New Zealand milk production for May, June and July 2015 was at its highest point since 2012, figures from the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) show.
This is an increase of 1.2% on 2014, the figures show.
Milk production for May-July 2015 was 1.16m tonnes. This compared to last year’s figure of 1.05m tonnes.
As New Zealand starts into its peak milk production period, currently so far this year the country has produced 8.65m tonnes of milk.
This figure is up on the first seven months on the past four years, the figures show. Milk production for June and July 2015 is ahead of the past four years.
Looking at the figures for the past four years, milk production has steadily increased year-on-year and looks to increase again.
Image: DCANZ
New Zealand dairy cull up 21% – strong beef price and low milk price to blame
New Zealand dairy cull cow numbers have increased as farmers take advantage of higher beef prices.
The cull cow kill has been exceptionally high with 1m head culled between June 2014 and July 2015 as farmers remove the underperforming animals from their herds.
Matthew Newman, senior economist with DairyNZ told AgriHQ that cull cow numbers have increased by 185,650. This is an increase of 21%.
New Zealand dairy farmers are culling for multiple reasons, he said, with the strong beef price has been cited as the main reason.