Dairy remains a national cash cow

Dairy earnings for the year totalled $13.2 billion.

This was revealed at DairyNZ's annual general meeting in Morrinsville this morning.

The industry employed 40,730 people during the year; 27,830 worked on farm and 12,900 in processing and wholesaling.

The total number of herds reached 11.970; average herd size was 419. Last year the industry had 5 million cows.

Waikato remains the dairy heartland with 34% of the herds.

The North Island had 74% of herds, producing 59% of total milksolids; the South Island 26% of herds but produced 41% of milksolids.

DairyNZ chairman John Luxton chaired his last meeting; he steps down today.

The new chairman will be elected by the board early next month.