Data key to benchmarking

Samantha Tennent, the new general manager for WelFarm Ltd, says data and benchmarking is needed to show what ‘good’ looks like and where opportunities to improve lie.

“One tool we have available to give us that benchmarking is the WelFarm programme,” she explains.

“With the increased scrutiny on our dairy sector to prove our farmers are operating sustainably, and to continue our access to export markets, it is even more important we have the evidence that we are looking after our animals to a high standard.”

She says animal health is also a big cost on-farm and good herd health is crucial to optimise performance.

Tennent has a background in veterinary technology and has worked in the dairy sector across a variety of roles, recently as an animal developer for DairyNZ managing the InCalf programme.

“The opportunity to help drive WelFarm intrigued me given my background and passion for dairy and I’m really excited to raise awareness across the sector and get more farmers into the programme,” she says.

WelFarm is an assurance programme developed by XLVets and has been used on-farm since 2014. It is available to all farmers and veterinarians and utilitises data collected throughout the season to benchmark farms nationally and regionally.

This helps identify areas where farm productivity and animal wellness could be optimised through effecting change. It also supports farmers who are making improvements towards goals, showing them whether their efforts are succeeding.

“We know small shifts in in-calf rates, reducing somatic cell counts, reducing mastitis and increasing milksolids all have significant impact on performance and profitability, and how we use antibiotics and other drugs is continually under the microscope,” Tennent explains.

Greg Lindsay, of Franklin Vets, has been using the programme with farmers for several seasons.

“Through the reporting at the end of the season, I was able to have a valuable discussion with one farmer [about] how they were using lower levels of antibiotics, which was great, but they were also using significantly less anti-inflammatories than others in the area.”

He says since anti-inflammatories are useful tools to manage pain. The discussion covered how these can be used on-farm to support animals, which can improve performance outcomes and animal welfare.

“They started using it for more procedures after that conversation,” Lindsay says. “I think that’s a great win. I had the evidence to show them where they sat, and they were receptive to discussing ideas.”

He says farmers regularly come to us for advice and WelFarm reporting provides a great pathway to develop plans towards their goals.

Tennent encourages farmers to discuss with their vets whether they are already offering the programme and vets to get in touch if they want more information and support to implement it in their clinic.

“It’s a great initiative and the only one of its kind in New Zealand. Without the data and benchmarking we don’t know what good actually looks like and whether our efforts to improve are having an effect.”