What are your downer cows telling you?
While no-one is talking calving complications and downer cows at this time of the year, realistically anyone who struggled with the most critical time of the season is now living with the hangover from it when it comes to fertility and in-calf results. Now is the time to consider what could have been done better and what could make a difference next season.
Making money milking cows on 5.5ha
Peter and Claire Hansen are turning a profit milking less than 30 cows on five (effective) hectares near Rangiora. The decision to set up to supply raw milk to the public wasn’t without significant risk for this couple. They were already heavily committed in another business, and they had to build Fernside Fresh from the ground up with no promises and significant capital investment.
Minerals and meal add milk
More milk and lower empty rates (without intervention) has been the result of checking and addressing the mineral status in Brian and Simone Shaw’s Invercargill herd. The couple say the Dairy Business Centre’s team have helped them lift production 35,000kg MS last season, and given them peace of mind that they are doing everything they can to facilitate per cow performance.
Southland dairy embraces high-performance biological farming
Darrell and Julie Wendelgelst had already been paying close attention to their soils when Darrell travelled to Tasmania with the Dairy Business Centre on a biological farming tour in 2023. With some cows in Darrell and Julie’s 400-cow herd producing up to 1000kg MS, they could have been forgiven for approaching any kind of change cautiously.
You can’t save yourself into profit
Irishman Bill O’Sullivan has reluctantly agreed to go on the record…twice. His reason is simple. He is deeply concerned that too many New Zealand dairy farmers appear to have little idea about what “lead feed” is, what it does, how it helps minimise milk fever, and how that impacts across their whole business. Bill keeps meticulous records of cow health and events on their property.
Cost-effective silage preservative steals oxygen…not feed
Is a silage preservative an additional cost in the conserved feed debate or a must-have decision to preserve feed and limit waste? Mid Canterbury dairyman Mark Stewart says it’s been a no-brainer for their operation, which is projected to average 600kg MS a cow. They have been able to save feed wastage at four pivotal points. Find out how it’s working for them…
Managing Fodder Beet
I’m aware what fodder beet can do to cows if it’s handled wrong, and I’m countering that by transitioning cattle on and off it gradually, making sure our cows are full all the time, and supplementing them with the MAX PHOS LOOSE-LICK. The loose-lick is an important part of my management plan, and we’ve been using it for five years now.
Hard hooves save time
Anyone who has followed a lame cow up the track, knows it’s a lesson in fortitude for the cow, and patience for the person landed with the job.
Lofty life and production goals
Ferdie Vries is exactly where he wants to be – dairying on some of the best country New Zealand has to offer.
Lead feed works. End of story.
Bill O’Sullivan says getting cows safely through calving in Southland is their priority. Along with his wife, Keri Kahotea, and family they milk 800 cows in a 50-bail rotary on 271ha. They produce 370,000kg of milk solids a year. Dairy farming is a constant challenge, and no two days are the same.
