The final shifting of cows on Saturday marked the end of a hectic week of moving after selling his two farms in Clarendon, where he had farmed for more than 20 years.
Gypsy Day, on June 1, is when dairy farms change ownership, sharemilkers take new contracts and cows are moved to winter grazing.
Mr McDonnell said he was moving to a smaller farm at Chrystalls Beach, near Milton, and the busy week included some 14-hour days moving stock, equipment and cleaning up.
He was thankful for the help he had received from Otago Corrections Facility prisoners on ''work to release'' programmes, who had been ''absolutely brilliant'' during the week.
North Otago Federated Farmers president Richard Strowger said the mass cow migration was spread across 10 days, rather than over on a specific day.
''When you've got that many cows and that much gear to shift, it's the week prior as well.''
The dairy industry was growing despite payouts being forecast to be $1.40 down next year, which would result in about $250,000 less revenue for an average farm.
An average dairy farm in Otago had about 650 cows, he said.
Despite the lower payout, more cows were farmed in Otago every year and land continued to be converted to dairying, with many new farms in North Otago.
The wet weather in the past year had helped dairy farmers grow grass, he said.
''When it falls out of the sky, it's so much easier.''
