Benchmarking
14 min read
DairyBase provides a range of benchmarks for dairy farmers based on ownership, location, and production system, such as organic or winter milk farms. You can use a DairyBase benchmarking report to discuss your farm business with consultants, accountants, or bankers. The report is more impactful when discussed with an advisor. DairyBase's benchmarking includes two types of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): financial and physical, such as "Operating Profit per hectare" and "Cow efficiency." For data to be considered valid, a minimum of 20 farms must be in a benchmark group. DairyBase's data shows farm comparisons across various regions and highlights top-performing farms. It's essential to check DairyBase regularly as the data updates daily, and new benchmarks become available.
A wide range of benchmarks are available on DairyBase, largely based on ownership type, regional location and production system, including organic or winter milk farms.
There are several ways to work through a DairyBase benchmarking report - it just depends on business goals and what information is in the reports.
A benchmarking report is an ideal starting point for discussion with a consultant, accountant or banker to talk about the farm business. The impact of a report is magnified when it is discussed with an advisor.
For more information contact DairyBase.
Financial
Physical
To ensure the information is statistically reliable and that individual data remains confidential a minimum of 20 farms must be entered for a benchmark group before statistics become available. The greater the number in the sample, the more accurate the data will be.
DairyNZ’s DairyBase has collated provisional farm data showing comparisons between seasons and information for top performing farms.
The DairyBase data gives an indication of what dairy farmers were producing last season and how much they were spending across eight regions – Northland, Waikato, West Coast-Tasman, Marlborough-Canterbury, Otago-Southland, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and Lower North Island.
Farm working and operating costs do not include interest payments which are deducted as part of the business profit calculation.
DairyBase has a range of benchmarks available which farmers can access.
More information about the figures used
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The DairyNZ Econ Tracker is an online tool that brings you economic information relevant to the New Zealand dairy sector right now.
DairyNZ Econ Tracker toolDairyBase financial and physical benchmarks for the 2019/20 and 2020/21 and 2021/22 (model) seasons (farms analysed as at 4/11/22).
National
Financial KPI’s (Based on data from Owner Operator farms with a full financial analysis in DairyBase)
2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/2020 | |||
Average | Average | Top 50% | Average | Top 50% | |
Number of farms | (model) | 661 | 331 | 654 | 327 |
Cows/ha | 3.0 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 3.2 |
Kg Milksolids/ha | 1,212 | 1,232 | 1,455 | 1,229 | 1,446 |
Kg Milksolids/cow | 410 | 429 | 456 | 420 | 451 |
Cows/full time equivalent (FTE) | 158 | 151 | 161 | 152 | 159 |
Kg Milksolids/FTE | 64,972 | 64,862 | 73,501 | 63,891 | 71,678 |
Operating Profit ($/ha) | 4,984 | 3,189 | 4,326 | 2,783 | 3,787 |
Farm Working Exps ($ FWE/kg MS) | 4.70 | 4.57 | 4.26 | 4.49 | 4.26 |
Dairy Operating Exps ($/kg MS) | 5.54 | 5.42 | 4.97 | 5.37 |
5.02 |
Physical KPIs (Based on data from all farms with a physical analysis in DairyBase)
2021/22 | 2020/21 | |
Average | Average | |
Number of farms | 283 | 639 |
kg Milksolids/cow at peak | 1.98 | 2.02 |
% drop in MS production from peak to 31 Dec | 10 | 10 |
kg Milksolids/ha to 31 Dec | 1 | 1 |
Average kg Milksolids/cow/day | 1.7 | 1.7 |
Pasture & crop eaten tonnes DM/ha | 12.5 | 12.4 |
Northland
Financial KPI’s (Based on data from Owner Operator farms with full financial analysis in DairyBase)
2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/2020 | |||
Average | Average | Top 50% | Average | Top 50% | |
Number of farms | (model) | 58 | 29 | 71 | 36 |
Cows/ha | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 2.5 |
Kg Milksolids/ha | 788 | 775 | 984 | 787 | 930 |
Kg Milksolids/cow | 335 | 341 | 374 | 339 | 366 |
Cows/full time equivalent (FTE) | 130 | 125 | 130 | 130 | 132 |
Kg Milksolids/FTE | 43,506 | 42,601 | 48,719 | 44,057 | 48,454 |
Operating Profit ($/ha) | 2,772 | 1,580 | 2,436 | 1,433 | 2,146 |
Farm Working Exps ($ FWE/kg MS) | 5.21 | 4.97 | 4.74 | 5.04 | 4.75 |
Dairy Operating Exps ($/kg MS) | 6.43 | 6.19 | 5.77 | 6.27 | 5.86 |
Physical KPIs (Based on data from all farms with a physical analysis in DairyBase)
2021/22 | 2020/21 | |
Average | Average | |
Number of farms | 29 | 33 |
kg Milksolids/cow at peak | 1.68 | 1.78 |
% drop in MS production from peak to 31 Dec | 15 | 15 |
kg Milksolids/ha to 31 Dec | 1 | 1 |
Average kg Milksolids/cow/day | 1.8 | 1.9 |
Pasture & crop eaten tonnes DM/ha | 9.6 | 9.9 |
Waikato
Financial KPI’s (Based on data from Owner Operator farms with full financial analysis in DairyBase)
2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/2020 | |||
Average | Average | Top 50% | Average | Top 50% | |
Number of farms | 35 | 162 | 81 | 148 | 74 |
Cows/ha | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 3.1 |
Kg Milksolids/ha | 1,244 | 1,238 | 1,399 | 1,202 | 1,388 |
Kg Milksolids/cow | 441 | 426 | 451 | 408 | 441 |
Cows/full time equivalent (FTE) | 140 | 140 | 150 | 143 | 148 |
Kg Milksolids/FTE | 61,840 | 59,853 | 67,456 | 58,425 | 65,070 |
Operating Profit ($/ha) | 4,104 | 3,101 | 4,109 | 2,675 | 3,538 |
Farm Working Exps ($ FWE/kg MS) | 5.87 | 4.67 | 4.40 | 4.60 | 4.41 |
Dairy Operating Exps ($/kg MS) | 6.79 | 5.55 | 5.14 | 5.50 | 5.24 |
Physical KPIs (Based on data from all farms with a physical analysis in DairyBase)
2021/22 | 2020/21 | |
Average | Average | |
Number of farms | 90 | 194 |
kg Milksolids/cow at peak | 1.99 | 2.03 |
% drop in MS production from peak to 31 Dec | 11 | 9 |
kg Milksolids/ha to 31 Dec | 1 | 1 |
Average kg Milksolids/cow/day | 1.8 | 1.7 |
Pasture & crop eaten tonnes DM/ha | 12.4 | 12.4 |
Bay of Plenty
Financial KPI’s (Based on data from Owner Operator farms with full financial analysis in DairyBase)
2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/2020 | |||
Average | Average | Top 50% | Average | Top 50% | |
Number of farms | (model) | 54 | 27 | 55 | 28 |
Cows/ha | 3.0 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 3.0 |
Kg Milksolids/ha | 1,158 | 1,172 | 1,353 | 1,134 | 1,306 |
Kg Milksolids/cow | 390 | 401 | 428 | 393 | 429 |
Cows/full time equivalent (FTE) | 166 | 148 | 160 | 145 | 148 |
Kg Milksolids/FTE | 64,756 | 59,521 | 68,197 | 56,857 | 63,368 |
Operating Profit ($/ha) | 4,917 | 3,094 | 4,145 | 2,416 | 3,386 |
Farm Working Exps ($ FWE/kg MS) | 4.53 | 4.30 | 3.99 | 4.48 | 4.16 |
Dairy Operating Exps ($/kg MS) | 5.47 | 5.23 | 4.73 | 5.47 | 4.93 |
Physical KPIs (Based on data from all farms with a physical analysis in DairyBase)
2021/22 | 2020/21 | |
Average | Average | |
Number of farms | 35 | 68 |
kg Milksolids/cow at peak | 1.89 | 1.95 |
% drop in MS production from peak to 31 Dec | 9 | 9 |
kg Milksolids/ha to 31 Dec | 1 | 1 |
Average kg Milksolids/cow/day | 1.6 | 1.6 |
Pasture & crop eaten tonnes DM/ha | 12.5 | 12.7 |
Taranaki
Financial KPI’s (Based on data from Owner Operator farms with full financial analysis in DairyBase)
2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | |||
Average | Average | Top 50% | Average | Top 50% | |
Number of farms | (model) | 104 | 52 | 98 | 49 |
Cows/ha | 2.9 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 3.1 |
Kg Milksolids/ha | 1,251 | 1,229 | 1,397 | 1,205 | 1,394 |
Kg Milksolids/cow | 434 | 438 | 460 | 424 | 457 |
Cows/full time equivalent (FTE) | 165 | 144 | 154 | 141 | 154 |
Kg Milksolids/FTE | 71,323 | 63,018 | 70,898 | 59,741 | 70,110 |
Operating Profit ($/ha) | 5,335 | 3,350 | 4,401 | 2,900 | 3,859 |
Farm Working Exps ($ FWE/kg MS) | 4.36 | 4.18 | 3.96 | 4.16 | 4.01 |
Dairy Operating Exps ($/kg MS) | 5.33 | 5.14 | 4.76 | 5.09 | 4.82 |
Physical KPIs (Based on data from all farms with a physical analysis in DairyBase)
2021/22 | 2020/21 | |
Average | Average | |
Number of farms | 45 | 64 |
kg Milksolids/cow at peak | 1.98 | 2.05 |
% drop in MS production from peak to 31 Dec | 10 | 8 |
kg Milksolids/ha to 31 Dec | 1 | 1 |
Average kg Milksolids/cow/day | 1.6 | 1.7 |
Pasture & crop eaten tonnes DM/ha | 12.3 | 13.4 |
Lower North Island
Financial KPI’s (Based on data from Owner Operator farms with full financial analysis in DairyBase)
2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/2020 | |||
Average | Average | Top 50% | Average | Top 50% | |
Number of farms | (model) | 74 | 37 | 75 | 38 |
Cows/ha | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 3.0 |
Kg Milksolids/ha | 1,066 | 1,089 | 1,219 | 1,072 | 1,258 |
Kg Milksolids/cow | 404 | 414 | 434 | 392 | 423 |
Cows/full time equivalent (FTE) | 161 | 140 | 149 | 143 | 153 |
Kg Milksolids/FTE | 65,095 | 57,999 | 64,581 | 55,939 | 64,590 |
Operating Profit ($/ha) | 4,530 | 2,974 | 3,727 | 2,440 | 3,363 |
Farm Working Exps ($ FWE/kg MS) | 4.58 | 4.42 | 4.20 | 4.48 | 4.23 |
Dairy Operating Exps ($/kg MS) | 5.49 | 5.27 | 4.90 | 5.47 | 5.10 |
Physical KPIs (Based on data from all farms with a physical analysis in DairyBase)
2021/22 | 2020/21 | |
Average | Average | |
Number of farms | 25 | 39 |
kg Milksolids/cow at peak | 1.88 | 1.88 |
% drop in MS production from peak to 31 Dec | 10 | 7 |
kg Milksolids/ha to 31 Dec | 1 | 1 |
Average kg Milksolids/cow/day | 1.7 | 1.6 |
Pasture & crop eaten tonnes DM/ha | 10.4 | 10.4 |
West Coast - Top of the South
Financial KPI’s (Based on data from Owner Operator farms with full financial analysis in DairyBase)
2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/2020 | |||
Average | Average | Top 50% | Average | Top 50% | |
Number of farms | (model) | 62 | 31 | 64 | 32 |
Cows/ha | 2.6 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 2.7 |
Kg Milksolids/ha | 977 | 849 | 978 | 833 | 1,090 |
Kg Milksolids/cow | 375 | 365 | 389 | 363 | 402 |
Cows/full time equivalent (FTE) | 159 | 170 | 176 | 158 | 151 |
Kg Milksolids/FTE | 59,602 | 62,159 | 68,520 | 57,558 | 60,651 |
Operating Profit ($/ha) | 3,554 | 1,912 | 2,762 | 1,457 | 2,596 |
Farm Working Exps ($ FWE/kg MS) | 5.02 | 4.82 | 4.38 | 4.81 | 4.29 |
Dairy Operating Exps ($/kg MS) | 5.98 | 5.74 | 5.14 | 5.69 | 5.25 |
Physical KPIs (Based on data from all farms with a physical analysis in DairyBase)
2021/22 | 2020/21 | |
Average | Average | |
Number of farms | <20* | 64 |
kg Milksolids/cow at peak | 1.94 | |
% drop in MS production from peak to 31 Dec | 15 | |
kg Milksolids/ha to 31 Dec | 1 | |
Average kg Milksolids/cow/day | 1.5 | |
Pasture & crop eaten tonnes DM/ha | 9.9 |
Canterbury
Financial KPI’s (Based on data from Owner Operator farms with full financial analysis in DairyBase)
2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/2020 | |||
Average | Average | Top 50% | Average | Top 50% | |
Number of farms | (model) | 74 | 37 | 76 | 38 |
Cows/ha | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.8 |
Kg Milksolids/ha | 1,618 | 1,689 | 1,763 | 1,687 | 1,827 |
Kg Milksolids/cow | 451 | 468 | 477 | 466 | 484 |
Cows/full time equivalent (FTE) | 166 | 170 | 185 | 167 | 177 |
Kg Milksolids/FTE | 74,815 | 79,535 | 88,358 | 77,717 | 85,748 |
Operating Profit ($/ha) | 6,810 | 4,761 | 5,691 | 4,044 | 5,217 |
Farm Working Exps ($ FWE/kg MS) | 4.69 | 4.38 | 4.14 | 4.37 | 4.08 |
Dairy Operating Exps ($/kg MS) | 5.36 | 5.08 | 4.73 | 5.11 | 4.69 |
Physical KPIs (Based on data from all farms with a physical analysis in DairyBase)
2021/22 | 2020/21 | |
Average | Average | |
Number of farms | 39 | 108 |
kg Milksolids/cow at peak | 2.04 | 2.13 |
% drop in MS production from peak to 31 Dec | 7 | 7 |
kg Milksolids/ha to 31 Dec | 1 | 1 |
Average kg Milksolids/cow/day | 1.7 | 1.8 |
Pasture & crop eaten tonnes DM/ha | 15.5 | 15.7 |
Otago - Southland
Financial KPI’s (Based on data from Owner Operator farms with full financial analysis in DairyBase)
2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/2020 | |||
Average | Average | Top 50% | Average | Top 50% | |
Number of farms | (model) | 73 | 37 | 67 | 34 |
Cows/ha | 2.9 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 3.1 |
Kg Milksolids/ha | 1,270 | 1,156 | 1,381 | 1,227 | 1,404 |
Kg Milksolids/cow | 434 | 439 | 461 | 441 | 460 |
Cows/full time equivalent (FTE) | 160 | 156 | 170 | 157 | 166 |
Kg Milksolids/FTE | 69,228 | 68,220 | 78,443 | 69,245 | 76,431 |
Operating Profit ($/ha) | 5,041 | 2,861 | 4,199 | 2,881 | 4,035 |
Farm Working Exps ($ FWE/kg MS) | 4.86 | 4.91 | 4.39 | 4.47 | 4.19 |
Dairy Operating Exps ($/kg MS) | 5.66 | 5.65 | 5.01 | 5.28 | 4.79 |
Physical KPIs (Based on data from all farms with a physical analysis in DairyBase)
2021/22 | 2020/21 | |
Average | Average | |
Number of farms | <20* | 69 |
kg Milksolids/cow at peak | 2.07 | |
% drop in MS production from peak to 31 Dec | 8 | |
kg Milksolids/ha to 31 Dec | 1 | |
Average kg Milksolids/cow/day | 1.7 | |
Pasture & crop eaten tonnes DM/ha | 11.2 |