The performance of winter milk production systems, represented by between 7 and 17 New Zealand Dairy Group suppliers in the South Auckland area, has been assessed for seven consecutive years. The monitoring programme has enabled comparison of winter milk systems with typical seasonal supply systems, and identification of management issues facing winter milkers. In 1995/ 96 the monitored farms had contract volumes ranging between 7 and 32 litres/ha (average 21 litres/ha). This reflected the total situation for all the NZDG winter milkers. Total annual production is also critical for profitability, and ranged between 684 and 1107 kg milksolids (MS)/ha in the year ending 31 August 1996 (mean 920 ± 144 kg MS/ha). The main requirements for successful winter milk production include planning and acting early for winter, in particular by: 1. early use of supplements in the autumn, including hay, silage and urea; 2. appropriate drying off of cows; and 3. grazing drystock off the home farm, so it can be effectively used as a milking platform. Keywords: dairying, farm monitoring, South Auckland, winter milk
