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LIC in Italy

Where New Zealand pasture-based genetics support Italy’s tradition of premium milk and cheesemaking excellence.

The LIC Europe team is proud to bring our very best genetic offerings to Italian dairy farmers.

About us

LIC Europe, based in the United Kingdom, works closely with dairy farmers and industry partners across Italy, alongside our wider European distributor network and New Zealand headquarters. Through this collaboration, we connect Italian dairy producers with proven New Zealand pasture based genetics that can support efficient milk production, herd performance, and the delivery of high-quality milk for premium dairy products.

Italy’s dairy industry is renowned for its regional cheeses and strong connection to traditional farming systems. In the Alpine dairy regions, milk quality and composition are critically important, with farmers focused on producing milk that delivers excellent cheesemaking characteristics and supports the production of high-value specialty cheeses. This emphasis on quality shares many similarities with New Zealand’s dairy industry, where genetics and nutrition are carefully aligned to maximise milk solids production and overall farm profitability.

A defining feature of Alpine dairying is transhumance, where cows are seasonally moved from valley farms to high-altitude summer pastures. These pasture-based systems rely on cows efficiently harvesting a significant proportion of their feed directly from grass, supported by moderate levels of supplementary feed. This approach has strong parallels with New Zealand’s grass-fed dairy model, where pasture utilisation, feed efficiency, and cow performance are central to farm success.

For cheese-focused production systems, New Zealand genetics can offer particular value. New Zealand Jerseys are internationally recognised for their high milk solids and component percentages, supporting improved cheese yields, while selective breeding for favourable milk protein characteristics can further enhance cheesemaking outcomes. Combined with strong fertility, longevity, and feed conversion efficiency, these traits help build productive and profitable herds suited to Italy’s premium dairy sector.

The shared focus on milk quality, pasture-based feeding systems, and long-term herd performance creates a strong connection between New Zealand and Italy’s dairy industry. LIC genetics offer Italian dairy farmers a proven option for breeding balanced, efficient cows capable of supporting both farm profitability and the production of world-class dairy products.

Explore our international website to learn more about LIC, our genetics, products and services, and history and performance of New Zealand’s pasture-based dairy industry.