- New Zealand dairy surpassed 2bn kg of milksolids despite fewer herds.
- Wider herd testing and artificial breeding adoption are helping accelerate genetic gains.
- Improved fertility, udder health and richer milk are boosting dairy efficiency.
The New Zealand Dairy Statistics 2025/26 report from DairyNZ and Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) showed the sector produced 21.76 billion litres of milk and surpassed two billion kilograms of milksolids for the first time.
Average milk production reached a record 428kg of milksolids per cow, up from 414kg the previous season.
The milestone came despite a continuing decline in herd numbers. The number of dairy herds fell to 10,268, while cow numbers increased by just 1% to 4.72 million.
“Surpassing two billion kilograms of milksolids is a significant milestone for New Zealand dairy. It reflects the skill, investment and day-to-day management of farmers, alongside long-term gains in genetics, reproduction, animal health and farm systems,” said DairyNZ chief executive Campbell Parker.
Genetic improvement
The report suggests those long-term gains are being reinforced by wider adoption of performance and breeding tools.
Herd testing participation reached its highest level since the early 2000s, while artificial breeding adoption climbed to a 30-year high.
A total of 3.94 million cows, representing 83.3% of the national herd, were herd tested during the 2025/26 season, while 84.8% of cows were mated through artificial breeding.
LIC chief executive David Chin said the strong uptake reflected farmers’ growing recognition of the value of data-driven breeding decisions.
“Record participation in herd testing and artificial breeding gives farmers more information and more options to accelerate genetic gain,” he said.
Productivity gains show up in the numbers
The benefits of those investments are increasingly visible in on-farm performance.
Herd-tested cows achieved record production of 4,999 litres of milk and 452kg of milksolids per cow, outperforming the national average of 428kg of milksolids per cow.
“The figures show productivity and milk quality moving in the right direction. This matters for the competitiveness and resilience of farm businesses and the wider dairy sector,” Parker said.
Milk quality indicators also improved, with average somatic cell counts falling to a record-low 149,000 cells/mL, pointing to continued gains in udder health.
Better fertility boosts efficiency
Alongside productivity gains, reproductive performance also reached new highs.
Farmers recorded 1.41 inseminations per cow, a record, while the six-week in-calf rate rose to 70.2% across seasonal and split-calving herds, up from 63.5% in 2008.
“The lift in reproductive performance is particularly encouraging. The six-week in-calf rate reached a record 70.2% across seasonal and split-calving herds, up from 63.5% in 2008. Strong fertility supports herd efficiency, while better-quality information helps farmers breed cows that are well suited to New Zealand’s pasture-based farming systems,” said Chin.
The report also highlighted longer-term changes in milk composition that have boosted the value of every litre produced.
Milksolids now account for 9.27% of milk volume, up from 8.48% in 2000/01, meaning each litre contains more fat and protein and can be transported and processed more efficiently.
