About Us | Milligans Feeds

Who We Are

Our Story

Milligans has been part of Oamaru and North Otago, when the business began as a flour mill in Ngapara, 20 minutes inland from Oamaru. What started as a flour milling operation has grown, through generations of hard work and dedication, into one of New Zealand’s most respected animal nutrition companies.

Locally owned by the Paton family for more than 35 years, the values and hands-on commitment that have always defined Milligans remain unchanged. In 1990, Milligans launched its first calf milk replacer — a product now known as Milligans Classic — marking the beginning of a new chapter in the company's history.

Today, Milligans Feeds is New Zealand's largest privately owned milk replacer manufacturer, while remaining 100% New Zealand owned and operated. Our Oamaru plant, our people, are all part of the same story that began in Ngapara over a century ago.

Our History

A Century of Dedication

From a flour mill in rural North Otago to New Zealand's largest privately owned milk replacer manufacturer — here is how we got here.

1896

Ngapara Flour Mill Established

Milligans begins operations as a flour mill in Ngapara, North Otago — laying the foundation for more than a century of service to the region's farming community.

1980s

Grain-Based Animal Feeds Production Begins

Milligans expands into grain-based animal feeds, bringing nutritional expertise and local ingredient sourcing to the wider farming sector.

1990

First Calf Milk Replacer Launched

Milligans introduces its first calf milk replacer — now known as Milligans Classic — a product that remains a cornerstone of the range to this day.

Early 2000s

GOcalf Introduced

Milligans launches GOcalf — initially known as GOcalf Green — bringing a reliable economy calf milk replacer to the New Zealand market. The product has since evolved into GOcalf Boost as part of an expanded GOmilk Range.

Mid 2000s

ExcelPlus Brand Launched

The ExcelPlus brand is introduced, bringing a new level of immune and growth support to the Milligans range. ExcelPlus Colostrum is launched, with the ExcelPlus health package subsequently integrated into Milligans ExcelPlus CMR.

2016

New Facility Commissioned

Milligans moves into a purpose-built manufacturing facility north of Oamaru — a significant investment in new plant, equipment and production capacity, including a robotic palletiser. The move marks a step change in what Milligans is able to produce, setting the foundation for the growth in the range and export activity that followed.

2019

GOlamb, GOgoat and GOmulti Introduced

The GO Range expands beyond calves with the introduction of dedicated milk replacers for lambs, goat kids and multi-species operations — giving New Zealand farmers a quality economy option across a wider range of young animals.

2027

Plans Underway for New Packing Line

A further investment in production capacity, consistency and quality to meet growing domestic and export demand.

Today

New Zealand's Largest Privately Owned Milk Replacer Manufacturer

Supplying farmers across New Zealand and beyond — still 100% New Zealand owned and operated.

Our Operations

Our Facility

Our Oamaru facility spans 20,000 square metres of purpose-built manufacturing, warehousing and dispatch space — a significant operation by any measure. The plant has been continuously invested in over the decades, most recently with a full facility upgrade in 2016 including new equipment and a robotic palletiser, with improvements planned for 2027.

Behind the facility is a long-standing team, many of our production and warehouse staff have been with Milligans for years, bringing a depth of knowledge and consistency that matters in a manufacturing operation.

We run our own logistics and warehousing operations, which means we're not dependent on third parties to get product where it needs to go. Our Auckland distribution centre in Wiri handles North Island supply, supported by strategically located distribution points across the country. Every batch is tested in our purpose-built onsite laboratory block before it leaves the facility — more on that in Our Quality section below.

20,000m² Facility
Purpose-built manufacturing, warehousing and dispatch space in Oamaru.

2016 Upgrade
New equipment, expanded production capability and robotic palletising.

Own Logistics Network
Oamaru operations, Wiri distribution and regional supply points.

On-Site Laboratory
Every batch is tested before it leaves the facility.

Quality Assurance

Our Quality

Milligans Feeds products are manufactured at our Oamaru site under documented quality systems, including an MPI Risk Management Programme audited by an MPI-recognised agency.

As part of Milligans Food Group, Milligans Feeds sits within a wider manufacturing business with established systems for ingredient assessment, batch records, production control and quality checks.

A key part of this is our onsite laboratory block, which supports our quality programme with testing and product checks throughout the manufacturing process.

We also use independent external laboratories for verification, giving an added layer of assurance alongside our internal testing programme.

This gives us a clear quality process from raw material intake through to finished product.

Premium Ingredient Sourcing
All ingredients are sourced through established supplier relationships and assessed for quality on intake before entering production.

Full Batch Records
Every batch produced at our Oamaru facility is fully documented and tested against specification in our purpose-built onsite laboratory.

Independent Lab Verification
Internal testing is independently verified by external accredited laboratories, providing an additional layer of assurance on every product.

Our Farm

Alperna Farms Limited

Alperna Farms is owned and operated by members of the Milligans team, spreading across 750 acres of rolling country in North Otago. The farm runs peak milks 700 dairy cows, with all calves reared on Milligans products every season.

Alperna Farm — Milligans Feeds research farm in North Otago

The People

Our Team

The Milligans team brings decades of combined experience to everything we do — from production and procurement through to on-farm support and export. These are the people behind the products.

Joseph Paton

Managing Director

Based in Oamaru, Joseph is Managing Director of the Milligans group of businesses, including Milligans Feeds.

Having grown up around the family business, Joseph has been involved with Milligans full time for 16 years. From working during his school holidays, through to sales and on-road repping, and now leading the wider group as Managing Director.

His hands-on experience across the business gives him a practical understanding of ingredient procurement, production, formulation, key accounts, domestic sales and export. This reflects the family ownership and grounded approach that continues to sit behind Milligans today.

Glen McKay

North Island Regional Manager

Glen has been part of Milligans for 20 years and is the face of Milligans Feeds across the North Island.

Based at our Auckland distribution centre, Glen manages the site while also working closely with farmers, distributors and retailers throughout the region. His long-standing relationships and practical knowledge of calf rearing and animal nutrition make him a key part of the Milligans Feeds network.

After two decades with Milligans, Glen brings a strong understanding of both the product range and the needs of farmers on the ground.

Grant Notman

Operations Manager

Grant has been part of Milligans for 30 years and is a Milligans legend!

As Operations Manager, Grant brings unmatched hands-on experience in manufacturing and blending milk replacers. No one in New Zealand would have spent more time working directly with milk replacer production, plant operations and practical formulation than Grant.

Grant is also part of the Milligans family, both through his long service and as Joseph's cousin. His knowledge, loyalty and experience make him a key part of the Milligans Feeds story.

Our Nutritionists

Alun Faulkner

Nutritionist, Nutritech International Ltd

Alun has been involved with Milligans Feeds for over 20 years, working across both our calf milk replacer and feedmill product specifications. His practical knowledge of ruminant nutrition and animal performance underpins much of what makes the Milligans range effective.

Dr Julian Waters

Independent Consultant Nutritionist

Julian holds both an MSc and a PhD in Ruminant Nutrition, and has been involved in the New Zealand animal feed industry for 35 years. His independent perspective and depth of expertise provide an important layer of scientific rigour to our formulation process.

Our Difference

Why Milligans?

So with all of that — the history, the facility, the farm, the team — why does it matter to you?

At the end of the day, there are a lot of products on the market and choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. There are cheaper options. There are imported options. There are products with impressive labels and little substance behind them.

What we've built over the years means you don't have to figure it out alone. When you use a Milligans product, you're backed by more than 130 years of New Zealand farming history, a production facility that sets the standard for Australasia, a research farm where we test on our own animals, and a team of people who have spent their careers in this industry.

We're not a multinational. We're a New Zealand family business, and we intend to remain one. Every decision we make is made with that in mind — and with the New Zealand farmer in mind.

If you want a product you can trust, made by people who understand what's at stake, we'd like to earn your business.

Browse Our Products →

Giving Back

Our Community

Milligans Feeds is proud to support the communities that support us.

In today's market, there are many brands selling into New Zealand are owned offshore, controlled from overseas, or simply treat New Zealand farmers as another sales channel. Milligans is different.

We are a New Zealand family-owned business, with roots in Oamaru and North Otago for more than 130 years. We do not just sell into rural New Zealand — we live here, manufacture here, employ people here, and support the communities around us.

Each year, Milligans provides sponsorship and support to local schools, sports clubs, rural events and community organisations across North Otago and beyond. These are the same communities our staff, customers and farming families are part of.

When farmers support Milligans, they are supporting a business that keeps investing back into New Zealand — into local jobs, local manufacturing, local communities and the rural sector we are proud to stand behind.