Once-a-Day Calf Feeding: How Probiotics Boost Heifer Growth
Matt Collier, Probiotic Revolution, says calves will drink a lot of milk once-a-day with their probiotic Calf Xtreme.
Falling dairy prices were a key contributor to a widening current account deficit in the March quarter, Statistics New Zealand says.
New Zealand's current account deficit was $2.8 billion in the March quarter which is $0.6 billion larger than the December 2011 quarter deficit.
For the March 2012 year, New Zealand's current account deficit was $9.7 billion (4.8% of GDP). This compares with a deficit of $7.2 billion (3.7% of GDP) for the March 2011 year.
The quarterly deficit increase to $2.8 billion was mainly caused by a turnaround in New Zealand's international trade in goods and services, which was a deficit for the first time since the December 2008 quarter.
Dairy products, crude oil, and fruit drove goods exports down, while imports of crude oil increased.
"The value of dairy exports fell despite an increase in volumes, as dairy prices fell for the third quarter in a row," balance of payments manager John Morris says.
Spending by visitors to New Zealand also fell as visitor numbers dropped following the Rugby World Cup.
Profits earned by foreign-owned companies in New Zealand fell in the March quarter, partly offsetting the falls in exports of goods and services.
Despite the fall in profits, earnings reinvested in New Zealand by these companies increased $0.4 billion this quarter. I
In contrast, dividends paid to overseas investors by these companies fell $0.8 billion, to their lowest level in over seven years.
The year-end deficit increase to $9.7 billion was mainly due to higher profits earned by foreign-owned banks and increased imports of petroleum and petroleum products. Services imports and transfer payments to overseas also increased over this time, due to the rising costs of reinsurance in the latest
year.
Despite the current account deficit in the March 2012 quarter, New Zealand's net international liability position decreased to $143.2 billion (70.9% of GDP) at 31 March 2012, from $146.3 billion (72.9% of GDP) at December 31, 2011.
B+LNZ's Wormwise veterinarian Mary Bowron has won the Best Sheep and Beef Vet of the Year Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to New Zealand’s sheep and beef sector.
Researchers at Massey University are using a special piece of scientific equipment to improve the measurement of greenhouse gas emissions from pasture soils.
More signs of a booming kiwifruit sector.
OPINION: David Seymour and James Meager's plan to make it easier for farmers and orchardists to operate drones can best be described a 'courageous' move.
New Zealand wool is reaching new heights as air filtration companies move away from synthetic products to biodegradable alternatives.
Opuha Dam's ability to protect South Canterbury communities from major flooding has taken a significant step forward, with Opuha Water Limited (OWL) successfully commissioning a new outlet valve capable of releasing record volumes of water from the dam ahead of a weather event.

OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…
OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…