In 2022/23, dairy companies processed 20.7 billion litres of milk containing 1.873 billion kilograms of milksolids compared to 1.863 billion kilograms processed in the previous season (Table 2.1). Since 2013/14 milksolids
processed has been in the range of 1.8 to 1.9 billion kilograms.
Table 2.1: Summary of milk production statistics
Season
Milk processed (million litres)
Milkfat processed (million kgs)
Protein processed (million kgs)
Milksolids processed (million kgs)
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
2015/16
20,914
1,050
812
1,862
2016/17
20,702
1,042
809
1,851
2017/18
20,724
1,035
804
1,840
2018/19
21,217
1,056
828
1,884
2019/20
21,145
1,059
836
1,896
2020/21
21,705
1,089
858
1,947
2021/22
20,776
1,047
821
1,868
2022/23
20,702
1,049
824
1,873
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.
2.1.2 Population
Number of herds decreased
Average herd size decreased
Between 1997-98 and 2007-08 total herd numbers declined at an average rate of about 300 herds per season (Graph 2.1), before
levelling off. The rate of decline over the past five years has been about 193 herds per season. The total number of herds in the 2022/23 season decreased by 195 to 10,601
The average herd size was 441 in 2022/23, which was 8 cows fewer than the previous season. This is the first time that the average herd size has decreased since 2015/16. The average herd size has more than
doubled in the last 30 seasons, and has increased by 139 cows in the last 20 seasons.
Graph 2.1: Trend in the number of herds and average herd size
The total cow population in the 2022/23 season was 4.67 million (Table 2.2), a decrease of 3.46% from the previous season. The average farm size decreased slightly to 157 effective hectares. A stocking rate of 2.84 cows per hectare was a slight decrease on the previous season.
Total effective hectares (milking platform with support block excluded) were 1.659 million – a decrease of about 42,000 ha (2.5%) on the previous season.
Table 2.2: Summary of herd statistics since 1975/76
Season
Herds
Total cows
Total effective hectares
Average herd size
Average effective hectares
Average cows per hectare
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
2015/16
11,918
4,997,811
1,751,704
419
147
2.85
2016/17
11,748
4,861,324
1,728,702
414
147
2.81
2017/18
11,590
4,992,914
1,755,148
431
151
2.84
2018/19
11,372
4,946,305
1,743,673
435
153
2.84
2019/20
11,179
4,921,548
1,730,374
440
155
2.84
2020/21
11,034
4,903,733
1,713,515
444
155
2.86
2021/22
10,796
4,842,122
1,701,380
449
158
2.85
2022/23
10,601
4,674,750
1,659,430
441
157
2.84
Note:
— Not available.
* Total effective hectares between 1981/82 and 1999/00 are estimates.
* Average effective hectares and average cows per hectare for 1981/82 to 1990/91 are based on factory supply herds only.
* 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
2.2 Herd production statistics
Milksolids production per herd increased
Milksolids production per cow and per effective hectare increased
Herd production has increased most years since 1992/93 (Table 2.3), with the exception of 1998/99, 2007/08, 2012/13, and last season (2021/22). The first three of these seasons were drought seasons. The average milksolids per effective hectare of 1,125 kg in 2022/23 incresed by 27 kg relative to the previous season, but 12 kg below the record high of 2020/21 (1,137 kg) making it the second highest average milksolids per hectare on record.
Milk production per cow increased by 7 kg compared to the previous season, with an average of 393 kg milksolids (comprising 221 kg milkfat and 173 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 milk solids per herd
Average kg milkfat per effective hectare
Average kg protein per effective hectare
Average kg milk solids per effective hectare
Average litres per cow
Average kg milkfat per cow
Average kg protein per cow
Average kg milk solids per cow
1975/76
–
15,700
–
–
–
–
–
–
137
–
–
1980/81
–
18,864
–
–
–
–
–
–
147
–
–
1985/86
–
23,489
–
–
379
–
–
–
157
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
1990/91
–
24,495
–
–
351
–
–
–
148
–
–
1991/92
–
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
157,886
611
471
1,082
4,235
213
164
377
2015/16
1,754,836
88,132
68,091
156,223
600
463
1,063
4,185
210
162
372
2016/17
1,762,152
88,667
68,892
157,560
603
468
1,071
4,259
214
167
381
2017/18
1,788,051
89,320
69,413
158,733
590
458
1,048
4,151
207
161
368
2018/19
1,865,731
92,868
72,806
165,674
606
475
1,081
4,290
214
167
381
2019/20
1,891,481
94,770
74,824
169,595
612
483
1,096
4,296
215
170
385
2020/21
1,967,106
98,681
77,822
176,503
635
501
1,137
4,426
222
175
397
2021/22
1,924,392
96,993
76,001
172,994
615
482
1,098
4,291
216
169
386
2022/23
1,952,790
98,966
77,718
176,683
631
494
1,125
4,351
221
173
393
Note:
— Not available.
* Values prior to 1991/92 exclude town milk herds.
* 1991/92 values include some town milk herds.
2.2.1 Production per cow and per hectare
Average milksolids per cow in 2022/23 was 393 kg, compared with 386 kg last season (Graph 2.2). Average milk production per hectare was 1,125 kg – 27 kg higher than last season. Seasonal production variations are considerable influenced by weather. For example, widespread drought in 2007/08 and 2012/13 caused milk production to decline while in 2013/14, favourable pasture growth conditions, coupled with increased supplementary feed use, enabled high milk production.
Graph 2.2: Milksolids production per cow and 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 (which affects pasture growth), 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 per cow in 2022/23 compared with the previous two seasons.
Fifty-nine percent of herds recorded milksolids production between 300 and 450 kilograms per cow, while 25% of herds had an average
production of over 450 kilograms milksolids per cow, compared with 20% in the previous season.
Graph 2.3: Distribution of herds by milksolids production per cow
2.2.2 Herd size distribution
54.5% of herds have fewer than 400 cows
16% of herds have 700 or more cows
Averages of milkfat, protein and milksolids per cow, by herd size, are also included in Table 2.4.
In 2022/23, herd size distributions remained relatively similar to the previous season. Fifty-five percent of herds had fewer than 400 cows, 32% of herds had 500 or more cows, 14% had 750 or more cows,
and 5% had 1,000 cows or more (Table 2.4).
The average milksolids per cow varied between 370 kg (herds with 100-149 cows) and 426 kg (herds with 850-899 cows).
Table 2.4: Average production per cow by herd size in 2022/23
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
12
0.1
405
0.0
221
167
388
50-99
102
1.0
7,899
0.2
197
152
349
100-149
445
4.2
55,904
1.2
208
162
370
150-199
979
9.2
169,658
3.6
210
163
373
200-249
1,337
12.6
295,753
6.3
212
165
377
250-299
1,076
10.1
290,023
6.2
217
169
386
300-349
1,081
10.2
344,750
7.4
216
168
384
350-399
808
7.6
298,174
6.4
224
175
399
400-449
775
7.3
323,721
6.9
222
174
396
450-499
559
5.3
261,189
5.6
226
177
404
500-549
538
5.1
277,760
5.9
228
178
406
550-599
478
4.5
272,275
5.8
233
182
415
600-649
424
4.0
261,049
5.6
227
179
407
650-699
298
2.8
198,559
4.2
231
183
414
700-749
243
2.3
173,786
3.7
233
185
418
750-799
218
2.1
167,008
3.6
232
183
415
800-849
222
2.1
180,725
3.9
229
181
410
850-899
165
1.6
142,503
3.0
237
188
426
900-949
158
1.5
144,263
3.1
230
181
411
950-999
126
1.2
122,020
2.6
232
184
416
1000-1099
185
1.7
191,147
4.1
232
183
415
1100-1199
131
1.2
148,479
3.2
224
178
402
1200-1499
166
1.6
216,103
4.6
226
179
405
1500+
75
0.7
131,597
2.8
212
169
381
Total/Avg
10,601
4,674,750
221
173
393
The distribution of herd size presented in Graph 2.4 shows a decrease in the number of herds with less than 300 cows, and an increase in the number of herds with more than 300 cows, compared with ten seasons ago. The most common herd size remains in the range
200 to 249 cows (comprising 12.6% of herds in 2022/23, compared with 14.5% in 2012/13).
Graph 2.4: Herd size distribution for 2022/23 compared with that of 10 seasons ago