Dairy Industry Facts and Resources
Dairying is New Zealand's largest industry and one of the fastest growing. It is a significant employer and contributor to the wealth that underpins New Zealand's standard of living.
Quick dairy farm facts:
- The total cow population in New Zealand for the 2007/08 season was 4.013 million, an increase of 2.5%.
- The average herd size has more than doubled in the last 20 years to 351 cows in the 2007/08 season.
- 19% of all herds now have more than 500 cows.
- The vast majority of herds are in the North Island (79%) with an average North Island herd size of 305 cows.
- South Island dairy herds account for the other 21% of the national total, but have 31% of the cows, with the average herd size of 526 cows.
- North and South Canterbury have the largest average herd size of 710 and 711 cows (respectively).
- South Auckland has 3613 herds, making it the region with the most herds.
- The dairy season runs from 1 June through to 31 May.
- In the 2007/08 season, dairy companies in New Zealand processed a staggering 14.7 billion litres of milk.
- In 2007/08, North Canterbury recorded the highest average herd production at 267,374 kilograms of milksolids.
- In the North Island, the Hawkes Bay region recorded the highest average herd production of 178,896 kilograms of milksolids.
For more information about the dairy industry check out other sections on the DairyNZ website or visit some of the websites listed below.
