January 24, 2013

Chinese demand for New Zealand's dairy livestock shows signs of positive growth, with more than 38,000 live animals heading for China in 2012.

One of the major buyers in China is dairy co-operative, Fonterra.

One of the largest-ever shipments of live dairy cattle will head off on a three-week journey from Timaru to China in the next week, part of a growing trend of New Zealand cattle heading to Asia.

Brokered through South Island livestock company, Peter Walsh and Associates, 7,200 heifers worth upwards of US$12 million are being exported by Australian-based Landmark Global Exports.

However, Statistics New Zealand data shows 43,517 live cattle worth US$112 million were exported from New Zealand in the year to November 2012.

The biggest recipient was China, which bought 38,232 dairy animals at a value of more than US$100 million.