New Zealand dairy cull up 21%

By Sean CUMMINS

New Zealand's dairy cull numbers have increased as farmers take advantage of higher beef prices at the expense of lower milk prices.

The cull numbers have been exceptionally high with one million head culled between June 2014 and July 2015 as farmers remove the underperforming animals from their herds.

Dairy farmers are culling for multiple reasons, with strong beef prices cited as the main reason, said Matthew Newman, senior economist with DairyNZ.

He also identified poor milk prices paid during a difficult year of dry weather as the other reason. New Zealand's milk production consequently fell 2% in 2014.

Sourced from www.agrihq.co.nz