Tuesday, 05 December 2017 14:55

Cow numbers fall, milk yield soars

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
Cow numbers in NZ are dropping, but milk yield is up. Cow numbers in NZ are dropping, but milk yield is up.

Anti-dairying activists should be rejoicing: New Zealand’s milking herd has shrunk for the second year in a row.

But milk output continues to soar, according to the latest national dairy statistics.

NZ Dairy Statistics 2016-17 shows milking cow and herd numbers both fell: cows numbered 4.86 million, down again from 4.99m in 2015-16; herd numbers fell from 11,918 to 11,748 (-170 herds).

But over the 12 months to June 2017, the average dairy cow produced a record milk quantity containing record milk solids. The average production per cow was 4259L in the 2016-17 season, containing 381kgMS, versus 4185L and 372kgMS in 2015-16.

However, despite the decline in cow numbers dairy companies processed very similar milk quantities: 20.7 billion L containing 1.85b kgMS in 2016-17; the previous season saw 20.9b L (1.86b kgMS).

The results are positive for NZ and its farmers, says DairyNZ.

Senior economist Matthew Newman says the rising trend in per-cow milk production shows farmers are opting for animals that are year-on-year more efficient at converting grass into milk – the industry’s objective.

“We are producing similar milk quantities from fewer cows, partly because we are breeding better animals and feeding them well,” says Newman.

“The average herd is now 414 cows, down from 419 in 2015-16. We are now at the lowest level of cows milked since 2012; North Island cow numbers declined 90,000 to 2.89m, and South Island numbers fell 46,000 to 1.97m.”

LIC general manager NZ markets Malcolm Ellis says the statistics reflect a shift in the industry.

“Farmers are acknowledging that, as an industry, if they are not going to be milking more cows then they need to be milking better ones.

“The lower payout in previous seasons forced some farmers to reconsider their cow numbers as part of a wider farm system review, but these stats prove it can pay off for a farming business.

“It boils down to the fundamentals of herd improvement: creating high quality herd replacements that will out-perform their mothers in productivity, longevity and fertility.”

Quick facts

- The South Island now produces 43.4% of national milksolids versus 35.6% a decade ago

- Milk production in the South Island increased 1.2% in 2015-16, with increases in North Canterbury (+0.8%), Otago (+2.3%) and Southland (+4.9%)

- North Island milk production declined 1.9% in 2016-17, with all regions except Taupo (+2.2%), Taranaki (+0.9%) and Manawatu (no change) producing less milk than in 2015-16.

More like this

Strong uptake of good wintering practices

DairyNZ has seen a significant increase in the number of farmers improving their wintering practices, which results in a higher standard of animal care and environmental protection.

Better animal genetic gain system

A governance group has been formed, following extensive sector consultation, to implement the recommendations from the Industry Working Group's (IWG) final report and is said to be forming a 'road map' for improving New Zealand's animal genetic gain system.

OSPRI's costly software upgrade

Animal disease management agency OSPRI has announced sweeping governance changes as it seeks to recover from the expensive failure of a major software project.

Musical chairs

OPINION: DairyNZ's director elections has seen scientist Jacqueline Rowarth re-elected for another three-year term.

Featured

Massey Research Field Day attracts huge interest

More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.

National

Winter grazing warning

Every time people from overseas see photographs of cows up to their hocks in mud it's bad for New Zealand.

ANZ defends farm lending rates

The country's largest lender to the agriculture sector says it's not favouring home loans over farm and business lending.

Machinery & Products

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo…

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Review SOEs!

OPINION: NIWA has long weathered complaints about alleged stifling of competition in forecasting, and more recently, claims of lack of…

Bank reset

OPINION: Adding to calls to get banks to 'back off', NZ Agri Brokers director Andrew Laming has revealed that the…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter