Let the games begin!
New Zealand's largest celebration of rural sports athletes and enthusiasts – New Zealand Rural Games - is back for its 10th edition, kicking off in Palmerston North from Thursday, March 6th to Sunday, March 9th, 2025.
Dairy farmers are being urged to attend next month's profitable dairy farming conference in Ashburton.
Organised by the New Zealand Association of Ruminant Nutritionists on February 24, the conference will bring together a group of innovative farmers and will present information about nutrition, farm management and profitability.
Based on overwhelmingly positive feedback from the North Island event held in 2015, the South Island conference has been organised to meet increasing demand for knowledge and awareness in dairy nutrition and feeding.
Speakers include some of the most experienced nutritionists in New Zealand. Topics will cover aspects of grazing, feed intake, feeds, feeding and efficient utilisation to optimise performance.
The programme includes:
◦ How to get cows to eat more by Charlotte Westwood.
◦ Diurnal grazing pattern: its understanding and strategic management by Pablo Gregorini.
◦ How to get the best value out of forages by Jakob Kleinmans.
◦ Ensuring your silage is fit for purpose by Trish Lewis.
◦ Growing great cows: rearing heifers from weaning to calving by Natalie Chrystal.
◦ Condition management – how does it help fertility by Nigel Meads.
◦ Nutrition and management of close up dry cows – taking good care of our springers by Andrea Murphy.
◦ Feeding supplements and practical feed balancing by Julian Waters.
Farmers are welcome to register via the form on the website (www.nzarn.org.nz) and/or can contact Wendy Morgan, the conference convenor, directly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The cost for the day is $100 +GST, including morning & afternoon tea and lunch
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