New Zealand has a dairy herd of 3.5 million predominantly Friesian cows. Milked by over 13,000 dairy farmers, they produce over one billion kilograms of milk fat annually. New Zealand has a small domestic dairy market with 95 percent of all milk produced being exported. Fonterra is New Zealand's largest company representing more than 20 percent of total New Zealand exports and 7 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product.
New Zealand's unique landscape allows dairy farmers to have the best possible conditions for their farms. Land is New Zealand's most important natural resource with 75 percent of the country made up of pasture land for farming. Roughly the same size as Japan or California with a fraction of their populations, New Zealand has plenty of lush countryside that is conducive to world-class farming producing world-class results. New Zealand is made up of two main islands, the North Island and the South Island. The North Island produces the majority of milk, each year contributing 10.4 billion of the 13.9 billion liters collected each year. In the South Island there is a large, flat area of land called the Canterbury Plains, which stretches for about 135 kilometers. The Plains, as they are known in New Zealand, were converted into farmland by European settlers producing not only dairy but wheat, beef, wool and lamb.
New Zealand has a very temperate climate with relatively small seasonal variation. Average rainfall is high at between 640mm and 1500mm per year and this allows pasture to grow readily year round eliminating harsh environments that can hinder growth of flora and young animals. You could say New Zealand is a perfect environment for free-range farming. |
