Figures from the latest five-yearly agricultural production census show the dairy cattle population in NZ has reached 6.5m.
"Dairy numbers have been booming in the last five years. The extra production equates to about 370 two-litre bottles of milk a year for everyone in the country," agriculture statistics manager Hamish Hill said.
"There have been some real changes in the balance of agriculture in NZ since the last census.
“Dairy's obviously been a big mover and the sheep number has fallen.
“Kiwifruit has been holding steady despite the adverse effects of Psa disease," he said.
Sheep numbers have fallen to 31.2m or seven sheep for every NZer. That has dropped from nine in 2007.
Hill said the wine sector has experienced phenomenal growth over the last 30 years.
“The area planted in wine grapes in 2012 is more than six times the area planted in 1982, an increase the size of Great Barrier Island."
“The wine industry has grown from having 5280 hectares planted in wine grapes in 1982 to just over 34,020ha in 2012.”
The agricultural production census involved farmers, horticulturists and foresters.
It was done in partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries.
