For Canterbury dairy farmers Sian Meijer and Rick Wobben, wearable technology has become one of their most valuable on-farm tools - helping manage 1850 cows across an expansive, high-performing dairy operation while improving efficiency, mating outcomes and day-to-day decision making.
Leptospirosis is one of the most significant health threats to New Zealand dairy herds and the families who work with them.
The first major update to the Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare in more than a decade has been released, marking what DairyNZ describes as an important step in ensuring animal welfare standards continue to evolve alongside scientific evidence and on-farm realities.
Good Calf shed hygiene has always been about providing clean, dry bedding.
Matt Collier, Probiotic Revolution, says calves will drink a lot of milk once-a-day with their probiotic Calf Xtreme.
Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) remains one of the most significant infectious diseases affecting New Zealand dairy herds.
When Fraser Hasnip returned to his family farm in Pirongia, Waikato, he saw an opportunity to do things differently.
Body Condition Score (BCS) is a critical element in managing the health and reproduction of the dairy herd.
Bull management involves ensuring the right number of healthy bulls for your herd, minimising stress and reducing injury risks.
Rearing facilities should be set up and maintained well to ensure calves stay healthy.
Solid biosecurity practices, regular monitoring and timely vaccination are the three key pillars of effective Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) control on New Zealand farms. Zoetis veterinary technical advisor, Karley DeFrees, explains BVD is a costly but preventative disease that impacts a significant number of dairy farms in New Zealand. Implementation…
Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) is estimated to cost New Zealand's dairy and beef industries more than $150 million every year, yet many of the tools needed to control it are already well understood. After more than 25 years in veterinary practice, Andrew Weir, animal health technical specialist at LIC, has…
Paynes Titus Excelsior ET, an LIC bull bred by Brad Payne and Claire Brodie in the Waikato, has won the JT Thwaites Sire of the Season 2026 Award.
For decades, successful calving has centred on correct mineral supplementation to prevent milk fever, along with teat sealants to minimise calving mastitis.
Giving calves the best possible start to life has been shown to boost growth and resilience.
Moving Day (June 1) is just around the corner and farmers who are moving farms with the herd are being urged by Ospri to start preparations now.
No two systems are the same.
For Taranaki sharemilkers Elly and Kale Grahame, technology hasn't beeen about overcomplicating their system.
In calf rearing, the smallest details often have the biggest impact. While feed and genetics remain critical, bedding is increasingly recognised as a key driver of calf health, growth, and overall performance.
For decades, probiotics in calf rearing have been treated as a reactive tool – something to reach for when illness strikes. That thinking, according to Matt Collier of Probiotic Revolution, is leaving significant money on the table.
When a cow goes down after calving, it is easy to blame the calving itself. Milk fever, calving stress, poor weather, bad luck. Yet many down cows are not caused by one dramatic event. They are the end result of poorly transitioned cows entering calving under nutritional pressure.
Dry-off feels like a break. For the cow, it's anything but.
Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is one of the most common - and most expensive - health challenges on dairy farms. Often referred to as pneumonia or "shipping fever" (a stress-triggered form that can develop after transport), BRD can hit calves hard and fast.
Mid-season on farm is where good habits are tested. Workloads build, the days stack up, and what felt straightforward at the end of the season can begin to feel like a grind. It is also the point where small lapses in consistency can creep in, often without anyone noticing in…
OPINION: It seems Canterbury processor Synlait is still in the doldrums.
OPINION: Get offside with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters at your own peril.
