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.
It is great to see all those involved with bobby calves working cooperatively and positively to forestall a repeat of the terrible incident that aired on television showing mistreatment of these helpless animals.
MPI and many heavyweight industry groups joined forces to educate their members and the public on what they are doing to protect these creatures.
The workshops run by DairyNZ with the NZ Veterinary Association were excellent and no farmer can any longer offer the excuse 'we didn't know' what was expected. Also, MPI has done an equally good job of getting the message out to all stakeholders.
The setting up of the bobby calf action group was a sign of true leadership in the primary sector and the public needs to recognise that farmers and others in the sector care as much about the welfare of animals as the so-called animal rights groups.
Still it must be said that the animal rights people did a good job in 'outing' those who treated bobby calves cruelly. Animal rights group will by and large cease to exist when there is nothing for them to complain about. But maybe that is asking too much.
One has to admire the transparency of MPI which is saying to the public 'tell us if you see something you think is wrong'. This shows MPI is committed to getting the public to understand it will take seriously any mistreatment of animals and that it will crack down on people who break the law.
As MPI's Scott Gallacher points out, there is also an opportunity for the rural sector to educate the wider public on normal good farm management practices which can sometimes appear as cruel when it is not. An obvious example is the docking of sheep.
This whole saga has shown that farmers and everyone in the supply chain have no place to hide. Most Kiwis have a cellphone with a camera and within minutes any hint of malpractice can be widely circulated on social media.
The new rules taking effect on August 1 are the first of many coming in during the next year. It would be great if farmers and others saw fit to implement these changes ahead of time and show the public they don't just follow rules but lead the charge -- farming in ways that anticipate the expectations of consumers and the public.
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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