Rewarding farmers who embrace sustainability
Winners of DairyNZ’s Sustainability and Stewardship awards in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards have their eyes firmly fixed on progressing a positive future for New Zealand dairy.
Newborn calves are vulnerable to cold and disease, so careful handling, feeding and hygiene are important to get them safely through their first 24 hours, DairyNZ points out.
When bringing calves from the paddock to the shed, make sure the trailer is clean and disinfected.
Handle calves gently – they are babies! Do not overload the transport – all calves must be able to lie down. Treat the navel with iodine again when you get to the shed.
Colostrum is the first milk a cow produces after calving. Collect colostrum and feed it to every calf in the first six hours of life.
Colostrum is very high in antibodies that protect the calf against disease. Calves easily absorb the antibodies in the first few hours, but after 24 hours they absorb very little. Calves that don’t get enough colostrum in the first 24 hours are more likely to get scours or pneumonia and are twice as likely to die in the first two months.
Around half of calves left with their dam for 24 hours do not get enough colostrum. DairyNZ says don’t starve them – tube feed them.
“Don’t be tempted to starve newborn calves overnight so that they get hungry and will drink. By the morning, their ability to absorb antibodies will have almost gone. If they won’t drink, tube feed them.”
The European Union Ambassador says the new free trade agreement (FTA) between the bloc and New Zealand will bring significant benefits to both parties.
Less Wellington bureucracy and more local, on-farm common sense was the focus of recent meetings held in South Canterbury as part of the Government's National Woolshed tour program.
'A lot of interest and positive responses' appears to be the way farmers are viewing the Government's initiative to hold a series of woolshed meetings around the country.
A Southland farming leader wants the regional council to delay a proposed regional rates hike, much of which is intended to fund flood protection works.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) says access to personal banking services in rural communities is fundamental to promoting outcomes that benefit Kiwi consumers.