Good nutrition will support smooth calving
As dairy farmers know all too well, the calving season brings with it significant nutritional demands on the herd.
THE HEAVY snow showers falling in Southland and Otago have come at a bad time with most dairy farmers well into calving.
"There are a lot of people in Otago and Southland that are in the thick of calving, which will prove challenging with temperatures dropping to zero degrees," says Russell MacPherson.
"Whilst the snow is blanketing pastures it's the wind chill that is really going to test us. The bitter chill cuts through you and new born calves won't be able to cope for long in these conditions.
"Farmers know what they are doing and they will be busy feeding out to stock and pushing them to shelter to get them through. Whilst the wind chill has died down in the past hour the main focus will be rushing the new born calves to the calving shed to keep them warm.
"Sheep farmers will be reasonably thankful that they are not lambing just yet and still on winter rotation," MacPherson concluded.
Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.
Within the next 10 years, New Zealand agriculture will need to manage its largest-ever intergenerational transfer of wealth, conservatively valued at $150 billion in farming assets.
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
Selecting the reverse gear quicker than a lovestruck boyfriend who has met the in-laws for the first time, the Coalition Government has confirmed that the proposal to amend Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) charged against farm utes has been canned.
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