More milk from fewer cows
The latest ‘‘cow census’’ shows Kiwi dairy farms are producing more milk from fewer animals.
While total cow numbers were stable, the animals produced more milk than ever before last season, according to the New Zealand Dairy Statistics report released this week.
Issued by Dairynz and Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC), the report showed the country hit record milk production per herd and per cow in the year to May 31.
Dairy companies processed 21.2 billion litres of milk containing 1.88b kilograms of milksolids, both up 2.4 per cent on the previous season.
However, the latest bovine headcount showed New Zealand had 4.946 million milking cows, down 0.9 per cent from the previous season.
The statistics showed farmers’ focus on productivity and efficiency was paying off, Dairynz chief executive Tim Mackle said.
‘‘Farmers have been focusing on improving their environmental management in recent years and they have been doing this while stepping up their onfarm efficiency to produce more milk from fewer cows,’’ he said.
‘‘More efficient milk production has benefits in areas such as greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient losses.’’
Dairy cow numbers had remained fairly stable over the last five years and the days of significant growth in the national herd could be over, Mackle said.
The report also showed more farmers were using services like herd testing and artificial breeding to build more better performing herds.
LIC chief executive Wayne
Mcnee said increased investment on herd improvement showed farmers were committed to getting better sustainability and productivity.
‘‘New Zealand farmers are farming with improved precision and taking advantage of herd improvement services to produce more with less.’’
A total of 3.67m cows were herd tested in 2018/19, up 1.6 per cent from the previous season and the highest on record.
The number of cows mated to AB increased by 1 per cent to 3.59m.
The most significant increase was in the number of yearlings mated to AB which jumped 11 per cent to 230,497 – the highest in the last nine seasons.
Mcnee said the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis was likely to have played a part in that sharp increase.
‘‘Farmers are looking to reduce their farm’s biosecurity risks wherever possible, which has seen some farmers choose to extend their artificial breeding period to avoid bringing bulls onfarm for mating.’’