Data sharing initiative wins national award for saving farmers time
The work Fonterra has done with Ballance Agri-Nutrients Ltd, LIC and Ravensdown to save farmers time through better data connections has been recognised with a national award.
Gallagher has partnered with LIC to make year-round decision-making more targeted and end-of-season reporting easier.
They have launched a new data integration which automatically transfers farmer' live animal weighing data from Gallagher Animal Performance software directly into MINDA, eliminating manual entry and saving time. MINDA is farmer-owned co-operative LIC's cloud-based herd management system.
Weighing young stock provides valuable insights to help farmers optimise breeding and feeding decisions, whether animals stay in the herd or are part of a dairy beef strategy. Meeting liveweight targets at mating and calving improves fertility, milk production, and long-term profitability. It also helps meet market requirements and capitalise on strong payouts.
LIC chief executive David Chin says LIC's focus on industry collaboration is a key driver for progress.
"The long-term success of New Zealand's dairy sector relies on partnerships like this one. LIC prioritises working with industry leaders, scientists, and farmers to deliver sustainable and profitable solutions. By leveraging richer animal data in MINDA, we're helping farmers maximise the genetic potential of their herds while contributing to better industry benchmarking."
Farmers weighing their heifers can now see liveweight data in MINDA as soon as they sync their Gallagher weighing system. This allows them to quickly spot underperforming animals and adjust feeding plans.
Tracking growth in MINDA also supports better breeding decisions, says LIC, ensuring heifers hit key weight milestones for a productive future in herd. Liveweight monitoring can also help detect health issues early, allowing farmers to intervene before problems escalate.
Gallagher Animal Management chief executive Lisbeth Jacobs says connected systems are crucial to simplifying farm management.
"Farmers have been asking for systems that talk to each other, and this partnership delivers on that," Lisbeth says. "We know technology is more effective when it works together.
"By syncing liveweight data straight into MINDA, we're making it easier for farmers to access accurate, actionable information that helps them manage their herds and feed more efficiently. It is important farmers retain ownership of this data. Our job is to ensure they get the most value from it by making it accessible where and when they need it."
Chin and Jacobs agree that collaboration and responsible data sharing are essential to the future of farming.
"Having systems in place to easily share data - whether it's liveweights, herd data, or health records - makes a big difference to farm productivity and profitability," says Chin.
"This partnership ensures farmers retain full control of their data and enables them to make informed decisions at a farm level."
Jacobs points out that the partnership is about more than just technology. "It's about empowering farmers to achieve their goals - whether that's hitting liveweight targets, breeding more efficient cows, or meeting market demands. By saving time and unlocking valuable insights, we're giving farmers the tools they need to succeed."
