South Island dairying within the NZ dairying industry

• Dairy farming - NZ’s largest single industry.
• 96% of New Zealand’s milk production is exported.
• New Zealand’s 12,000 dairy farmers work with or employ another 30,000 people on farm.
• Thousands more are employed in associated businesses and in dairy factories.
• Production – Over 1.44 billion kilograms of milk solids processed from 16.5 billion litres milk.
• Population  –  NZ Average herd size 376;   11,691 herds;   4.4 m cows (2009/10 season)
• SI average herd size 565 cows; 2718 herds;  1,535,060 cows.
• South Island dairy production – fastest growing, now represents over 39% of total NZ milk solids production, from 23.2% of NZ’s herds and 35% of NZ’s cows.
• Overall the South Island has larger farms, larger herds, higher production per cow and per hectare.

(adapted from NZ Dairy Statistics 2009-10, LIC-DairyNZ)

• Canterbury and Southland have been the areas of largest growth over the last 10 years.
• The traditional dairying areas around the cities/large towns are experiencing land use change, primarily to lifestyle blocks.  Many of these farmers are relocating their businesses to growth areas, and increasing the scale of their operation.
• The South Island has a significant number of large corporate farming businesses, farm partnerships with multiple owners, and managed farms.