Our Farming Expertise
Generations of experience and world-leading expertise.
World leaders in pasture based farming systems
Our Farming Practices
Animal Welfare
In New Zealand, we’re internationally recognised for our high standards of animal welfare. Our farmers care about their animals, and we work together to make sure we uphold strict standards.
rBST Free Dairy
The New Zealand Government prohibits the use of animal growth hormones in dairy farming. Our farmers never use growth hormones (rBST) to increase milk production.
Committed to grass-fed
Our cows roam freely in paddocks and are able to express natural behaviours. On average 96% of our New Zealand cows’ diet is grass, and they spend ocer 350 days a year grazing on pasture*.
Certified and Audited
Our Fonterra Grass and Pasture-Fed Standard is certified and audited annually by AsureQuality, an independent Conformity Assessment Body (CAB).
Regenerative Practices
Regenerative agriculture practices are inherent to the way we farm in New Zealand. Regenerating our natural resources is intrinsically linked to safeguarding the future of the environments and communities we depend upon.
*Our 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. Some farmers may include supplementary feed to help support cows’ nutrition. Visit NZMP.com/grass-fed for more information.
Any use of, or reliance on, the information contained on this website is not the responsibility of NZMP or the Fonterra Group.
Our Fonterra farmer shareholders have a deep understanding of the land, building on practices established by generations before, they know how to unlock its natural goodness.
They are experts in growing lush pasture for their cows to graze on. This pasture based system, and a continued focus on improving the health and wellbeing of our animals, waterways and soils is our natural advantage when it comes to regenerative agriculture practices.