Our Grass
Our New Zealand cows spend more time on pasture than anywhere else in the world*
New Zealand's land is ideal for growing grass
Our New Zealand cows are 96% grass-fed**
Grass is a natural food source for cows.
Our New Zealand cows spend over 350 days a year grazing on pasture**
They are free to roam around paddocks and exhibit natural behaviours.
Our cows are healthy and well cared for
Our pasture-based grazing system can naturally provide a high level of animal being.
*Of the top 15 dairy exporting countries (based on annual dairy product export volumes in 2023 and including New Zealand), only Ireland operates a similar pasture-based model to New Zealand. Data in the study, O'Brien et al. 2018, shows that Irish dairy cows have access to pasture, on average, 255 days per year. The Bord Bia (Irish Food Board) 2023 statistics show an average of 240 days on pasture. Fonterra’s annual data shows that on average, in New Zealand, our farmers' cows spend more than 350 days grazing outside on pasture
**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-fedfor more information.
Any use of, or reliance on, the information contained on this website is not the responsibility of NZMP or the Fonterra Group.
Grass is a natural food source for cows and we’re experts at farming on it.
Moderate temperatures, fertile soil, plentiful rainfall and abundant sunshine help our pastures grow thick with lush green grass.
Our farming follows the natural patterns of pasture growth in New Zealand, making it one of the few places in the world where cows graze on grass year-round.