Do we really know the cost of lameness? And more importantly, what can we do to stop it? In this episode of Talking Dairy, Jac McGowan speaks with Winston Mason, a Veterinarian and Epidemiologist at EpiVets, and Frank Portegys, Senior Area Manager at DairyNZ for the King Country region. They cover the common causes of lameness, the direct and indirect costs, and effective strategies for reducing its impact. Find out what the early signs of lameness are and why quick action can make all the di...
In this episode of Talking Dairy, we cover recent financial shifts that have farmers feeling cautiously optimistic. Over the past few seasons, dairy farmers have been grappling with high costs, increasing interest rates, and unexpected drops in milk price forecasts. But with improvements in the forecast milk price and the cost of borrowing starting to ease, could there be brighter times ahead?Joining us are Mark Storey, Head of Economics, and Mark Speight, Farm Systems Specialist at DairyNZ. ...
Campbell Parker has been leading DairyNZ for a year as Chief Executive. So, what’s his take on the state of New Zealand dairy? And what are his plans for the challenges dairy farmers face now and in the future?In episode 87 of Talking Dairy, Campbell shares how his commercial experience is helping him bring fresh ideas to DairyNZ. He talks about his first year leading the organisation, managing change, and working closely with farmers to make sure their voices are heard. From research and sci...
In this episode of Talking Dairy, we’re talking about one of the biggest challenges on farm – mastitis. What should you do if your herd test shows high somatic cell count (SCC) cows? How do you find and manage those “invisible” subclinical cases? Our guests, Mike Shallcrass, Fonterra’s Veterinary programme manager, and Jane Lacy-Hulbert, DairyNZ Senior scientist, discuss and share practical tips on monitoring, managing, and minimising mastitis. Tune in to hear expert advice and insights on ho...
In Episode 85 of Talking Dairy, Jac McGowan chats with Dr Bruce Thorrold, DairyNZ’s Chief Science Advisor, about gene technologies in relation to the dairy sector. With the New Zealand Government updating its laws on gene technology, Bruce explains what this could mean for farmers, from reducing environmental impact to increasing productivity. He also discusses the opportunities and risks, and shares the questions which are top of mind for dairy farmers as this topic comes back into focus. Th...
What milking frequency trends are emerging across different regions? What factors are driving the adoption of once-a-day (OAD) milking in early lactation? And what are the pros and cons?In this episode of Talking Dairy, we’re joined by Dr. Paul Edwards, Senior Scientist and Kent Weston-Arnold, Area Manager for North-West Waikato, from DairyNZ. Find out about new insights on milking frequency and regional trends, plus hear about the experiences of some farmers who have been using OAD milking i...
How can your actions during calving impact success at mating? In this episode of Talking Dairy, we talk about reproduction and look at what actions during calving can impact success at mating time. We’re joined by Katrina Roberts, Herd Health Vet at Anexa Veterinary Services, InCalf training provider and the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year, and Rex Butterworth, a Waikato dairy farm owner and rural real estate agent. Katrina discusses the herd fertility cake concept and what the key ingr...
In this episode of Talking Dairy, we cover the important topic of preventing down cows during the calving period and providing essential care and recovery for those that do go down. Join our host Jac McGowan and guest Mitch Cooper, a veterinarian and DairyNZ’s Senior Technical and Policy Advisor, as they talk about strategies, share insights and practical advice. Mitch, who brings a decade of experience as a dairy vet in Waikato, shares his expertise on prevention, early signs to look ou...
On this episode of Talking Dairy by DairyNZ, we sit down with Cam Henderson, a dairy farmer and farmer-elected board member of DairyNZ. Cam shares his journey from the farm to the boardroom, revealing the challenges and rewards and offering practical advice for anyone considering applying for a role on the board this year at DairyNZ.If you're looking to make a meaningful impact on the future of the dairy sector, this episode is a must-listen. Nominations are now open, click here to find out m...
Welcome to Episode 80 of Talking Dairy. Winter can be challenging on dairy farms, and knowing what cows need during these cold, wet months is crucial for their health and productivity. In this episode, we are excited to have Dawn Dalley, a Senior Scientist at DairyNZ, sharing her wealth of experience and insights gained from over 15 years of research on managing cows in winter conditions.Dawn talks about the challenges cows face in wet winter conditions and the key findings from extensive res...
In this episode of Talking Dairy, we dive into the topic of ongoing water quality improvement efforts by the dairy sector with Aslan Wright-Stow, Senior Manager - Science at DairyNZ. Aslan shares valuable insights on the sectors’ commitments, the progress made, measured benefits and the scientific advancements that are improving water quality management and decision making. Links:Sustainable Dairying: Water AccordWaterbodies and wetlandsTalking Dairy Ep 73: Monitoring waterway healthTalking D...
How do you benchmark your farm systems and performance within the sector? DairyBase enables you to better understand your farm system and its performance, by comparing KPIs (key performance indicators) and determining what is working well, then identifying opportunities for improvement. 20% of New Zealand farms contribute to DairyBase which offers two types of benchmarking – the business’s financial performance and the farm’s physical aspects, and compares them to industry standards or target...
Injuries are commonplace on farm, ACC shares that 40% of farm injuries are from a sprain or strain and most of these occur between August to October, aligning with spring calving for a lot of farmers. In this episode we talk to DairyNZ Senior Scientist Dr Callum Eastwood and QCONZ CEO Chris Leach about a joint project between ACC and DairyNZ. Callum and Chris share the learnings from the project on reducing sprains and strains on farm, and what innovations have been developed to make jobs eas...
Animals are at the heart of every farming business. To support the sector in achieving high levels of animal welfare, DairyNZ has been interviewing farmers about their animal care practices for over a decade now. Join us as DairyNZ Lead Advisor Animal Care Penny Timmer-Arends and Animal Care Consult Contractor Hannah Fulton, talk to how the information from the consult is used to track changes in practice, inform extension activities and future research, and enlighten submissions to governmen...
When it comes to breeding more efficient cows, why is genetic gain so important and how can NZAEL’s online tools help? Join us as we talk to Rhiannon Handcock DairyNZ’s NZAEL scientist and dairy farmer Michelle Burgess, about the latest in dairy genetics and animal evaluation. NotesNZAEL is the industry good organisation for genetics and animal evaluation. As a wholly owned subsidiary of DairyNZ, NZAEL operates independently to ensure that farmers' interests are represented, striving for worl...
When it comes to budgeting on farm and forecasting spend, how do others do this? Join us as we talk to Mark Storey DairyNZ’s Head of Economics and Louise Collingwood – a South Waikato farmer, about the latest economic insights and newly updated DairyNZ Econ Tracker tool.Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz Follow DairyNZ on socials for the latest updates: FacebookInstagramLinkedIn
When it comes to monitoring waterway health, what makes up a holistic assessment of stream health?In this episode, we talk to DairyNZ Principal Scientist Dr. Craig Depree, who shares his approach on ecosystem health and what environmental factors influence freshwater management. Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz Follow DairyNZ on socials for the latest updates: FacebookInstagramLinkedIn
When it comes to leadership and motivating the next generation, how do others do this? Join us for part two of our people leadership series, as we talk Tawera Nikau a retired professional rugby league player, who is now farmer, businessman and community leader, and Tina Ngatai who sits on several boards across the agricultural and horticultural sectors, to hear their views on leadership and how they go about involving the next generation within the farming sector. Have feedback or ideas ...
When it comes to improving water quality, what does best practice look like? And how do you invest in long-term solutions to meet changing regional regulations? Join us as we talk to DairyNZ Senior Water Quality Scientist Dr Katrina Macintosh and AgResearch Senior Scientist Dr Richard Muirhead about DairyNZ’s key research initiatives and how these projects can provide solutions to improve water quality.NotesInside Dairy October-November 2023 (referenced at 6.37)Have feedback or ideas for...
When it comes to managing a team, what does good leadership look like? And how do you invest in developing people when times are financially tough? In this people leadership series, we’re talking to different farm businesses across the country to get their perspectives on leading successful teams, and how to attract and retain the best talent. For this episode, we to talk to Southland share farmers Leo Panaligan and Hazel Baquita to understand their views on what makes up good leadership.Have...