Quick facts

Forty-nine percent of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture.
At the same time, more than 38% of New Zealand's merchandisable exports come from agriculture. 
New Zealand is the number one contributor to the global dairy trade.

What's changed in the dairy sector since 1990 in on farm practices?

Consistent supply of high quality feed
Use of supplementary feed (e.g. maize silage, PKE, brassicas)
Targeted use of fertilisers and irrigation in pasture management strategies  
Breeding and herd testing for animals with improved genetic merit

What's the impact of these on farm changes on productivity?

Increased milk yield per cow (kg MS/cow)
Increased milk yield per hectare (kg MS/ha) 
Milk yield is closer to genetic potential of the cow

What's the effect of these changes on emissions intensity? 
Emissions intensity of New Zealand dairy sector is lower and a great proportion of feed goes to production rather than maintenance.
What is the dairy sector doing about emissions?
Fonterra Read more
DairyNZ Read more
On farm practice change summary table



On farm practice
Effect on farm productivity
Effect on emissions intensity (net)



Consistent supply of high quality feed
 
Use of supplementary feed (e.g. maize silage, PKE, brassicas)
 
Targeted use of fertilisers and irrigation in pasture management strategies  
 
Breeding and herd testing for animals with improved genetic merit


Increased milk yield per cow (kg MS/cow)
 
Increased milk yield per hectare (kg MS/ha) 
 
* Milk yield is closer to genetic potential of the cow *


Lower
 
* A greater proportion of feed going to production rather than maintenance *