd testing provides an overall picture of the production of the herd, and enables the mastitis status to be monitored. More specifically, herd

test information identifies low-producing cows (for culling or drying off), high producers (for breeding), and cows with mastitis (for therapy or

culling).

• 73% of cows herd-tested in 2014/15

The percentage of total herds and the percentage of total cows using herd testing both increased to 73% for 2014/15 (Table 4.1). A total of

3.65 million cows were herd-tested in 2014/15, up from 3.29 million in 2013/14.

Table 4.1: Trend in the use of herd testing services for the last 20 seasons

Season Number of herds herd-tested

% of total herds Number of cows herd-tested (000)

% of total cows Total herds Total cows (000)

1995/96 12,620 85.6 2,592 88.3 14,736 2,936

1996/97 12,851 87.2 2,746 89.6 14,741 3,065

1997/98 12,510 85.3 2,826 87.7 14,673 3,223

1998/99 12,059 84.0 2,819 85.7 14,362 3,289

1999/00 11,521 83.1 2,806 85.8 13,861 3,269

2000/01 11,472 82.6 2,942 84.4 13,892 3,486

2001/02 11,113 81.4 2,974 80.5 13,649 3,693

2002/03 10,113 77.0 2,855 76.3 13,140 3,741

2003/04 9,772 76.6 2,842 73.8 12,751 3,851

2004/05 9,306 75.8 2,811 72.7 12,271 3,868

2005/06 9,082 76.4 2,846 74.3 11,883 3,832

2006/07 8,692 74.7 2,791 71.2 11,630 3,917

2007/08 8,405 73.5 2,871 71.5 11,436 4,013

2008/09 8,589 73.9 3,040 71.5 11,618 4,253

2009/10 7,870 67.3 2,812 64.0 11,691 4,397

2010/11 8,409 71.7 3,186 70.4 11,735 4,529

2011/12 8,673 73.5 3,362 72.6 11,798 4,634

2012/13 8,585 72.2 3,426 71.6 11,891 4,784

2013/14 8,188 68.7 3,294 66.9 11,927 4,923

2014/15 8,724 72.9 3,654 72.8 11,970 5,018


The trend in the percentage of total herds using herd testing shows an increase from the previous season (Graph 4.1).

Graph 4.1: Trend in the percentage of herds testing for the last 30 seasons

The regional uptake of herd testing services in 2014/15 is shown in Table 4.2, where the number of cows tested refers to all cows tested at

least once in the season. Aside from East Coast where all 8 herds were herd-tested, Taranaki had the highest percentage of herds using herd

testing (81%) followed by Nelson/Marlborough (78%). Taranaki also had the highest percentage of cows herd tested (82%). Central Plateau

recorded the lowest percentage of cows herd tested (58%).

Table 4.2: Use of herd testing by region in 2014/15

Farming Region Herds tested Total herds Percentage of total herds

Cows tested Total cows Percentage of total cows

Average herd size tested

Average herd size

Northland 636 917 69.4 211,584 285,395 74.1 333 311

Auckland 296 419 70.6 85,572 114,078 75.0 289 272

Waikato 2,617 3,507 74.6 885,939 1,173,420 75.5 339 335

Bay of Plenty 428 597 71.7 146,295 200,764 72.9 342 336

Central Plateau 296 483 61.3 153,124 261,995 58.4 517 542

Western Uplands 59 90 65.6 28,447 46,265 61.5 482 514

East Coast 8 8 100.0 3,276 4,690 69.9 410 586

Hawkes Bay 53 75 70.7 31,219 48,920 63.8 589 652

Taranaki 1,382 1,705 81.1 405,708 496,464 81.7 294 291

Manawatu 395 555 71.2 159,426 220,020 72.5 404 396

Wairarapa 354 462 76.6 128,186 169,077 75.8 362 366

Nelson/Marlborough 184 237 77.6 62,082 87,694 70.8 337 370

West Coast 253 376 67.3 106,764 155,535 68.6 422 414

North Canterbury 601 834 72.1 490,548 674,928 72.7 816 809

South Canterbury 199 303 65.7 154,781 241,975 64.0 778 799

Otago 302 431 70.1 192,326 263,993 72.9 637 613

Southland 661 971 68.1 409,170 573,120 71.4 619 590

NewZealand 8,724 11,970 72.9 3,654,447 5,018,333 72.8 419 419

Note: Table includes figures from both herd test providers

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

1985

/86

1986

/87

1987

/88

1988

/89

1989

/90

1990

/91

1991

/92

1992

/93

1993

/94

1994

/95

1995

/96

1996

/97

1997

/98

1998

/99

1999

/00

2000

/01

2001

/02

2002

/03

2003

/04

2004

/05

2005

/06

2006

/07

2007

/08

2008

/09

2009

/10

2010

/11

2011

/12

2012

/13

2013

/14

2014

/15

Perc

enta

geo

fher

ds

Season


B. Herd test averages

The lactation yield figures in this section are for herd-tested cows. Seasonal and breed averages (parts i and iii) are calculated on lactation yields

for herds tested four or more times during the season. Monthly averages (part ii) are calculated on lactation yields for herds tested at least once

during the season, and only cows that lactated for 100 days or more were included in the herd test averages. These figures are different to the

average milksolids figures given in Chapters 2 and 3 (national and regional dairy statistics, respectively), which were based on all herds

supplying a dairy company (regardless of whether herd testing was used) and represented the average production per cow as supplied to the

dairy company.

Days-in-milk (herd testing) information is the number of days from the start of lactation to the calculated end of lactation. The start of lactation

is four days from calving (with a maximum of 60 days between the estimated start of lactation and the first herd test). The end of lactation is

the last herd test date plus 15 days. The inclusion of herds with fewer than four tests reduces the calculated average lactation length:

therefore, the number of days-in-milk, calculated using this method, does not necessarily reflect the average lactation length of dairy cows.

The days-in-milk (production) figure is the number of days from the estimated start of lactation to the estimated end of lactation (reported

since 1997/98). The results are derived from seasonal supplier tanker pick-up information, adjusted for calving spread. The days-in-milk

(production) methodology provides a more accurate measure of the average lactation length of dairy cows than the herd-testing methodology.

i) Seasonal averages

• North Canterbury has the highest milkfat, protein and milksolids production (kg/cow)

• West Coast has the highest protein and milksolids percentages

The average per-cow statistics for each region are summarised in Table 4.3. North Canterbury recorded the highest per cow milk volume (5,077

litres), milkfat (230 kg), protein (197 kg) and milksolids (427 kg), of cows herd tested. Taranaki recorded the highest percentage for milkfat

(5.08%) and West Coast the highest percentage for protein (4.03) and milksolids (9.09). Herds in South Canterbury recorded the lowest

average somatic cells (156,000 cells/ml), while herds in East Coast and Hawkes Bay had the highest averages (294,000 and 229,000 cells/ml

respectively).

Table 4.3: Season herd test averages per cow by region in 2014/15

Region Milk (litres) Milkfat (kg)

Milkfat (%)

Protein (kg)

Protein (%)

Milksolids (kg)

Milksolids (%)

Days in milk

(herd testing)

Days in milk (production)

Somatic cell count (000 cells/ millilitre)

Northland 3,376 163 4.84 126 3.74 290 8.58 207 273 224

Auckland 3,779 178 4.72 141 3.72 319 8.44 211 274 214

Waikato 4,247 206 4.86 161 3.79 368 8.65 230 274 175

Bay of Plenty 4,247 200 4.72 160 3.76 360 8.48 230 273 196

Central Plateau 4,538 213 4.69 169 3.73 382 8.42 222 268 190

Western Uplands 3,804 190 4.98 147 3.85 336 8.83 227 269 193

East Coast 2,898 137 4.73 109 3.78 246 8.50 200 280 294

Hawkes Bay 4,084 186 4.55 154 3.77 340 8.32 218 273 229

Taranaki 4,348 221 5.08 171 3.93 392 9.01 227 270 179

Manawatu 4,596 213 4.63 172 3.75 385 8.38 221 276 217

Wairarapa 4,139 203 4.90 159 3.85 362 8.74 224 271 219

Nelson/Marlborough 4,320 211 4.88 168 3.90 379 8.78 230 269 166

West Coast 3,985 202 5.06 161 4.03 362 9.09 229 269 176

North Canterbury 5,077 230 4.53 197 3.87 427 8.41 229 279 157

South Canterbury 4,665 214 4.58 182 3.90 396 8.48 218 273 156

Otago 4,577 216 4.72 178 3.89 394 8.62 229 273 164

Southland 4,512 214 4.73 177 3.92 391 8.66 229 271 182

NewZealand 4,379 209 4.78 168 3.84 378 8.63 226 273 182

The 2014/15 milkfat and protein lactation regional averages for herd-tested cows (Graph 4.2) show some variability in figures among regions,

with milkfat production ranging from 137 (East Coast) to 230 kg per cow (North Canterbury) and protein production from 109 (East Coast) to

197 kg per cow (North Canterbury).


Graph 4.2: Average milkfat and protein production per cow by region in 2014/15

• Milksolids (kg) decreases, milksolids (%) increases

Milk production (litres) for 2014/15 decreased on previous seasons, in contrast with the trend of the last several seasons (Table 4.4). Milksolids

decreased from 383 kilograms in 2013/14 to 378 in 2014/15, while the percentage of milksolids increased from 8.54 to 8.63. This was a

record level of milk composition.

The average herd somatic cell count dropped to 182,000 cells/millilitre for 2014/15 – the second consecutive season that it has dropped below

190,000 cells/millilitre. Average days in milk at 273 in 2014/15 was higher than the previous two seasons, but similar to 2010/11 and 2011/12.

Table 4.4: Trend in the national herd test averages for the last 20 seasons

Season Milk (litres) Milkfat (kg) Milkfat (%) Protein (kg) Protein (%) Milksolids (kg)

Milksolids (%)

Days in milk (herd

testing)

Days in milk (production)

Somatic cell count (000

cells/ millilitre)

1995/96 3,501 164 4.72 126 3.60 290 8.28 224 - 206

1996/97 3,641 173 4.78 133 3.66 306 8.40 223 - 197

1997/98 3,373 158 4.67 119 3.52 277 8.21 209 266 195

1998/99 3,189 147 4.51 113 3.44 260 8.15 208 266 200

1999/00 3,601 169 4.69 130 3.58 299 8.30 221 263 193

2000/01 3,706 173 4.68 134 3.59 307 8.28 224 268 196

2001/02 3,791 176 4.64 138 3.61 314 8.28 227 268a 210

2002/03 3,736 175 4.68 138 3.66 313 8.38 219 - 213

2003/04 3,871 184 4.75 142 3.64 326 8.42 224 265 220

2004/05 3,812 181 4.75 140 3.66 321 8.42 225 265 229

2005/06 3,951 186 4.72 146 3.68 332 8.40 227 266 213

2006/07 4,014 191 4.85 150 3.76 341 8.50 230 267 232

2007/08 3,987 187 4.68 148 3.70 334 8.38 225 252 246

2008/09 4,043 190 4.70 150 3.72 340 8.42 228 266 253

2009/10 4,097 194 4.73 154 3.76 348 8.48 227 260 235

2010/11 4,101 194 4.73 154 3.75 348 8.48 229 274 232

2011/12 4,409 210 4.77 167 3.80 378 8.56 235 275 204

2012/13 4,386 207 4.72 166 3.79 373 8.51 227 258 204

2013/14 4,480 212 4.74 170 3.80 383 8.54 229 266 187

2014/15 4,379 209 4.78 168 3.84 378 8.63 226 273 182

- Not availablea Average excludes Northland, Taranaki and Wellington/Hawkes Bay

450

400

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

Kilo

gram

s

North

land

Auck

land

Waik

ato

Bay o

f Plen

tyCe

ntra

l Plat

eau

Wes

tern

Upla

nds

East

Coas

tHa

wkes B

ay

Tara

naki

Man

awat

u

Wair

arap

aNe

lson /

Marl

boro

ugh

Wes

t Coa

stNo

rth C

ante

rbur

ySo

uth

Cant

erbu

ry

Otag

oSo

uthla

ndNe

w Zeala

nd

126

163

141

178

161

206

160

200

169

213

147

190

109

137

Hawke

s Bay

154

186

171

221

172

213

159

204

168

211

161

202

197

230

182

214

178

216

177

214

168

209

Milkfat per cow (kg) Protein per cow (kg)


ii) Monthly averages

• Highest average production per cow per day occurred in October

The seasonal average figures presented in Table 4.5 are calculated using national monthly herd test averages, and are therefore affected by the

number of samples processed. Statistics for May, June, and July are based on far fewer cows than the statistics for the other months, as only a

few herds (generally winter milk herds) test in these months. Differences in climate between regions (which in turn can affect the mating

period), available feed, and cow condition are reflected in differing months of peak production.

All cows herd tested in each month were included, provided they were tested at least once during the season (Table 4.5). Average peak cow

production occurs between August and October, with regions in the mid to lower South Island peaking in October.

Table 4.5: Monthly herd test averages by region in 2014/15

Averagelitresofmilkpercowperday

Farming region2014

Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec2015

Jan Feb Mar Apr MaySeason

average

Northland 16.87 16.93 19.36 19.17 18.86 17.86 16.60 14.25 12.06 10.18 10.17 14.13 15.57

Auckland 17.78 17.89 20.66 20.46 20.89 18.89 17.59 15.34 12.35 10.41 11.72 14.36 16.71

Waikato 17.48 19.91 22.81 23.46 22.54 20.15 18.99 16.59 13.39 11.34 11.20 13.36 17.88

Bay of Plenty 9.29 16.03 22.49 22.92 22.20 20.44 18.86 16.77 13.80 12.08 11.37 11.17 17.85

Central Plateau . . 21.80 24.87 24.84 22.33 21.45 18.02 15.33 13.21 12.10 12.08 19.36

Western Uplands 9.47 . 22.92 21.78 20.93 20.44 17.60 15.14 12.18 10.97 8.75 8.83 16.16

East Coast . 22.90 . 18.20 18.90 15.52 15.43 12.58 10.01 8.72 . 22.61 14.03

Hawkes Bay 14.84 17.44 21.72 21.80 22.92 21.16 19.53 15.70 14.52 9.94 11.44 13.63 17.57

Taranaki 19.04 17.88 22.04 24.04 23.31 21.03 19.93 17.28 15.00 12.70 12.02 12.63 18.52

Manawatu 17.91 18.59 22.65 25.26 25.25 22.85 22.54 17.84 16.28 14.71 12.14 14.56 19.79

Wairarapa 16.26 16.95 21.21 22.97 22.39 21.34 19.46 16.21 14.35 12.49 10.51 12.29 17.63

Nelson/Marlborough 14.31 13.43 14.76 23.21 22.30 21.34 19.17 17.83 14.90 12.70 11.30 10.82 17.82

West Coast . 10.42 . 22.14 22.01 20.41 18.00 16.13 14.53 12.15 10.84 8.71 16.50

North Canterbury 19.94 19.25 21.61 25.38 26.29 23.96 23.14 20.65 19.02 16.74 14.91 14.62 21.30

South Canterbury 18.59 16.65 24.09 24.80 25.64 23.24 21.77 19.64 17.52 15.05 13.68 15.09 20.25

Otago 11.14 19.08 20.83 23.62 24.47 22.29 20.50 18.50 16.10 15.13 12.46 12.11 19.22

Southland 14.21 15.49 20.10 23.99 24.39 22.14 20.18 17.93 16.80 15.12 12.79 11.36 18.91

NewZealand1 17.26 18.34 22.01 23.50 23.66 21.33 20.12 17.41 15.30 13.19 12.24 13.05 18.61

Averagekgofmilkfatpercowperday

Farming region2014



average

Northland 0.81 0.82 0.91 0.91 0.89 0.86 0.81 0.72 0.64 0.58 0.58 0.74 0.78

Auckland 0.81 0.82 0.94 0.94 0.96 0.90 0.85 0.74 0.65 0.58 0.68 0.76 0.83

Waikato 0.85 0.91 1.08 1.09 1.06 0.97 0.93 0.83 0.73 0.67 0.67 0.78 0.92

Bay of Plenty 0.49 0.77 1.06 1.04 1.02 0.95 0.88 0.81 0.71 0.67 0.65 0.60 0.88

Central Plateau . . 1.01 1.13 1.12 1.03 1.01 0.86 0.81 0.75 0.71 0.68 0.96

Western Uplands 0.55 . 1.00 1.04 0.97 0.98 0.85 0.78 0.65 0.64 0.53 0.50 0.83

East Coast . 1.02 . 0.81 0.92 0.70 0.79 0.64 0.49 0.49 . 1.08 0.71

Hawkes Bay 0.77 0.83 1.00 0.98 0.99 0.97 0.91 0.75 0.74 0.54 0.63 0.73 0.85

Taranaki 0.96 0.91 1.06 1.15 1.12 1.06 1.00 0.91 0.83 0.77 0.74 0.74 0.98

Manawatu 0.84 0.88 1.01 1.13 1.13 1.04 1.04 0.84 0.83 0.78 0.71 0.79 0.96

Wairarapa 0.78 0.82 1.08 1.06 1.05 1.02 0.97 0.82 0.78 0.71 0.65 0.69 0.91


West Coast . 0.61 . 1.05 1.02 1.00 0.91 0.83 0.77 0.71 0.67 0.60 0.88



Otago 0.57 1.05 0.94 1.07 1.08 1.03 0.96 0.88 0.83 0.80 0.73 0.73 0.95

Southland 0.73 0.83 0.93 1.08 1.09 1.03 0.95 0.86 0.85 0.81 0.74 0.66 0.94

NewZealand1 0.83 0.87 1.04 1.08 1.08 1.01 0.96 0.86 0.80 0.74 0.72 0.74 0.93


Averagekgofproteinpercowperday

Farming region2014



average

Northland 0.63 0.65 0.73 0.72 0.71 0.68 0.63 0.54 0.47 0.43 0.44 0.57 0.61

Auckland 0.66 0.68 0.76 0.76 0.78 0.72 0.67 0.57 0.48 0.43 0.52 0.58 0.65

Waikato 0.68 0.77 0.87 0.88 0.85 0.77 0.73 0.63 0.52 0.48 0.50 0.59 0.70

Bay of Plenty 0.39 0.65 0.85 0.86 0.83 0.77 0.71 0.62 0.53 0.50 0.50 0.49 0.69

Central Plateau . . 0.80 0.93 0.92 0.83 0.81 0.66 0.59 0.55 0.54 0.54 0.75

Western Uplands 0.43 . 0.86 0.83 0.78 0.77 0.68 0.58 0.48 0.46 0.40 0.41 0.64

East Coast . 0.87 . 0.68 0.69 0.59 0.60 0.46 0.38 0.38 . 0.81 0.54

Hawkes Bay 0.60 0.71 0.82 0.82 0.86 0.81 0.75 0.60 0.57 0.41 0.50 0.59 0.69

Taranaki 0.73 0.70 0.84 0.92 0.90 0.84 0.79 0.68 0.60 0.55 0.55 0.57 0.75

Manawatu 0.68 0.72 0.87 0.95 0.94 0.86 0.86 0.67 0.63 0.59 0.54 0.63 0.77

Wairarapa 0.62 0.68 0.81 0.87 0.85 0.82 0.76 0.62 0.58 0.53 0.48 0.55 0.70


West Coast . 0.48 . 0.87 0.85 0.80 0.72 0.64 0.59 0.54 0.52 0.45 0.69



Otago 0.44 0.82 0.78 0.89 0.92 0.86 0.80 0.71 0.66 0.64 0.58 0.58 0.77

Southland 0.58 0.62 0.74 0.92 0.92 0.86 0.79 0.70 0.68 0.65 0.59 0.54 0.77

NewZealand1 0.66 0.72 0.84 0.89 0.90 0.82 0.78 0.67 0.61 0.56 0.56 0.59 0.74

Averagesomaticcellcount(000cellspermillilitre)

Farming region2014



average

Northland 205 234 192 191 190 183 205 228 270 280 298 275 224

Auckland 238 215 177 184 179 178 196 209 256 285 276 235 214

Waikato 210 218 158 152 145 136 151 167 203 226 240 257 175

Bay of Plenty 231 260 169 191 179 162 185 188 210 230 242 284 196

Central Plateau . . 138 165 167 165 167 188 212 209 268 295 190

Western Uplands 414 . 144 184 158 142 169 167 202 235 289 204 193

East Coast . 224 . 241 240 215 191 282 553 364 . 418 294

Hawkes Bay 195 253 246 241 182 195 175 256 192 304 239 258 229

Taranaki 257 241 182 159 155 155 154 167 201 209 244 266 179

Manawatu 290 223 230 192 205 178 186 218 225 249 264 279 217

Wairarapa 256 252 338 202 194 182 188 212 237 250 286 261 219

Nelson/Marlborough 96 125 330 137 150 126 145 146 182 193 223 279 166

West Coast . 382 . 161 142 154 131 163 177 221 228 256 176

North Canterbury 235 252 255 174 160 144 137 149 146 162 170 175 157

South Canterbury 242 249 283 169 157 149 127 153 148 165 175 198 156

Otago 247 282 129 178 162 153 146 152 163 167 179 217 164

Southland 328 265 477 193 172 181 170 179 176 182 191 213 182

NewZealand1 230 233 174 171 163 156 158 176 194 211 223 233 182

1 Volume weighted averages


iii) Breed category averages

• Holstein-Friesian cows show highest milksolids (kg) production

Herd test statistics by breed category (Table 4.6) include cows herd tested four or more times during the season.

On average, Holstein-Friesian cows produced a higher volume of milk than other breeds. This season they also produced the highest protein

(kg) and milksolids (kg). Jerseys have the highest milkfat and protein percentages. For all breeds six-year-old cows produced more milksolids

(kg) than any other age group.

A crossbreed is defined as having at most 13/16 of any one breed. For example, a Holstein-Friesian/Jersey crossbreed may be 13/16

Holstein-Friesian, 2/16 Jersey and 1/16 Ayrshire.

Table 4.6: Herd test averages by breed category and cow age in 2014/15

Holstein-Friesian

Age Cows tested Days in milk Milk (litres) Milkfat (kg) Protein (kg) Milksolids (kg) Milkfat (%) Protein (%) Milksolids (%)

2 190,994 221 3,650 162.1 136.5 298.6 4.49 3.75 8.24

3 149,681 217 4,378 192.8 164.1 356.9 4.45 3.76 8.21

4 121,953 217 4,846 213.5 180.7 394.3 4.45 3.74 8.19

5 110,637 216 5,012 220.0 185.2 405.3 4.44 3.71 8.15

6 111,314 213 5,001 222.1 184.5 406.7 4.49 3.71 8.20

7 84,482 211 4,941 218.9 181.0 399.9 4.47 3.68 8.15

8 55,885 209 4,864 210.9 176.3 387.2 4.38 3.64 8.02

9 37,303 206 4,679 204.7 169.9 374.6 4.41 3.64 8.05

10+ 39,666 199 4,218 186.3 151.3 337.6 4.45 3.60 8.05

Total 901,915 215 4,530 199.8 167.6 367.5 4.46 3.72 8.18

Jersey


2 58,768 222 2,675 150.7 110.6 261.3 5.66 4.15 9.81

3 51,760 219 3,181 178.9 133.3 312.1 5.65 4.20 9.85

4 45,695 218 3,482 194.2 145.5 339.7 5.61 4.19 9.80

5 42,546 217 3,530 201.0 148.2 349.3 5.73 4.21 9.94

6 37,311 216 3,548 202.7 148.9 351.6 5.75 4.21 9.96

7 29,700 214 3,491 200.3 146.2 346.5 5.77 4.20 9.97

8 21,087 213 3,426 195.5 143.2 338.7 5.73 4.19 9.92

9 14,664 210 3,319 189.6 138.0 327.6 5.74 4.17 9.91

10+ 16,219 204 3,067 173.1 125.4 298.5 5.66 4.10 9.76

Total 317,750 217 3,266 184.9 136.4 321.3 5.69 4.18 9.87

Holstein-Friesian/Jerseycrossbreed


2 297,811 221 3,319 163.4 130.8 294.2 4.97 3.96 8.93

3 249,244 217 3,970 194.3 157.3 351.6 4.95 3.98 8.93

4 204,903 216 4,345 213.2 171.9 385.1 4.95 3.97 8.92

5 183,473 216 4,491 221.0 176.7 397.7 4.97 3.95 8.92

6 150,810 214 4,506 222.9 176.9 399.7 5.00 3.94 8.94

7 106,916 212 4,446 221.1 173.5 394.6 5.02 3.92 8.94

8 66,897 210 4,392 215.1 169.9 384.9 4.94 3.89 8.83

9 43,472 207 4,243 209.0 163.7 372.7 4.97 3.88 8.85

10+ 46,212 201 3,898 192.0 148.2 340.2 4.96 3.82 8.78

Total 1,349,738 216 4,079 200.7 160.3 361.0 4.97 3.95 8.92


Ayrshire

Age Cows tested Days in milk Milk (litres) Milkfat (kg) Protein (kg) Milksolids(kg) Milkfat (%) Protein (%) Milksolids (%)

2 3,192 231 3,296 146.9 119.0 266.0 4.48 3.62 8.10

3 2,725 227 3,986 176.3 144.7 321.0 4.45 3.64 8.09

4 2,526 227 4,382 193.3 159.6 353.0 4.45 3.66 8.11

5 2,214 225 4,494 197.8 163.7 361.5 4.43 3.66 8.09

6 1,885 225 4,557 200.8 166.0 366.8 4.44 3.66 8.10

7 1,547 221 4,400 192.1 159.6 351.7 4.40 3.64 8.04

8 1,176 221 4,350 189.8 157.2 347.0 4.39 3.63 8.02

9 880 218 4,216 185.3 153.2 338.5 4.42 3.65 8.07

10+ 1,293 209 3,826 166.0 137.5 303.5 4.36 3.60 7.96

Total 17,438 225 4,104 180.8 148.9 329.7 4.44 3.64 8.08

Holstein-Friesians have the highest average liveweight across all ages for the breeds shown in Table 4.7. In contrast, Jerseys have the lowest

average liveweight at all ages. Liveweight by age and breed is illustrated in Graph 4.3.

Table 4.7: Liveweight by age and breed category of cow in 2014/15Holstein-Friesian Jersey Holstein-Friesian/Jersey crossbreed

Age Average liveweight (kg)

Number of cows Average liveweight (kg)

Number of cows Average liveweight (kg)

Number of cows

2 434 9,004 349 4,165 409 17,643

3 479 1,406 389 616 439 3,200

4 481 1,241 410 523 457 2,671

5 491 1,068 415 525 458 2,512

6 497 1,147 421 459 467 1,917

7 501 800 422 335 465 1,351

8 499 461 427 249 468 919

9 502 363 437 174 461 481

10+ 505 270 427 162 479 505

WeightedAvg 458 376 430

Graph 4.3: Liveweight by age and by breed category of cow in 2014/15

550

500

450

400

350

3002 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10+

Live

wei

ght(

kg)

Age

Holstein-Friesian JerseyHolstein-Friesian/Jersey crossbreed


C. Artificial Breeding (AB) statistics

• A record 3.66 million cows to AB in 2014/15

All artificial inseminations are recorded on the LIC Herd Improvement Database. Table 4.8 provides a summary of cows mated to AB for the last

nine seasons. The percentage of cows to AB has fluctuated between 72% (2009/10) and 76% (2007/08) for the last nine seasons (Graph 4.4).

The number of cows to AB increased slightly on the previous season to a record 3.66 million (73%). The number of yearlings to AB decreased

slightly to 221,000 from 226,800 in the previous season (Table 4.8).

Table 4.8: Trend in Artificial Breeding use for the last nine seasons by region: Cows and yearlings to AB

CowstoAB

Region 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

Northland 172,786 175,082 171,472 168,427 171,390 180,615 192,066 190,785 188,887

Auckland 75,613 75,624 73,708 70,604 70,730 73,516 76,013 74,961 75,070

Waikato 810,022 831,945 816,985 803,113 817,660 837,380 867,180 843,758 835,426

Bay of Plenty 143,911 146,265 142,908 135,087 138,554 136,183 137,806 139,262 141,394

Central Plateau 121,672 127,817 129,853 128,561 132,040 143,101 160,005 157,294 164,093

Western Uplands 19,455 20,522 21,781 20,508 25,415 25,136 28,427 28,256 28,163

East Coast 514 1,466 3,163 1,343 714 1,474 2,240 2,025 2,450

Hawkes Bay 25,703 27,561 29,426 28,480 32,338 34,433 36,878 38,851 40,145

Taranaki 371,923 390,732 381,876 379,318 389,668 392,236 396,646 395,722 396,760

Manawatu 138,647 140,265 138,830 131,907 141,879 151,327 160,485 155,417 159,631

Wairarapa 121,840 126,863 129,383 124,670 128,243 133,934 133,086 135,131 130,870

Nelson/Marlborough 65,909 65,512 67,270 64,028 67,256 68,986 68,423 65,670 65,629

West Coast 98,435 99,874 103,470 98,785 96,423 96,049 98,182 103,085 107,056

North Canterbury 278,983 313,423 365,250 374,378 411,344 455,981 502,449 524,567 539,260

South Canterbury 91,096 102,486 128,466 130,043 141,565 154,917 171,235 183,195 184,241

Otago 128,254 140,696 147,975 158,855 170,412 175,922 180,320 178,088 192,118

Southland 239,914 268,036 315,849 334,520 366,399 381,678 367,641 379,911 404,233

NewZealand 2,904,677 3,054,169 3,167,665 3,152,627 3,302,030 3,442,868 3,579,082 3,595,978 3,655,426

%CowstoAB

Region 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

Northland 65.0 66.2 64.0 62.0 62.3 64.6 67.2 67.0 66.2

Auckland 65.0 66.9 64.9 64.5 63.9 67.1 67.9 67.6 65.8

Waikato 74.8 77.2 74.0 71.7 72.0 73.5 75.5 72.4 71.2

Bay of Plenty 75.5 76.4 73.9 70.0 72.1 71.1 71.4 70.5 70.4

Central Plateau 58.7 59.7 58.2 55.3 55.8 59.8 64.8 62.4 62.6

Western Uplands 63.9 64.1 63.8 55.5 63.9 64.2 67.5 63.2 60.9

East Coast 12.2 37.7 76.7 24.1 15.1 30.7 45.7 43.6 52.2

Hawkes Bay 68.9 74.7 67.8 62.0 69.3 73.7 77.2 80.2 82.1

Taranaki 77.6 82.3 80.3 79.3 80.0 81.0 80.9 80.2 79.9

Manawatu 73.2 73.7 70.2 65.0 66.6 71.3 74.7 70.7 72.6

Wairarapa 76.7 80.0 78.4 75.6 77.9 80.3 78.9 79.8 77.4

Nelson/Marlborough 81.1 80.8 82.3 77.0 79.3 81.7 79.4 74.1 74.8

West Coast 77.2 75.3 74.0 68.8 66.4 65.4 66.5 68.6 68.8

North Canterbury 80.0 81.0 82.1 78.8 80.4 81.5 82.7 79.7 79.9

South Canterbury 76.9 78.4 78.3 73.9 76.8 80.2 78.4 78.4 76.1

Otago 79.7 82.5 81.1 79.9 80.1 76.2 76.1 70.8 72.8

Southland 75.3 75.9 75.5 73.0 75.7 75.5 69.1 69.0 70.5

NewZealand 74.2 76.1 74.5 71.7 72.9 74.3 74.8 73.0 72.8


YearlingstoAB

Region 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

Northland 8,533 11,759 10,796 8,816 8,744 9,637 10,377 11,876 11,160

Auckland 2,338 3,454 3,336 2,588 3,073 3,170 2,994 3,622 3,754

Waikato 16,126 22,341 22,557 15,505 18,676 23,609 26,144 28,667 25,827

Bay of Plenty 7,723 11,508 10,495 7,116 7,871 7,461 8,373 9,375 9,411

Central Plateau 3,374 4,811 3,944 2,917 2,704 4,118 4,533 5,343 6,798

Western Uplands 550 1,141 853 782 1,048 1,577 2,066 2,344 1,697

East Coast 0 29 3 7 2 0 0 60 69

Hawkes Bay 1,042 1,417 2,037 1,010 1,986 2,025 3,725 2,955 2,532

Taranaki 3,420 8,227 6,775 4,822 5,191 6,458 7,651 7,920 6,652

Manawatu 3,205 6,423 6,215 4,137 4,717 6,341 7,119 8,575 8,850

Wairarapa 3,357 5,091 5,044 4,150 4,055 4,537 4,721 5,792 5,172

Nelson/Marlborough 3,522 5,096 4,651 2,499 4,006 4,826 4,874 5,012 4,082

West Coast 1,981 3,658 4,265 3,580 3,706 4,481 3,760 5,201 4,269

North Canterbury 17,920 32,205 25,831 18,911 29,168 36,916 43,063 48,312 47,250

South Canterbury 9,750 14,020 14,669 11,395 14,808 18,151 23,201 25,707 25,731

Otago 10,225 14,767 13,599 13,043 15,754 16,392 16,974 20,490 20,306

Southland 25,160 25,358 25,210 18,209 22,947 27,266 29,161 35,522 37,415

NewZealand 118,226 171,305 160,280 119,487 148,456 176,965 198,736 226,773 220,975

Graph 4.4: Trend in the percentage of cows to Artificial Breeding for the last 30 seasons

90

85

80

75

70

65

60

55

50

1985

/86

1986

/87

1987

/88

1988

/89

1989

/90

1990

/91

1991

/92

1992

/93

1993

/94

1994

/95

1995

/96

1996

/97

1997

/98

1998

/99

1999

/00

2000

/01

2001

/02

2002

/03

2003

/04

2004

/05

2005

/06

2006

/07

2007

/08

2008

/09

2009

/10

2010

/11

2011

/12

2012

/13

2013

/14

2014

/15

Perc

enta

geo

fcow

s

Season


In 2014/15 the average number of inseminations per cow (1.36) (recorded on the LIC Herd Improvement Database) was markedly higher than

previous seasons.

Graph 4.5: Average number of inseminations per cow for the last 20 seasons

The use of Ayrshire, Holstein-Friesian and Jersey semen over different cow breeds for the past fi ve seasons is shown in the graphs below.

Ayrshire semen use over Ayrshire cows is 37.8% (Graph 4.6). Holstein-Friesian/Jersey Crossbreed semen is used predominantly over

Holstein-Friesian/Jersey crosses (Graph 4.7). The use of Jersey semen over other breeds is illustrated in Graph 4.8. The percentage of

Holstein-Friesian semen over Holstein-Friesian/Jersey Crossbreed cows continues to increase (Graph 4.9).

Graph 4.6: Ayrshire semen usage (%) over breed category for the last fi ve seasons

1995

/96

1996

/97

1997

/98

1998

/99

1999

/00

2000

/01

2001

/02

2002

/03

2003

/04

2004

/05

2005

/06

2006

/07

2007

/08

2008

/09

2009

/10

2010

/11

2011

/12

2012

/13

2013

/14

2014

/15

1.34 1.34 1.33

1.36

1.291.28

1.25

1.27 1.27

1.30 1.301.31

1.301.30 1.30

1.32

1.351.34

1.32

1.38

1.36

1.34

1.32

1.30

1.28

1.26

1.24

1.22

Num

bero

fins

emin

atio

ns

Season

1.34

0%

2010/11

2011/12

2014/15

2013/14

2012/13

20%

26.8 6.2 10.0 16.5 20.4 20.1

37.8 5.0 5.2 11.9 22.9 17.2

33.7 5.5 5.9 13.9 21.6 19.3

31.5 5.7 7.6 15.0 21.2 19.0

40% 60% 80% 100%

Ayrshire Jersey Holstein-Friesian Ayrshire crossbreedHolstein-Friesian/Jersey Crossbreed Other

Seas

on

27.8 5.5 8.8 16.7 20.6 20.6


Graph 4.7: Holstein-Friesian/Jersey Crossbreed semen usage (%) over breed category for the last fi ve seasons

Graph 4.8: Jersey semen usage (%) over breed category for the last fi ve seasons

Graph 4.9: Holstein-Friesian semen usage (%) over breed category for the last fi ve seasons

2010/11

2014/15

2013/14

2012/13

2011/12

32.82.7 29.7 34.7

33.93.0 29.0 34.1

35.83.1 28.4 32.8

37.13.3 27.8 31.9

39.23.5 26.7 30.7

Seas

on

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Jersey Holstein-Friesian Holstein-Friesian/Jersey Crossbreed Other

2014/15

2013/14

2012/13

2011/12

2010/11 16.035.7 21.8 22.34.2

10.140.1 21.3 24.34.2

12.238.6 21.5 23.34.3

14.036.9 22.0 22.84.3

Seas

on

11.539.0 21.2 24.04.3

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Jersey Holstein-Friesian Holstein-Friesian/Jersey Crossbreed Ayrshire crossbreed Other

2010/11

2014/15

2013/14

2012/13

2011/12

19.46.5 40.7 5.5 28.0

14.05.0 43.5 6.1 31.4

14.0 43.45.5 5.7 31.3

15.06.1 43.1 5.5 30.3

16.86.2 42.1 5.7 29.2

Seas

on

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Jersey Holstein-Friesian Holstein-Friesian/Jersey Crossbreed Ayrshire crossbreed Other


The percentage of inseminations for each breed category (Holstein-Friesian, Jersey, Holstein-Friesian/Jersey Crossbreed, and Ayrshire) as

recorded on the LIC Herd Improvement Database is shown in Graph 4.10. The percentage of inseminations for Holstein-Friesian continued at

55%, while inseminations for the Jersey breed continues to decline (now at 13%). The percentage of inseminations for Holstein-Friesian/Jersey

Crossbreed (shown since 2000/01) increased to 28%.

Graph 4.10: Trend in the percentage of inseminations of each breed category for the last 40 seasons

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

1975

/76

1976

/77

1977

/78

1978

/79

1979

/80

1980

/81

1981

/82

1982

/83

1983

/84

1984

/85

1985

/86

1986

/87

1987

/88

1988

/89

1989

/90

1990

/91

1991

/92

1992

/93

1993

/94

1994

/95

1995

/96

1996

/97

1997

/98

1998

/99

1999

/00

2000

/01

2001

/02

2002

/03

2003

/04

2004

/05

2005

/06

2006

/07

2007

/08

2008

/09

2009

/10

2010

/11

2011

/12

2012

/13

2013

/14

2014

/15

Perc

enta

geo

fins

emin

atio

ns

Season

Ayrshire Holstein-Friesian Jersey Holstein-Friesian/Jersey Crossbreed


D. Herd Reproduction

Reproductive performance is a key determinant of farm productivity. The 6-week in-calf rate is the best overall measure of herd reproductive

performance and is used to compare performance between herds and to monitor national performance.

The not-in-calf rate at end of mating is important at a herd level, but is not suitable for comparison between herds due to differences in length

of mating period.

Actual 6-week in-calf rate (Detailed Fertility Focus Reports) is calculated for herds with suffi cient early aged pregnancy test records (at least

80% of cows in the herd, and at least 80% of all pregnancy test results are less than or equal to 122 days pregnant, or non-pregnant).

The 6-week in-calf rate for herds without suffi cient early aged pregnancy test records is estimated from calving and mating data (Intermediate

Fertility Focus Reports).

The statistics in this section are for LIC MINDA recording herds only.

There has been a trend towards more early aged pregnancy testing and thus more actual results are available from Detailed Fertility Focus

Reports, since the launch of the DairyNZ InCalf programme in 2008/09. The number of herds with detailed reports has increased from 354 in

2008/09 to 2,895 in 2014/15 (Table 4.9).

The mean actual 6-week in-calf rate over the past four seasons (about 67%) is greater than that achieved in 2008/09 to 2010/11. The mean

estimated 6-week in-calf rates are 1-3% lower, but a similar trend for improvement is evident.

The mean 3-week submission rate and mean conception rate have also increased, mostly between 2010/11 and 2011/12. Conception rates are

not available for Intermediate Fertility Focus Reports.

Table 4.9: Mean herd reproductive performance since 2008/09

Actual Estimated

Mating season Number of herds Mean 6-week in-calf rate (%)

Mean 3-week submission rate (%)

Mean conception rate (%)

Number of herds Mean 6-week in-calf rate (%)

Mean 3-week submission rate (%)

2008/09 354 63.4 78.5 50.1 4,872 62.1 72.7

2009/10 712 63.5 77.5 51.0 4,749 61.6 72.2

2010/11 982 64.4 78.7 50.7 4,090 61.9 72.6

2011/12 1,341 66.8 80.7 52.2 4,051 63.3 76.0

2012/13 1,862 67.8 81.6 52.9 4,034 64.3 76.6

2013/14 2,363 67.2 80.8 52.5 3,874 64.5 76.5

2014/15 2,895 66.8 81.1 52.6 3,918 64.2 76.2

Note: Results for 2008/09 and 2009/10 are based on the fi rst version of the Fertility Focus Report software. Results from 2010/11 onwards are from an improved version.

Graph 4.11: Mean actual and estimated 6-week in-calf rate since 2008/09

2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

68

67

66

65

64

63

62

61

60

59

58

Mea

n6-

wee

kin

-cal

frat

e

Season

Actual 6-week in-calf rate Estimated 6-week in-calf rate

Note: Results for 2008/09 and 2009/10 are based on the fi rst version of the Fertility Focus Report software. Results from 2010/11 onwards are from an the improved version two.


Mean actual 6-week in-calf rate ranged between 62.7% (Northland / Auckland) and 68.7% (Taranaki) in 2014/15 (Table 4.10). Mean

estimated 6-week in-calf rates ranged between 60.2% for Northland / Auckland, and 65.4% for North and South Canterbury in 2014/15.

Table 4.10: Mean 6-week in-calf rate by farming region for the last three seasons.Actual Estimated

2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

Farming region Number of herds

Mean 6-week in-calf

rate (%)

Number of herds

Mean 6-week in-calf

rate (%)

Number of herds

Mean 6-week in-calf

rate (%)

Number of herds

Mean 6-week in-calf

rate (%)

Number of herds

Mean 6-week in-calf

rate (%)

Number of herds

Mean 6-week in-calf

rate (%)

Northland / Auckland 76 64.6 99 63.5 119 62.7 339 60.9 342 61.2 329 60.2

Waikato / Western Uplands 503 69.6 630 68.6 816 67.4 1,191 65.5 1,139 65.2 1,137 64.6

BoP / Central Plateau / East Coast 139 67.1 169 65.4 242 65.6 360 65.1 352 65.6 369 64.3

Hawkes Bay / Manawatu / Wairarapa

181 65.8 206 64.6 276 63.7 384 61.8 380 62.5 341 62.3

Taranaki 124 71.5 179 68.7 223 68.7 872 65.4 862 65.4 887 65.3

West Coast / Nelson / Marlborough 49 71.5 72 67.6 97 68.0 265 64.0 250 64.3 249 64.3

North & South Canterbury 409 67.2 534 67.2 566 67.7 246 64.1 209 64.3 227 65.4

Otago / Southland 381 66.3 474 67.1 556 67.2 377 63.6 340 64.4 379 64.2

Note: Results reported in this table are from an improved version of the Fertility Focus Report software and will differ from earlier publications.

In 2014/15, 50% of herds had an actual 6-week in-calf rate of 68% or higher and 10% had an in-calf rate of 76% or higher (Table 4.11). Ten

per cent of herds had 6-week-in-calf rate of 57% or lower.

Table 4.11: Actual 6-week in-calf rate in 2014/15

Number of herds Median Top 10% Top 25% Bottom 25% Bottom 10%

6-week in-calf rate 2,895 68 >76 >72 <63 <57

Graph 4.12: Distribution of actual 6-week in-calf rate in 2014/15

< 40

40 -

45

45 -

50

50 -

55

55 -

60

60 -

65

65 -

70

70 -

75

75 -

80

80 -

85

85 -

90

> 90

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

Perc

enta

geo

fher

ds

Actual6-weekin-calfrate(%)

< 40

40 -

45

45 -

50

50 -

55

55 -

60

60 -

65

65 -

70

70 -

75

75 -

80

80 -

85

85 -

90


The distribution of estimated 6-week in-calf rates is tighter than the actual results refl ecting that estimates tend towards the mean. This is

because estimates for low performing herds tend to be overestimated while estimates for high performing herds tend to be underestimated. In

2014/15, 50% of herds had an estimated 6-week in-calf rate of 65% or higher and 10% of these herds had an estimated 6-week in-calf rate

of 71% or higher (Table 4.12). Ten per cent of herds had an in-calf rate of 55% or lower.

Table 4.12: Estimated 6-week in-calf rate in 2014/15

Number of herds Median Top 10% Top 25% Bottom 25% Bottom 10%

6-week in-calf rate 3,918 65 >71 >69 <61 <55

Graph 4.13: Distribution of estimated 6-week in-calf rate in 2014/15<

40

40 -

45

45 -

50

50 -

55

55 -

60

60 -

65

65 -

70

70 -

75

75 -

80

80 -

85

85 -

90

> 90

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

Perc

enta

geo

fher

ds

Estimated6-weekin-calfrate(%)

< 40

40 -

45

45 -

50

50 -

55

55 -

60

60 -

65

65 -

70

70 -

75

75 -

80


E. Calving

i) Planned start of calving and median calving dates

The trend in calving dates within and between regions is best shown by the “planned start of calving” date. The planned start of calving date

is 282 days from the date that mating is started in the herd. The farmer has control over, and the ability to change, the start of mating.

Mating and calving information is recorded on the LIC Herd Improvement Database for approximately 85% of all herds.

Calving spread can be controlled to some degree by farm management (for example, cow condition score at calving, level of nutrition in the

four to six weeks prior to mating, and the use of CIDR devices and other reproductive technology). The actual start of calving can be

meaningless, since the fi rst calving in a herd can be premature, occurring well before the rest of the herd calves. Hence the median calving

date (the date that occupies the middle position after the dates are arranged in ascending order) is used as an indicator of actual calving

spread.

The forecast planned start of calving and actual median calving dates for cows (excluding fi rst calvers) for the 2014/15 season are shown in

Graph 4.14.

Graph 4.14: Planned start of calving and median calving dates for cows (excluding fi rst calvers) by region

The planned start of calving for fi ve-yearly intervals since 2000/01 is shown in Graph 4.15. The trend is for an earlier planned start of calving

compared with fi ve and ten years ago.

Northland Waikato Bay of Plenty/East Coast

Taranaki Manawatu/Wairarapa

Tasman/Westland

Marlborough/Canterbury

Otago/Southalnd

30 Aug

20 Aug

10 Aug

31 Jul

21 Jul

11 Jul

1 Jul

Dat

e

Region

Planned start of calving 2015/16 Median calving 2014/15


Graph 4.15: Trend in planned start of calving dates for cows (excluding fi rst calvers) by region

ii) Calving interval

The calving interval for a herd tested cow is the number of days between her calving date in the current season and her calving date in the

preceding season. No interval is calculated for fi rst-calving heifers. The average calving interval is based on all recorded calving dates for herd

tested cows calving during the period from 1 June to 30 November. All records where pregnancy terminated prematurely or resulted in

abortion or were induced, were excluded.

Table 4.13: Mean calving interval by breed since 2000/01

All breeds Holstein-Friesian Jersey Friesian/Jersey Cross Ayrshire

Season Average number of

days

Number of records

Average number of

days

Number of records

Average number of

days

Number of records

Average number of

days

Number of records

Average number of

days

Number of records

2000/01 368.2 2,075,300 368.4 1,120,489 368.4 355,463 367.7 491,090 369.3 25,941

2001/02 368.3 2,093,134 368.7 1,091,334 367.8 363,278 367.7 526,610 369.7 25,572

2002/03 368.4 2,109,651 368.6 1,068,842 368.3 365,913 368.0 562,974 369.4 24,175

2003/04 369.0 2,181,103 369.4 1,067,677 368.2 375,598 368.6 620,523 368.9 23,642

2004/05 369.5 2,210,747 370.1 1,040,243 368.8 383,759 369.0 666,562 370.6 23,169

2005/06 367.8 2,241,175 368.2 1,013,546 367.7 390,971 367.4 706,441 368.2 23,129

2006/07 368.9 2,260,512 369.3 1,002,099 369.0 387,357 368.2 739,493 370.4 22,785

2007/08 369.9 2,349,042 370.4 985,422 369.7 366,954 369.5 853,422 371.0 21,239

2008/09 370.1 2,359,392 371.0 953,577 368.9 359,509 369.5 891,949 371.9 19,948

2009/10 368.7 2,477,122 369.1 972,118 368.3 361,329 368.5 980,435 369.3 16,745

2010/11 368.6 2,628,672 369.2 1,000,637 368.2 364,664 368.2 1,088,976 370.5 19,719

2011/12 368.3 2,807,333 368.5 1,030,006 368.0 370,877 368.2 1,213,169 369.1 20,164

2012/13 368.8 2,927,817 368.7 1,323,053 368.4 370,796 368.7 1,323,053 369.5 20,643

2013/14 368.4 3,054,915 368.8 1,051,940 368.2 366,500 368.2 1,427,255 369.8 20,337

Waikato Bay of Plenty/East Coast

Taranaki Manawatu/Wairarapa

Tasman/Westland

Marlborough/Canterbury

Otago/Southland

Dat

e

Region

2000/01 2005/06 2010/11 2015/16

14 Aug

9 Aug

4 Aug

30 Jul

25 Jul

20 Jul

15 Jul

10 Jul

5 Jul

30 JunNorthland


F. Animal Evaluation

The genetic merit of New Zealand dairy cows and sires is estimated using statistical methods which allow simultaneous evaluation of cows and

sires of all breeds, using all recorded relationships. The structure of the national herd reveals large numbers of crossbred cows, and large

numbers of herds with mixed breeds. For this reason the national evaluation system is designed to fairly compare animals irrespective of breed,

both nationally and within herd, to assist farmers to select the most profitable animals for the future.

There are two types of evaluation calculated for New Zealand dairy animals:

1. Trait evaluations are estimates of an animal’s genetic merit (Breeding Values) and lifetime productive ability (Production Values) for

individual traits including milkfat, protein, volume, liveweight, somatic cell, fertility and residual survival.

2. Economic evaluations combine an animal’s individual trait evaluations to estimate its comparative ability to convert feed into profit, through

breeding replacements (Breeding Worth) and lifetime production (Production Worth).

For each economic index, Economic Values are calculated for the relevant traits. For Breeding Worth, the Economic Values represent the net

income per unit of feed from breeding replacements with a one unit genetic improvement in the trait. For Production Worth, the Economic

Values represent the net income per unit of feed from milking cows with a one unit improved productive ability in the trait. In each case the

base unit of feed is 5 tonnes of dry matter in average quality pasture.

The profit-related traits are combined into a single economic index. For example:

BreedingWorth = MilkfatBV x $EV(Milkfat) +

ProteinBV x $EV(Protein) +

MilkBV x $EV(Milk) +

LiveweightBV x $EV(Liveweight) +

SomaticCellBV x $EV(Somaticcell) +

FertilityBV x $EV(Fertility) +

ResidualSurvivalBV x $EV(ResidualSurvival)

where: BV = Breeding Value for each trait $EV = Economic Value for each trait for breeding replacements

Animal Evaluation ranks animals in terms of their expected profit per unit of feed eaten. Breeding Worth (BW) and Production Worth (PW) are

based on future price predictions for milk components.

The economic values for 2015 are presented below (Table 4.14). The economic values are reviewed annually and therefore may change from

year to year.

Table 4.14: Economic values used from 16 February 2015

Milkfat ($/kg)

Protein ($/kg)

Milk ($/kg)

Liveweight ($/kg)

Somatic Cell ($/score)

Fertility ($/%)

Residual Survival($/day)

Breeding Worth 1.81 8.18 -0.097 -1.63 -38.61 7.23 0.140

Production Worth 1.81 8.18 -0.094 -1.63 - - -

The information for all Animal Evaluation statistics was sourced from cows and sires recorded on the LIC National Database as at 16 May 2015.

The evaluations were conducted with reference to a genetic base of cows born in 2000.

i) Sire Evaluations

Table 4.15 shows the Breeding Values (BV) and Breeding Worth (BW) by breed, of all bulls born in 2010 first proven in the 2014/15 season

with a BW Reliability of 75% or greater. Reliability of BW is reported on a scale from 0% to 99%. 0% is the case where there are no

performance records for any related animal used in the bull’s evaluation. 99% is the case where the bull has a very large number of

performance-recorded daughters.


Table 4.15: Average Breeding Values and Breeding Worth of 2010-born bulls (reliability of 75% or greater)

Breed Milkfat BV Protein BV Milk Volume BV

Liveweight BV

Somatic Cell BV

Fertility BV Residual Survival BV

BW Number of Bulls

Ayrshire 7.4 6.0 216.3 -2.2 0.1 -1.8 46.8 36.5 6

Holstein Friesian 23.9 30.1 839.6 42.3 0.0 1.1 -3.0 144.7 128

Jersey 12.7 1.3 -427.0 -57.9 0.0 2.0 38.2 190.7 70

HF/J Crossbred 21.5 18.4 224.2 -4.7 0.0 2.3 -9.5 189.7 51

(Evaluation date: 16 May 2015)

The genetic trend of proven dairy bulls is shown in Graph 4.16. Bulls born in 2010 are first proven in the 2014/15 season.

Graph 4.16: Genetic trend of proven dairy bulls by year of birth (reliability of 75% or greater)


Young bulls are initially selected for use in Artificial Breeding based on the genetic merit of their sire and dam. These young sires are then

progeny tested to estimate their Breeding Worth more accurately via the performance of their daughters. Each year some progeny tested bulls

are returned to service for use as proven sires.

Table 4.16 shows the number of sires, by birth year and breed, for which the Reliability of the BW was at least 75%. The information in this

table is updated every year for all age groups to include older bulls that have now been proven in New Zealand.

Table 4.16: Number of Sires by birth year and breed category (reliability of BW 75% or greater, includes overseas bulls)

Year of Birth Number of Sires Holstein-Friesian Jersey HF/Jersey Crossbred Ayrshire Other Breeds

2000 534 289 137 67 34 7

2001 539 262 162 74 33 8

2002 535 272 162 73 24 4

2003 516 258 151 69 35 3

2004 534 265 151 91 26 1

2005 502 230 156 94 18 4

2006 499 235 155 82 25 2

2007 312 153 95 42 19 3

2008 330 143 102 68 16 1

2009 307 145 95 58 9 0

2010 255 128 70 51 6 0


250

200

150

100

50

0

-50

-100

Bree

ding

Wor

th($

)

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Yearofbirth

Holstein-Friesian Jersey Ayrshire Holstein-Friesian/Jersey Crossbreed


<–10

–10

- 0

0 - 1

0

10 -

20

20 -

30

30 -

40

40 -

50

50 -

60

60 -

70

70 -

80

80 -

90

90 -

100

100

- 110

110

- 120

120

- 130

130

- 140

140

- 150

150

- 160

160

- 170

170

- 180

180

- 190

190

- 200

200

- 210

210

- 220

>220

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

Perc

enta

geo

fher

ds

HerdPW($)

<–10

–10

- 0

0 - 1

0

10 -

20

20 -

30

30 -

40

40 -

50

50 -

60

60 -

70

70 -

80

80 -

90

90 -

100

100

- 110

190

- 200

140

- 150

200

- 210

150

- 160

160

- 170

>220

170

- 180

ii) Cow Evaluations

The Breeding Worth for herds presented below (Table 4.17 and Graph 4.17) is based on cows of the users of herd testing services, in herds

with at least 80 cows, in the 2014/15 season. Table 4.17 shows that 50% of these herds had a BW of 106 or above and 25% of these herds

had a BW of 124 or above.

Table 4.17: Herd Breeding Worth in 2014/15

Median Top 5% Top 10% Top 25% Bottom 25% Bottom 10% Bottom 5%

Herd BW 106 > 149 > 141 > 124 < 82 < 56 < 39


Graph 4.17: Distribution of Herd Breeding Worth in 2014/15


The Production Worth (PW) for herds presented below (Table 4.18 and Graph 4.18) is based on cows of the users of herd testing services, in

herds with at least 80 cows, in the 2014/15 season. Table 4.18 shows that 50% of these herds had a PW of 119 or above and 25% of these

herds had a PW of 142 or above.

Table 4.18: Herd Production Worth in 2014/15


Herd PW 119 > 175 > 162 > 142 < 94 < 68 < 49


Graph 4.18: Distribution of Herd Production Worth in 2014/15


<0

0 - 1

0

10 -

20

20 -

30

30 -

40

40 -

50

50 -

60

60 -

70

70 -

80

80 -

90

90 -

100

100

- 110

110

- 120

120

- 130

130

- 140

140

- 150

150

- 160

160

- 170

>170

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

Perc

enta

geo

fher

ds

HerdBW($)

10 -

20

20 -

30

30 -

40

60 -

70

70 -

80

90 -

100

100

- 110

110

- 120

120

- 130

130

- 140

140

- 150

160

- 170

>170


The Breeding Worth (BW) for cows presented below (Table 4.19 and Graph 4.19) is based on all cows of the users of herd testing services, in

herds with at least 80 cows, and signed up for herd testing in the 2014/15 season. Table 4.19 shows that 50% of these cows had a BW of 104

or above and that 25% of these cows had a BW of 139 or above.

Table 4.19: Cow Breeding Worth in 2014/15


Cow BW 104 > 184 > 168 > 139 < 64 < 26 < 1


Graph 4.19: Distribution of Cow Breeding Worth in 2014/15


The Production Worth (PW) for cows presented below (Table 4.20 and Graph 4.20) is based on cows of the users of herd testing services, in

herds with at least 80 cows, in the 2014/15 season. Table 4.20 shows that 50% of these cows had a PW of 118 or above and that 25% of

these cows had a PW of 183 or above.

Table 4.20: Cow Production Worth in 2014/15


Cow PW 118 > 282 > 244 > 183 < 51 < -13 < -44


Graph 4.20: Distribution of Cow Production Worth in 2014/15


<–80

–80

- –60

–60

- –40

–40

- –20

–20

- 0

0 - 2

0

20 -

40

40 -

60

60 -

80

80 -

100

100

- 120

120

- 140

140

- 160

160

- 180

180

- 200

200

- 220

220+

15

10

5

0

Perc

enta

geo

fher

ds

CowBW($)

–80

- –60

–60

- –40

–40

- –20

–20

- 0

0 - 2

0

20 -

40

40 -

60

60 -

80

80 -

100

100

- 120

140

- 160

160

- 180

180

- 200

200

- 220

220+

<-15

0

–150

- –1

20

–120

- –9

0

–90

- –60

–60

- –30

–30

- 0

0 - 3

0

30 -

60

60 -

90

90 -

120

120

- 150

150

- 180

180

- 210

210

- 240

240

- 270

270

- 300

300

- 330

330

- 360

360+

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

Perc

enta

geo

fcow

s

CowPW($)

<-15

0

–150

- –1

20

–120

- –9

0

–90

- –60

–60

- –30

–30

- 0

0 - 3

0

30 -

60

60 -

90

90 -

120

120

- 150

150

- 180

210

- 240

240

- 270

300

- 330

330

- 360

360+


The genetic trend for cows is based on all cows (alive or dead) recorded on the Livestock Improvement National Database in the 2014/15

season. Also included are the estimated BW and PW for replacement stock (2013 and 2014 born animals). All evaluations can be compared

across breeds. The genetic trend for BW by breed is presented in Graph 4.21. The average Breeding Worth for all breeds has increased over

time.

Graph 4.21: Trend in Breeding Worth for all cows


The trend for PW by breed is presented in Graph 4.22. Holstein-Friesian/Jersey crossbreds have maintained a higher PW over other breeds,

caused by the effects of heterosis (hybrid vigour) in the crossbreds.

Graph 4.22: Trend in Production Worth for all cows


200

150

100

50

0

-50

-100

-150

Bree

ding

Wor

th($

)

YearofBirth


1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Prod

uctio

nW

orth

($)

YearofBirth


1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

200

150

100

50

0

-50

-100

-150


Table 4.21 shows the average BVs and BW by breed, of all 2012 born cows. The Jersey cows had the highest average BW at 137.1.

Holstein-Friesian cows had the highest milkfat, protein, and milk volume BVs. All evaluations are comparable across breeds.

Table 4.21 Average Breeding Worth and Breeding Values of all cows by breed category born in 2012.

Breed BW ($)

Milkfat BV (kg)

Protein BV (kg)

Milk Volume BV (l)

Liveweight BV (kg)

Somatic Cell BV (score)

Fertility BV (%)

Residual Survival BV (days)

Cow Numbers

Holstein-Friesian 97.0 16.7 20.2 568 30.8 0.04 1.1 1 437,669

Jersey 137.1 6.8 -3.3 -487 -52.6 -0.04 2.1 9 113,361

Ayrshire -1.1 -3.1 2.2 105 1.4 -0.20 -4.0 149 7,109

HF/J Crossbred 122.7 13.3 10.8 117 -6.3 0.00 1.7 -7 553,039

Guernsey -204.4 -18.1 -14.7 -402 25.3 0.06 -5.4 24 95

Milking Shorthorn -132.8 -24.5 -11.5 -289 13.9 -0.10 -1.4 89 317

Brown Swiss -162.4 -16.7 -4.8 -165 49.1 -0.32 -8.5 159 88

Other 96.3 9.4 9.1 94 -2.1 -0.08 0.5 35 75,709

Weighted Average 111.8 13.6 12.7 224 3.3 0.00 1.4 1 1,188,064


Survivability is measured by the percentage of cows that have a lactation recorded for consecutive years. In the 2014/15 season, survivability

was lower than the previous few years. The value in the “2-3 years” column is the percentage of cows that were milking as two-year-olds in

the 2013/14 season and are now milking as three-year-olds in the 2014/15 season. Table 4.22 shows that for the 2014/15 season the highest

percentage of survival is in animals aged 2-3 years (86.9%), followed by animals aged 3-4 years (85.7%) and 4-5 years (84.7%).

Table 4.22: Survivability percentages since 1996/97

Percentage (%) of age group surviving to next lactation

Season 2-3 years 3-4 years 4-5 years 5-6 years 6-7 years 7-8 years 8-9 years

1996/97 84.9 85.1 84.8 81.6 78.2 74.2 69.0

1997/98 85.9 86.7 85.6 81.9 77.7 73.9 68.3

1998/99 84.5 86.1 85.8 83.0 80.0 75.5 70.5

1999/00 84.1 86.2 85.8 82.8 80.7 76.3 70.8

2000/01 85.3 86.7 86.5 83.2 80.1 76.5 71.7

2001/02 85.6 88.4 86.8 84.3 80.8 77.1 73.5

2002/03 85.7 85.9 86.6 83.8 80.8 76.0 71.2

2003/04 85.2 86.9 86.0 83.0 78.7 74.8 69.4

2004/05 85.7 87.3 86.7 82.7 79.7 74.6 69.6

2005/06 85.0 87.5 87.6 84.2 79.7 76.7 70.6

2006/07 84.8 87.8 88.2 84.7 79.5 74.9 71.2

2007/08 84.0 87.6 87.2 84.1 80.0 74.9 69.5

2008/09 86.8 87.7 87.5 83.4 80.2 76.1 70.7

2009/10 87.0 87.2 86.3 82.2 77.6 72.9 67.3

2010/11 86.2 87.2 86.0 81.1 76.8 71.2 65.7

2011/12 87.3 87.7 86.8 81.5 76.8 72.2 65.6

2012/13 87.6 89.2 87.9 82.7 77.9 71.6 66.1

2013/14 87.6 87.4 86.3 82.0 77.2 71.5 64.3

2014/15 86.9 85.7 84.7 80.8 75.7 70.5 64.1


5. Prices received

A. Milk pricesUp until the end of the 2000/01 season, dairy farmers received payment from the New Zealand Dairy Board through a system of advance and

final payouts via dairy companies. Seasonal supply dairy companies passed on the Dairy Board advance payout to their suppliers, in addition to

a margin based on dairy company efficiency, product mix and investment policies; together known as the total payout.

The introduction of the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001 opened the way for New Zealand’s largest dairy companies, Kiwi Co-operative

Dairy Company (Kiwi) and New Zealand Dairy Group (NZDG) to merge with the Dairy Board to form Fonterra. Further, the Act allowed the

smaller dairy companies, such as Tatua and Westland, to become separate co-operatives. Consequently, the historic payment system became

redundant. Tatua and Westland have now established commercial arrangements for sale of dairy products.

Payments to seasonal supply farmers are based on the “A+B±C” system, which incorporates payments for milkfat (A) and protein (B) with

adjustments for milk volume (C). The payment system for winter milk supply varies between companies. Some winter milk payment systems

are based on the milk volume only, whereas other payment systems are similar to seasonal supply payment systems, which incorporate

components of milkfat, protein, and volume.

• Lowest inflation-adjusted dairy co-operative payout in over 20 years

The weighted average dairy company total payout (per kilogram of milksolids) received by dairy farmers from seasonal supply milk is shown in

Table 5.1 (weightings are based on the number of herds supplying each dairy company). The average payout is given in both nominal and

inflation-adjusted dollars using the Consumers Price Index. The average dairy company payout of $4.69 per kg milksolids in 2014/15 was the

lowest inflation-adjusted payout in the last 20 seasons.

Table 5.1: Trend in prices received for milksolids for the last 20 seasons

Season Average Dairy Company total payout ($/kg milksolids)

Dairy Company payout (inflation adjusted)a

1995/96 3.99 5.90

1996/97 3.63 5.31

1997/98 3.42 4.91

1998/99 3.58 5.16

1999/00 3.78 5.34

2000/01 5.01 6.86

2001/02 5.35 7.13

2002/03 3.66 4.81

2003/04 4.25 5.45

2004/05 4.58 5.71

2005/06 4.10 4.93

2006/07 4.46 5.25

2007/08 7.67 8.68

2008/09 5.14 5.71

2009/10b 6.37 6.96

2010/11b 7.89 8.18

2011/12b 6.40 6.58

2012/13b 6.18 6.31

2013/14b 8.47 8.51

2014/15b 4.69 4.69

a Weighted to give real dollar values using the Consumers Price Index for the end of the June quarter. Sourced from Statistics New Zealand; Excludes dairy company retentions and deduction for DairyNZ Levy. b Average dairy co-operative payout (Fonterra, Tatua, Westland). This includes Fonterra dividend payments.


Graph 5.1: Trend in milksolids payout to dairy farmers for the last 30 seasons

B. Dairy farm land prices

• Dairy farm land prices increase 9%

Prior to 2011/12 Table 5.2 used data from Quotable Value (QV) on a calendar year. Dairy farm land sales are now based on data provided by

the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) on a seasonal basis. Raw data provided by REINZ have been weighted by the number of farms

in each region. The farms sold are considered to be economic units.

The weighted average sale price of dairy farms increased to $5.23 million in 2014/15 (Table 5.2). The weighted average sale price per hectare

of $39,577 increased 8.8% on the previous season.

Table 5.2: Trend in dairy land sale values since 2009/10

Season Number of dairy farms

sold

Weighted average sale

price ($)

Inflation Adjusted

average sale price ($)

Weighted average land

area (ha)


price/ha ($)

Inflation adjusted

average sale price/ha ($)


price/KgMS ($)

CPI

2009/10 90 4,113,264 4,491,280 130 31,653 34,562 39 1,099

2010/11 143 4,119,017 4,272,100 126 32,735 33,952 38 1,157

2011/12 157 4,514,365 4,638,046 139 32,376 33,263 41 1,168

2012/13 197 4,375,251 4,464,542 130 33,557 34,241 36 1,176

2013/14 312 5,174,010 5,195,659 142 36,369 36,521 42 1,195

2014/15 244 5,228,018 5,228,018 132 39,577 39,577 44 1,200

Source: Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ), Statistics New Zealand Note: Number of dairy farms sold is for a season (01-Jun to 31-May) and excludes support blocks and non-economic units. Figures have been weighted by the number of dairy farms in each region. A change in weights has resulted in figures that are different from those published previously.

10.00

9.00

8.00

7.00

6.00

5.00

4.00

3.00

2.00

1.00

0.00

1995

/96

1996

/97

1997

/98

1998

/99

1999

/00

2000

/01

2001

/02

2002

/03

2003

/04

2004

/05

2005

/06

2006

/07

2007

/08

2008

/09

2009

/10

2010

/11

2011

/12

2012

/13

2013

/14

2014

/15

Season

Dol

lars

Dairy company payout (inflation adjusted) Average dairy company total payout ($/kg milksolids)


6. Disease Control

A. Tuberculosis (Tb) controlControl of Tb (M. bovis) over the agricultural industry is managed by TBfree New Zealand, whose primary objective is to manage Tb to reduce

the number of infected herds and to prevent Tb vector free areas becoming vector risk areas. The status of a vector area is determined by the

prevalence of wild animals (e.g., possums and ferrets) that are considered a source of infection.

The number of infected dairy herds decreased from 47 to 28 in 2014/15, while the number of Tuberculous dairy cattle increased from 100 to

120.

The West Coast of the South Island had the greatest number of infected herds (16) and 35% of the Tb dairy cattle in 2014/15. Waikato had

the greatest number of Tb dairy cattle (74, or 62%), from 9 infected herds.

Table 6.1: Tuberculosis (Tb) testing and results in 2014/15

Region Vector Status Number of infected Dairy herds at 30 June 2015

Number of Dairy Cattle Primary Tested in 2014/15

Number of tuberculousa dairy cattle

Northland Free 0 112,874 0

Auckland Free 0 27,193 0

Waikato Free 7 785,657 43

Risk 2 237,195 31

Bay of Plenty Free 0 82,456 0

Risk 0 5,663 0

Gisborne Free 0 350 0

Hawkes Bay Free 0 9,669 0

Risk 0 43,866 0

Taranaki Free 0 241,019 0

Manawatu/Wanganui Free 0 107,775 1

Risk 0 26,528 0

Wellington Free 0 3,494 0

Risk 0 88,813 0

North Island Free 7 1,370,487 44

Risk 2 402,065 31

NorthIsland Total 9 1,772,552 75

Marlborough Free 0 6,628 0

Risk 0 2,540 0

Tasman/Nelson Free 0 33,801 0

Risk 0 29,596 0

West Coast Free 0 12,491 0

Risk 16 257,782 42

Canterbury Free 1 370,310 2

Risk 0 122,658 0

Otago Free 1 106,491 0

Risk 1 178,052 1

Southland Free 0 177,851 0

Risk 0 123,425 0

South Island Free 2 707,572 2

Risk 17 714,053 43

SouthIsland Total 19 1,421,625 45

New Zealand Free 9 2,078,059 46

Risk 19 1,116,118 74

NewZealand Total 28 3,194,177 120

Sourced from TBfree New Zealand a Tuberculous animals include lesioned reactor cattle and lesioned cull cattle


1 Northland

Far North

Whangarei

Kaipara

2 Auckland

Rodney

North Shore

Waitakere

Auckland

Manukau

Papakura

Franklin

3 Waikato

Thames/Coromandel

Hauraki

Waikato

Matamata/Piako

Hamilton

Waipa

Otorohanga

South Waikato

4 BayofPlenty

Western Bay of Plenty

Tauranga

Whakatane

Kawerau

Opotiki

5 CentralPlateau

Rotorua

Taupo

6 WesternUplands

Waitomo

Ruapehu

7 EastCoast

Gisborne

Wairoa

8 HawkesBay

Hastings

Napier

Central Hawkes Bay

9 Taranaki

New Plymouth

Stratford

South Taranaki

10 Manawatu

Wanganui

Rangitikei

Manawatu

Palmerston North

Horowhenua

Kapiti

Porirua

Upper Hutt

Lower Hutt

Wellington

11 Wairarapa

Tararua

Masterton

Carterton

South Wairarapa

12 Nelson/Marlborough

Tasman

Nelson

Marlborough

Kaikoura

13 WestCoast

Buller

Grey

Westland

14 NorthCanterbury

Hurunui

Waimakariri

Christchurch

Banks Peninsula

Selwyn

Ashburton

15 SouthCanterbury

Timaru

MacKenzie

Waimate

16 Otago

Waitaki

Central Otago

Queenstown/Lakes

Dunedin

Clutha

17 Southland

Southland

Gore

Invercargill

12 Nelson/Marlborough

Tasman

Nelson

Marlborough

Kaikoura

13 WestCoast

Buller

Grey

Westland

14 NorthCanterbury

Hurunui

Waimakariri

Christchurch

Banks Peninsula

Selwyn

Ashburton

1

2

2

3

6 5

8

11

10

12

14

15

13

16

17

9

74

Northland

Waikato

Bay of Plenty / East Coast

Taranaki

Manawatu / Wairarapa

South Island

Appendix 1: Farming regions and districts

The following map shows the six LIC regions and the farming regions used in all analyses presented in this report. The list of districts, which

follow local authority boundaries, within each region is also given.

New

Zealand Dairy Statistics 2014-15

New ZealandDairy Statistics 2014-15

Documents

New Zealand Dairy Statistics 2014 15