The board acknowledged the payout was not competitive and at the lower end.
External factors had partly driven lower sales than expected, with production and processing targets for the year also not met.
"This year's payout was at the lower end of our range and was affected by global commodity prices, the impact of Cyclone Fehi, and a strike at the Port of Lyttelton," Mr Morrison said.
"Top line sales were not as good as they could have been, but we are seeing improvements."
A new sales team was in place with the benefit of improved processes.
The board would update shareholders on December 5 about the co-operative capital structure review ordered in response to "high debt and limited financial flexibility issues".
Accelerating Westland's strategic business plan to drive better long-term returns and value remained the priority.
Mr Morrison said the revised downward payout prediction for 2018-19 was in line with the international fall in butter pricing, and with other milk processors.
Chief executive Toni Brendish said the company had made performance improvements in the past year in "right first time" manufacturing, and process and efficiency improvements.
Further changes to internal systems and processes would continue to help improve performance and better outcomes in the coming year.
Ms Brendish said they were more confident of achieving a competitive payout for 2018-19.
The numbers
Key aspects of Westland Milk's 2017-18 performance on the previous year include:
A $47m increase to $386m in payments to suppliers for milk.
$6.07 per kilo standard milk payout — up 89c on the previous year.
A 44% increase in nutritional milk sales volumes to 15 kilotonnes.
A 2.9% decrease in milk solids from farmers to 63 kilotonnes.
