Fodder beet is a crop with high yield potential, offering many benefits for dairy farming, including adding body condition to cows and having less environmental impact than other feeds. It must be managed correctly to ensure the health of your cows.

Turnips are a brassica root crop used in dairy farming to bridge summer feed gaps and boost milk production. They can be planted from spring to winter, depending on the variety.

Fodder beet is a feed option for cows that requires careful planning to avoid health issues such as acidosis. Before feeding it, you should measure your crop yield and test the leaf and bulb to determine its nutritional content.

Chicory is a leafy herb that provides high feed value, especially during its active growth months from spring to autumn. Popular in the Upper North Island during summer, chicory thrives due to its deep tap roots, which aid growth during dry spells.

Plantain in pastures can reduce nitrate leaching by affecting nitrogen in urine and soil retention. The page teaches you the importance of assessing the proportion of plantain in your pasture.

For the best outcome at calving time, know the signs and stages of labour, how to calve a cow, and the immediate care needed after calving. Check springers regularly to help identify the signs of labour, ensuring timely interventions if needed.

Planning and preparing for calving with your farm team will reduce stress when calving is in full swing and will help keep everyone safe and healthy. Spend time with your team prior to calving to create a plan that works for everyone.

Clean and comfortable calf sheds help create a nurturing environment for calves, reduces the risk of disease and encourages high growth rates.

Give calves the best possible start to set them up for a long, productive life. Maintain routine hygiene and health practices from birth, such as regularly cleaning feeders, limiting movements between pens, and following a vaccination plan.

To ensure optimal growth, health, and well-being of calves, feeding strategies should be considered carefully. Research indicates that feeding a higher daily allowance, split into multiple feeds, is better for calves.

In this episode of Talking Dairy, we explore the Resilient Pastures programme - a new research initiative tackling pasture persistence problems. Hear how farmers, scientists and funders are working together to find lasting, practical solutions.

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Palm Kernel Extract (PKE) is a by-product from South East Asia's palm oil industry and is mostly used when pasture is scarce, as it has reasonable levels of energy and protein content.

Clinical ketosis is a metabolic disease in cows, occurring when they are in severe negative energy balance, particularly during early lactation and may occur as a secondary condition to other health challenges the cow may be experiencing.

The transition period in a cow's life requires precise feed management to ensure health and optimal milk production. It’s important to set BCS targets, monitor those targets and adjust your feed budget as required, especially pre- and post-calving.

Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) is a bacteria that affects cattle, impacting their health, welfare and productivity. If your farm is affected by M. bovis, there's support available, including financial assistance.