2024/25 Dairy Statistics: NZ dairy farmers boost production with fewer cows
According to the New Zealand Dairy Statistics 2024/25 report, New Zealand dairy farmers are achieving more with fewer cows.
LIC says its new partnership with a global cow health company is growing the business and providing New Zealand farmers more choice.
The co-op is partnering with the cow monitoring and milking intelligence company SCR.
Under a distribution agreement, SCR, recently acquired by Allflex Group, will distribute the LIC’s DAL milking sensors internationally and LIC will in New Zealand distribute SCR’s cow reproduction and health monitoring system Heatime.
LIC chief executive Wayne McNee says the partnership is part of the co-op’s strategy to grow the business overseas and provide New Zealand dairy farmers with more choice.
“SCR is a world-leading provider of cow intelligence systems… [improving] farm efficiency worldwide. This agreement aligns with… our focus on key international markets that will add value for shareholders in New Zealand.
“DAL sensors are highly regarded in New Zealand for measuring milk volume, fat, protein, lactose and somatic cell counts during milking.
“The SCR Heatime system will add to our range of herd improvement and animal management solutions.”
LIC and SCR already see four markets for DAL meters. SCR’s Heatime will be available to New Zealand dairy farmers from LIC, with its Protrack farm automation systems.
Heatime collects and analyses critical data points, from activity to rumination, on each cow, delivering heat, health and nutrition insight.
Shane McManaway, general manager Allflex Australasia, said the linking of “three world leaders in their respective fields… provides synergies and opportunities not seen before”.
Yariv Avisar, chief executive SCR, says the partnership will support growth in both global businesses.
“It is our vision to secure dairy farming’s future by monitoring every cow. We are delighted to work with LIC and their New Zealand farmers.”
According to the latest Federated Farmers banking survey, farmers are more satisfied with their bank and less under pressure, however, the sector is well short of confidence levels seen last decade.
Farmer confidence has taken a slight dip according to the final Rabobank rural confidence survey for the year.
Former Agriculture Minister and Otaki farmer Nathan Guy has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE).
Alliance Group has commissioned a new heat pump system at its Mataura processing plant in Southland.
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.
Meat processors are hopeful that the additional 15% tariff on lamb exports to the US will also come off.