2000

By 2000 more than 95 per cent of the industry is represented by the two largest dairy companies – the Waikato-based New Zealand Dairy Group and Taranaki-based Kiwi Co-operative Dairies.

2001

Dairy Industry deregulated. The two largest dairy companies merge to form Fonterra – the world’s largest dairy exporter.

2001

First cow milked with Automatic Milking System in New Zealand. Dexcel (now DairyNZ) researchers develop new farming method incorporating automatic milking into New Zealand pasture-based farming system.

2005

Cow population almost 4 million.

2007

21% of dairies now rotaries – milking up to 800 cows in 2 hours with 2 people. Average herd size 327 cows.

2008

First commercial farms in New Zealand adopt automatic milking – Southland and Canterbury.

2009

Approximately as many cows in New Zealand as there are people (just over 4 million).