SOUTH ISLAND Dairying within the NZ DAIRY INDUSTRY
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Dairy farming - NZ’s largest single
industry.
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96% of New Zealand’s milk production is exported.
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New Zealand’s 12,000 dairy farmers work with or employ another
30,000 people on farm.
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Thousands more are employed in associated businesses and in
dairy factories.
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Production – Over 1.32 billion
kilograms of milk solids processed from 15.1 billion litres milk.
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Population – NZ Average herd
size 337; 11,630 herds; 3.9m cows
(2006/07 season)
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SI average herd
size 505 cows; 2287 herds; 1,155, 317 cows.
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South Island dairy production – fastest growing, now represents over 32% of total NZ milk solids production, from 19% of NZ’s farms and 29% of NZ’s cows.
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Overall the
South Island has larger farms, larger herds, higher production
per cow and per hectare.
|
Region |
Herds |
Cows |
Total effective ha |
Ave Herd Size |
Ave effective ha |
Ave cows/ha |
|
Nelson/Marlborough |
250 |
81,309 |
30,355 |
325 |
121 |
2.76 |
|
West Coast |
369 |
127,581 |
59,127 |
346 |
160 |
2.22 |
|
North & Central Canterbury |
518 |
348,659 |
109,053 |
673 |
211 |
3.20 |
|
Mid & South Canterbury |
171 |
118,402 |
36,558 |
692 |
214 |
3.27 |
|
Otago & Nth Otago |
322 |
160,884 |
57,181 |
500 |
178 |
2.85 |
|
Southland |
657 |
318,482 |
118,145 |
485 |
180 |
2.70 |
|
Total or averages |
2,287 |
1,155,317 |
410,419 |
505 |
179 |
2.80 |
|
Change from previous season |
1.0% |
5.5% |
3.9% |
4.3% |
2.9% |
1.8% |
|
South Island
% of NZ totals |
19.7% |
29.5% |
29.1% |
|
|
|
|
TOTAL NZ |
11,630 |
3,916,812 |
1,412,925 |
337 |
121 |
2.81
|
|
Region |
Total MS |
MS per Herd |
MS/cow |
MS/ha |
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|
Nelson/Marlborough |
26,500,000 |
106,537 |
331 |
915 |
|
|
West Coast |
41,200,000 |
111,696 |
342 |
763 |
|
|
North & Central Canterbury |
68,700,000 |
249,838 |
383 |
1,215 |
|
|
Mid & South Canterbury |
103,800,000 |
251,661 |
379 |
1,232 |
|
|
Otago & North Otago |
59,500,000 |
185,189 |
387 |
1,096 |
|
|
Southland |
122,500,000 |
186,438 |
389 |
1,049 |
|
|
Total or averages |
422,200,000 |
184,705 |
373 |
1,046 |
|
|
Change from previous season |
5.7% |
6.1% |
3.3% |
4.7% |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
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(adapted from “Dairy Statistics 2006-07”,
Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd)
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Canterbury and Southland have been the areas of largest growth
over the last 10 years.
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The West Coast is currently experiencing
the highest percentage growth/development.
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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.
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The
South Island has a significant number of large corporate farming
businesses.
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