Dairy Cattle Insurance NZ: A Guide for Dairy Farmers

Dairy cattle are your most valuable farm asset. Here is how to make sure they are properly insured.

Dairy cattle represent the most significant asset on most NZ dairy farms. With individual cows worth $2,000–$5,000+ and herds often exceeding 300–500 animals, the total herd value can easily exceed $1.5 million. Yet dairy cattle insurance is sometimes overlooked or undervalued.

FMG is the dominant provider for dairy cattle insurance in NZ, offering blanket and specified cover through their farm pack products. Aon also offers online dairy livestock quotes. Most dairy farmers arrange cover as part of a comprehensive farm pack including the farm buildings, machinery, and liability cover.

For dairy cattle, the key coverage decisions are: blanket vs. specified cover for the main herd; agreed value cover for registered pedigree animals; disease cover including mycoplasma bovis and other notifiable diseases; and infertility cover for high-value bulls.

Mycoplasma bovis remains a particular concern for NZ dairy farmers. Check your policy carefully for exclusions and discuss specific biosecurity risk with your broker.

Valuing your dairy herd accurately is important — insuring at outdated values can leave you significantly underinsured when replacement costs have risen. Review your insured values annually against current livestock market prices.

Coverage Types Mentioned in This Guide