Body Condition Score (BCS) plays a crucial role in dairy farming in New Zealand. This page outlines strategies to achieve this goal and offers tools and resources for assistance.

In this episode of Talking Dairy, we tackle the challenge of managing mastitis. Experts Mike Shallcrass and Jane Lacy-Hulbert offer practical tips on detecting and handling high SCC cows and strategies to prevent mastitis and improve milk quality.

How do you benchmark your farm systems and performance within the sector? 20 percent of New Zealand farms contribute to DairyBase which offers two types of benchmarking and compares them to industry standards or targets.

Equity partnerships in the dairy sector offer opportunities to take an ownership stake in a farm business to accelerate your progression in the sector.

Herd reproductive performance is a crucial factor in your dairy farming success. This page highlights the importance of accurate record-keeping, right from a calf's birth, to get a true picture of your herd's reproductive health.

Early lactation once-a-day (OAD) milking is a short-term strategy used during the calving period. Understanding the benefits and trade-offs helps you make informed decisions for your herd and business.

Huntly Road Dairies Ltd, an equity Partnership operated by Duncan & Anne-Marie Wells is a high-performing farm, with strong governance and supported by attention to detail, both on the farm and in the office.

The purpose of a catch crop is to increase annual dry matter production, to take up soil mineral and urine nitrogen and to reduce the risk of leaching or runoff.

To help employers create competitive farm assistant job offers, DairyNZ has created a 'Job Competitiveness Calculator'.

A loose-housed barn is a type of dairy housing system where cows have the freedom to move around and rest in a large open area that has a roof. There are several loose housed systems, with different bedding materials, constructions and design.

A feed pad is used for regular supplementary feeding and loafing of cows on an area that is either formed with a solid foundation and/or concreted and can be covered or uncovered.

Free stall barns are engineered structures for housing dairy cattle. Free stall barns can significantly improve feed usage, herd comfort, and reduce maintenance costs, but they can require a substantial initial investment and experienced management.

Our understanding of animal welfare has evolved. Instead of focusing solely on health and production, there is now a broader perspective that considers behaviour and affective state, which considers an animal’s experiences and overall wellbeing.

Conflict in the workplace can undermine staff motivation, reduce on-farm productivity, and affect an employer’s reputation. Learn how to deal with conflict effectively to maintain a good team culture.

Leave is a legal entitlement for employees in New Zealand, covering various types such as annual leave, public holidays, sick leave, parental leave, and breaks.

Ensuring you get the right conditions before signing your employment agreement is important. You want to make sure you are being rewarded for your work not only financially so negotiating these terms is important.

Dead stock management is the process of dealing with farm animal fatalities. It is important to appropriately dispose of carcasses to avoid spreading diseases, contaminating water, and harming the dairy industry's public image.