Our Way of Farming
Our home is New Zealand, one of the best countries in the world to farm grass-fed dairy
New Zealand, where cows are raised on the goodness of lush green pastures.
Nestled in the South Pacific, our remoteness has helped protect and preserve our natural environment for thousands of years. This unique setting makes it an ideal place for growing grass.
Cows spend most of their time outside, enjoying the fresh air and roaming their paddocks. They are able to exhibit their natural behaviours, socialising with the herd, and grazing on grass year-round.
Our cows have a 96% grass-fed* diet
They spend over 350 days a year grazing outside*
Cows are at the heart of every farm
Generations of experience and expertise
Pasture raised year-round
Moderate temperatures, fertile soil, plentiful rainfall and abundant sunshine help pastures grow lush green grass and allows our cows to spend over 350 days a year grazing outside on pasture and have a 96% grass-fed diet*.
Farming alongside nature
In New Zealand, Fonterra farmers follow the seasonal pattern of pasture growth. In early spring, as grass growth increases, cows produce more milk, with peak production typically occurring in October. As grass growth slows during winter, so does milk production and most farmers will rest their cows. If environmental conditions allow, some farms will continue to milk through winter months, providing year round milk.
Cows are at the heart of every farm
Animal wellbeing means everything to Fonterra farmers. Cows are healthy, productive and they are treated with care and respect throughout their lives. Within their paddocks, they are able to roam freely and choose who to interact with. With high health and welfare standards in New Zealand, our cows live longer, productive lives.
Regenerative agriculture practices
As a world leader in grass-fed pasture-based farming, many regenerative agriculture practices are simply how we farm. Regenerative Agriculture is about continuous improvement over time, using data to help inform and improve practices fit for the specific context in which farms operate and contribute to improved outcomes for our natural resources.
Backed by farm level data to drive change
Fonterra farmers have been recording and submitting data for over a decade so we know with confidence how we have been performing overtime. The data provides insights to Fonterra farmers that can help them improve their on-farm practices.
*Fonterra New Zealand cows spend on average 350 days grazing on pasture and have a diet which is 96% grass, calculated on an ‘as consumed’ basis and averaged over the previous three seasons data. Grass-fed means cows mainly grazing on grass and crops in paddocks where they roam. Visit NZMP.com/grass-fed for more information.