An 82% slide in first-half profit as the cost of setting up its British operation erodes the bottom line. 

The NZX-listed milk company says it will focus on growth in Australia, the UK and China. 

Kiwi academic and author Professor Keith Woodford hopes the release of his book “The Devil in the Milk” in the United States will lead to further research and debate on the benefits of A2 milk.

Professor Woodford said yesterday that further research exploring the benefits of A2 milk over the more common A1 is likely to be led by overseas interests where the markets are bigger and there is more pressure from consumers to provide the best and healthiest products.

West Coast dairy company Westland Milk Products has completed an about face on a strategy to convert 95% of its herd to produce A2 milk.

In a “future-proofing” move late last year, Westland Milk Products acting chief executive Hugh Little said the co-op wanted farmers to start using A2 bulls in order to convert the entire milking herd to produce A2 milk.