Chief Science and Innovation Officer

Plantain is a herb that grows in New Zealand and is liked by animals, with a fibrous and coarse root system. This page discusses its various uses on dairy farms.

Looking for information on milking three times in two days? This research programme will investigate the human, animal and pasture response to milking three times in two days (3-in-2).

Mastitis is one of the most common and costly animal health issues on dairy farms. Understanding the basics will help you protect cow health, maintain milk quality, and do your job confidently in the milking shed.

Understand what El Niño could mean for your farm and region, with practical advice to plan early, manage feed and water, protect animal welfare, and use tools and support to prepare for changing conditions.

Protecting, restoring and creating wetlands on farm can help improve water quality, reduce the impact of floods, and create habitat for native plants and animals.

Moving Day is a big day in the farming calendar and requires good planning and communication to ensure success. For some, Moving Day not only involves shifting a household of belongings, but it also involves relocating farm equipment and animals.

Vet Kirsty Ashcroft shares farmers’ top tips for getting value from wearables — from starting with the basics and avoiding alert fatigue to using data with your vet to lift decision-making and animal health.

Senior animal care specialist

Proactive visitor biosecurity management helps protect your herd and your business. Visitors can unknowingly bring in diseases, weeds or pests that threaten animal health and farm productivity.

Wearable technologies (such as cow collars) are becoming a popular tool for assisting with reproductive management. In 2025, around 1 in 5 dairy farms are using wearables , mostly to help with heat detection, a factor in getting cows in calf.