New Zealand breeding cattle are fast becoming one of the international market’s most sought after commodities, as larger countries look to secure their dairy futures.

A combination of increased demand for dairy breeding heifers, and Aussie concern over live export regulations is pushing up the price of our livestock – and kiwi farmers couldn’t be happier.

Australian livestock company Landmark is shifting the majority of their sourcing to New Zealand, after problems with animal welfare have caused the Australian parliament to review its live export policy.

Landmark Australia General Manager Richard Norton says his company is looking to export more than 12 thousand head of cattle from our shores this season, compared to just 3 thousand last year.

Richard Norton says strong Chinese demand is encouraging more Aussie farmers to start breeding selectively in order to take advantage of the market.

“It’s getting a lot harder to source the cattle because of that Chinese demand, but in Australia particularly, breeding heifers for the Chinese market has become a reliable source of income.

“Breeders now are using same sex semen to get more female heifers on the ground and take advantage of that strong Chinese market.”

And Mr Norton says fears around the welfare of animals in live freight shipments are unrelated to the breeding market, as the problems are only present in slaughter export.

“Unfortunately, with the dramas in Australia at the moment, our end customers don’t distinguish between slaughter markets and the breeding markets, they’re just getting information that Australia is considering closing down its live export trade.

“That’s the message we’re trying to get through to our customers and politicians, that there’s two distinct markets here.”

New Zealand farmers are welcoming the increase in business, too, as high prices provide the market with a solid foundation.

James Perkins, from Canterbury livestock company Peter Walsh and Associates, says our dairy cattle are simply more productive than the Chinese, and that’s why they’re so sought after.

"Definitely better quality than local Chinese cattle. 

“The guys that we’ve supplied in the past have commented that they produce about 25 litres more per day than their own domestic cattle in China, so it’s well worth their while purchasing New Zealand stock.”

James Perkins says New Zealand has more than enough stock to meet the increase in demand from Asia, for the next 12 months, at least.