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Handles all shapes and sizes

The Hustler BaleXpress bale feeder can cope with any bale sizes in either round or square format.

Designed as an alternative for those farmers who only feed round or large square bales, the Hustler BaleXpress bale feeder can cope with any bale sizes in either format.

Metabolic diseases impact at calving

Milk fever tends to manifest as a dull, lethargic cow lying prone and unable to stand.

Grass staggers (hypomagnesaemia – magnesium deficiency) or milk fever (hypocalcaemia – calcium deficiency) can affect beef cows around calving.

Yoghurt helps to beat bloat in orphan lambs

Abomasal bloat in lambs leads to excess gas in the abomasum, which causes it to expand like a balloon. This can rupture the abomasum wall and crush surrounding organs causing death.

Farming along with the sun

Waipara sheep farmer Tom Kidner says converting some of his farm to an Agrivoltaic solar power station will give him a future-proofed alternative income stream. Photo: Supplied

A Waipara farmer planning to have 200ha of his property converted to an “Agri-voltaic” solar power plant says it represents a secure, 30-year diverse income stream for his business.

Sheep of the future?

Sheep with finer wool, greater tolerance for hot weather, top meat quality traits, as well as lower methane emissions is the goal behind the ‘Sheep of the Future’ programme.

Sheep with finer wool, greater tolerance for hot weather, top meat quality traits, and lower methane emissions.

Are dairy prices moving from pain to gain?

Rabobank’s Emma Higgins says slowing global milk production will eventually match the tepid demand and prevent further significant price declines.

A full rebalance of China’s dairy market is not expected in the near future, so dairy farmers in New Zealand and around the world will need to manage through more financial pain in the months ahead.

Sheep breeders should be wary of false progress

Hamish Bielski is asking if the rush to develop low methane traits in sheep could cause more damage than good.

South Otago sheep and beef farmer Hamish Bielski questions if the desire to develop and breed low methane emitting sheep may cause other important and valuable traits, that have been developed over many years of sheep breeding in NZ, to be lost. In the following article he explains the risks…

Putting meat on the bone

The meat sector is asking any new government for some changes to policies due to the cumulative economic impact of poorly crafted rules on the industry.

NZ's red meat sector says it is committed to playing its part to address climate change, improving our waterways and protecting New Zealand's biodiversity. However, it wants a future Government to implement these policies in relation to the environment and climate change. Nathan Guy, Meat Industry Association, and Kate Acland, Beef+Lamb NZ explain.

Smells dodgy!

OPINION: You canine crusader wants to tip his hat to Fed Farmers for busting the Government’s dodgy tactics in trying to buy support to rush through its controversial RMA reforms.

Persona non grata?

OPINION: A mate of yours truly wonders just exactly how some of the so-called ‘leaders’ in the ag sector will fare if there is a change of Government on Oct 14.