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Activities
Dairy farming in New Zealand
Level: Level 7 / Year 11
Curriculum Strands: Agricultural Science
Geography
Specic Curriculum Links: Year 11 Agricultural Science
Achievement Standards:
AS90159 1.4
Describe aspects of primary industry production in New Zealand
AS90160 1.5
Describe the environmental impact of primary production management
Year 11 Geography
Achievement Standards:
AS90204 1.3
Examine resource use in a farming or mining context
Links to Supporting Material: Changing People in a Changing Land
Dairy Farming fold-out
Sustainable Agriculture fold-out
Rural Source DVDs
Particularly Environment, Effective disposal of farm video clip.
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Background information
This activity comprises classroom learning, a eld trip to a local dairy farm, and a written worksheet (Dairy Farming
in New Zealand worksheet). The aim of the activity is to enable students to evaluate dairy farming as an example of
renewable resource use.
Dairy farming in New Zealand makes a signicant contribution to the New Zealand economy. Dairy exports represent
19% of total mercantile exports and 37% of agricultural exports. New Zealand dairy exports represent around 40
percent of internationally traded dairy products. The impact of agricultural exports on the New Zealand economy is
signicant and highlighted by the downturn in the economy, caused in part by the El Nino drought in 1996/97 which
adversely impacted on agriculture.
Dairy farming resources
Dairy farming is dependent on reliable pasture growth to feed milking cows throughout the year. The majority of
cows calve in spring and are milked through to autumn, with some calving in autumn for winter milk production. To
support reliable pasture growth of predominantly ryegrass / white clover pastures, dairy farming requires land of
at to rolling contour with highly fertile soils, and reliable rainfall or water supply.
Other resources required in the dairy farming system are...
Intensive subdivision and internal race/access system.
Milking shed, implement shed and calf rearing facility.
Efuent disposal system.
Water reticulation.
High genetic merit stock bred specically for dairying (predominant breeds are Fresian and Jersey).
Skilled labour.
Reliable water supply. Some areas have a high reliable rainfall, while in others irrigation is necessary (e.g.
Canterbury and Hawkes Bay).
Renewable resource use
The dairy farming system is based predominantly on the use of a renewable resource; pasture. Farmers try to match
feed demand and supply, i.e. how much the cows require to eat and how much grass is grown on the farm. Both
these factors vary seasonally, for instance grass growth is highest in spring, most cows calve in spring and milking is
done for approximately nine months (refer to the yearly farming cycle).
Factors Inuencing Feed Demand:
Stocking rate and breed.
Calving date.
Calving pattern.
Drying off date.
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Factors Inuencing Feed supply:
Weather temperature, moisture and sunlight hours.
Soil moisture rainfall, irrigation, drainage.
Nutrients fertiliser usage.
Pasture species.
Competition weed and pest infestation.
Use of supplementary feed supplies silage, hay etc.
Environmental issues
The major environmental issues facing dairy farmers are the disposal of efuent and the prevention of runoff and
leaching of efuent and fertiliser; and the prevention of soil damage pugging and compaction which can occur in wet
weather as a result of stock trampling and the use of heavy machinery on pasture.
Efuent disposal
To prevent efuent entering waterways, it is a requirement that all efuent from the dairy shed, stand-off pads and
excessive run-off from silage stacks is either:
treated through an anaerobic pond system, or
sprayed back onto the land.
The preferred method is land treatment, as this has less likelihood of polluting waterways. It also returns nutrients
from within the dairy farming system back to the land.
Soil damage
Soil damage is a particular concern when the soil is wet and can easily be compressed by heavy weight. Farmers can
reduce soil damage by stock management (e.g. rotational grazing), minimising the use of heavy machinery on wet
soil, and building stand-off and feeding pads.
Fertiliser runoff/leaching
The high levels of nutrients in fertiliser can have a similar effect to efuent in polluting waterways. Runoff and
leaching can be controlled by:
Timing of application (e.g. fertiliser not applied before forecast heavy rain).
Rate of application (fertiliser applied at low rates over winter months).
Adoption of a fertiliser Best Practice Code.
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Dairy farming systems
The dairy farming system is largely dependent on perennial ryegrass/white clover pastures that require maintenance
only, i.e. fertiliser to maintain soil fertility for high production, and re-grassing to maintain a dense pasture.
The main output of dairy farming is an animal by-product; milk. The dairy herd itself is a renewable resource, with
up to 25% of the animals replaced seasonally to replace stock lost through death, low production and not getting
in calf (pregnant).
Although dairy farming has only one product milk the New Zealand dairy industry exports more than 800 product
lines. The New Zealand dairy industry has developed numerous products suitable for the end user, reducing the
dependence on selling commodity lines that have a decreasing economic value in the world economy.
What you will need
Local people: dairy farmers, dairy consultants.
Changing People in a Changing Land resource.
Student worksheet (attached).
The activity
Classroom learning
The dairy farming system
Brainstorm a list of the biotic and abiotic resources of the dairy farming system. The most obvious resource in dairy
farming are cows. Draw a cow, and around it add the other resources the class has brainstormed (e.g. grass, soil,
water etc.). What are the outputs of dairy farming? Add these to the diagram (e.g. milk, meat, stock for sale).
Climate and seasons
Discuss the effects that climate has on dairy farming. Does climate inuence where dairy farming occurs? How does the
climate vary during the year? Make a chart of the four seasons, and mark on it the things that occur on a dairy farm in
each season e.g. milking, calving, grass growth, hay making, feeding out. (See page 4 of the Dairy Farming fold-out).
Soil, nutrients and plant growth
Find out what sort of land is most suitable for dairy farming. What makes it suitable? Compare the land resource
of a typical dairy farm to that of a high country sheep station. The soil and pasture are very important resources in
agricultural systems. What does a dairy farmer do to maintain the quality of the soil and pasture on their farm?
Cows and milking
What breeds of cow are mainly used for dairy farming? What characteristics would be desirable for a dairy cow
compared to cow on a hill country sheep and beef farm? (E.g. high milk production, calm nature). What must a
dairy farmer do to ensure the health and welfare of their herd is maintained? Discuss health problems, parasites,
veterinary care, feeding, shelter etc. How has technology helped dairy farmers manage and milk their herd? (See
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for any loss arising from use of, or reliance upon it.
page 7 of the Dairy Farming fold-out)
Sustainable agriculture
Thinking about the resources you have identied above, discuss the environmental problems which might be
associated with aspects of the dairy farming system. For example, cows on wet soils can cause pugging and
compaction of the soil. Efuent can be a problem on dairy farms, particularly at milking sheds. If not treated properly
it can affect water quality, however managed sustainably it can be used as a fertiliser for pastures. (See page 7 of
the Dairy Farming fold-out).
Field trip preparation
Prepare questions for the dairy farm eld trip. You may wish to divide the class into groups to report on different
aspects of the dairy farming system.
Field trip
Arrange a visit to a dairy farm your local dairy consultant can help you nd a suitable farm to visit. You could ask
the farmer or an agricultural consultant to give the class a guided tour of the farm, and explain the main features and
activities on a dairy farm. Students then have the opportunity to use their prepared questions to gather information
on the resources, farm work, environmental issues, and sustainability.
Reporting
Students should complete the attached worksheet during or after the eld trip. If you ask for them to be handed in at the
end of the eld trip you will probably nd they will be a lot messier, but you can be more certain that it is their own work.
Additional resources
Teachers should contact their local Regional Council or an agricultural consultant for support in completing this
activity. They may be available to speak to the class on dairy farming, and assist in nding a suitable farm to visit.
The textbook Resources and Their Use (1994) by Hensman, J.M., Harison, M. and Hensman, J.R. was part of the
Form Five Geography series. It includes farming in New Zealand as an example of renewable resource use. ISBN
1869469836.
Acknowledgements
Resource creation:
The activity was compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Towards Sustainable Agriculture Kit
Changing People in a Changing Land, 1996.
Resource updated:
Agriculture ITO September 2007.
Contact for enquiries
Rural Source:
Web: www.ruralsource.ac.nz
Email: info@ruralsource.ac.nz
Ph: (04) 801 9616
Fax: (04) 801 9626
C/- Agriculture ITO
PO Box 10-383
The Terrace
Wellington
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Resources for agriculture and horticulture education
Activities
Dairy farming in New Zealand
This worksheet is to be used in association with Dairy farming in New Zealand Introduction.
Fill out this worksheet during your visit to a dairy farm.
Describe the yearly work programme of this dairy farm.
Season Activities
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Spring
List the renewable and non-renewable resources utilised in the dairy farming operation.
Renewable resources Non-renewable resources
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Draw a systems diagram to represent the dairy farming operation.
Explain the concept of feedbacks, and give examples of three positive and three negative feedbacks.
Denition
Positive
Negative
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Draw a diagram of the milking shed, labeling the main features. Outline how the milking process takes place on
the farm.
The milking shed
The milking process
Outline ve environmental problems that are encountered on the dairy farm, and describe how they are solved.
Problem Solution
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Agriculture ITO has taken all care preparing and updating this resource material but accepts no liability or responsibility
for any loss arising from use of, or reliance upon it.
List ve technologies or items of machinery that are utilised on the dairy farm. Outline the purpose and advantage
of each item.
Technology/machinery Purpose Advantage
Acknowledgements
Resource creation:
The activity was compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Towards Sustainable Agriculture Kit
Changing People in a Changing Land, 1996.
Resource updated:
Agriculture ITO September 2007.
Contact for enquiries
Rural Source:
Web: www.ruralsource.ac.nz
Email: info@ruralsource.ac.nz
Ph: (04) 801 9616
Fax: (04) 801 9626
C/- Agriculture ITO
PO Box 10-383
The Terrace
Wellington