Have your say on dairy herd improvement

The regulatory regime contributes to the breeding of more productive dairy animals through herd testing, herd recording, animal evaluation and artificial breeding. It also has the potential to support better environmental and animal health outcomes.

Farmers have been testing samples of milk from their dairy cattle and recording data to inform their herd management decisions for over a century. For industry to achieve optimal rates of genetic gain, it needs a comprehensive, accurate and continuous supply of data to inform decisions on herd management and breeding. 

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) wants to hear from industry stakeholders about how the regulatory regime can help to ensure that New Zealand’s dairy industry remains world leading. 

The dairy herd improvement regulatory regime has not been comprehensively reviewed since it was established in 2001, says Emma Taylor, MPI’s Director of Agriculture, Marine & Plant Policy.

“It’s important the dairy herd improvement regulatory regime reflects the changing needs of the dairy industry. It’s timely to look at how the regulatory settings can better support industry both now and into the future.

“Dairy herd improvement adds substantial value to New Zealand’s dairy industry, estimated at around $300 million each year.

“We want to hear from people about how the regulatory regime can more effectively support the performance of the dairy industry. We also want to hear from industry on the effects of changing technology and the future implications on the dairy herd improvement sector.”

The six week consultation will run from Monday 1 October 2018 to 5pm Monday 12 November 2018. 

This review is separate to the review of subpart 5 of the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001 (DIRA) which will look at the contestability settings and requirements on Fonterra.