Demand for New Zealand dairy livestock in China appears to be booming, with more than 38,000 live animals leaving our shores for Chinese pastures last year.

A trial involving five parties linked to the running of Crafar Farms who face hundreds of charges between them of animal abuse has been postponed.

The price of dairy products rose 2 per cent in the first GlobalDairyTrade auction of the year, recovering losses through the tail-end of last year.

World dairy prices have risen in the last online auction of the year.

The world's largest global milk processor and dairy exporter wants to move into New Zealand's best new building in four years.

Prices of dairy products fell in Fonterra's latest GlobalDairyTrade auction - the first decline in four sales.

Units in the new Fonterra Shareholders Fund have debuted at $6.66 per unit - a $1.16 premium to their $5.50 issue price.

Fonterra said it had set its final price for units in the Fonterra Shareholders' Fund at $5.50 per unit - the top end of an indicative $4.60 to $5.50 range.

Prices of dairy products rose in the latest online dairy auction, the third straight gain.

Chinese interest in investing in Fonterra's Cooperative Group's shareholder fund was predictable, says the main farm lobby group.

News that New Zealand cows are being fed genetically modified soy and cottonseed meal has come as a shock to many consumers, writes Sue Kedgely.

Local scientists have devised an inventive way of identifying fake milk powder being sold on the international market as a New Zealand product.

"Substandard" NZ-made baby formula and milk powder is being rejected at China's border, raising concerns that media coverage could damage our reputation.

See a replay of our live chat with ANZ rural economist Con Williams on Fonterra's TAF scheme and the dairy industry.

Fonterra has signed an agreement to develop two more large-scale dairy farms in China.