This page covers the concept of a base cow. Breeding Worth (BW) and Breeding Values (BV) are presented as the difference between an animal’s genetic merit and the average genetic merit of the 'base cows’.

This page covers the concept of genetic reliability, highlighting the confidence in an animal's breeding value and worth.

The Dairy Industry Good Animal Database (DIGAD) holds pedigree and performance information for every recorded dairy cow in New Zealand. It is led by NZAEL, which uses the data to keep improving the sector’s efficiency and productivity.

Could solar work on your farm? Hear from Chris McArthur from EECA and dairy farmer Rhys Mackenzie about where solar and batteries add value, and what to think about before you invest.

You don’t need all the answers to start planning what’s next. Live from People Expo, this is a practical Talking Dairy In 10 conversation on progression, succession, and taking the first step.

What could El Niño mean for your farm this season? Hear Phil Duncan from WeatherWatch and farm systems expert Steve Veix on what to watch and where to focus your planning early.

Beyond the award, Hinehou Timutimu shares the whānau, whenua, values and experiences that shaped her leadership, and what becomes possible when you stay true to who you are.

In this episode of Talking Dairy In 10, Stu shares what inspired him to take action on his farm and across the Mangati Stream catchment, where once degraded, weed-choked waterways are now thriving ecosystems.

Get the latest advice on transition cow care, including feeding springers and using rumination data to support better decisions around calving.

Are your calves reaching their potential? Discover what the research says, hear from a farmer who changed their system, and find out more about practical options to boost growth and choose what works for your farm.

Plan ahead for winter and stay in control when pressure hits. Learn practical grazing tips, early warning signs to watch for, and how a clear Plan A and B can help your protect cows, paddocks and the season’s productivity.

What’s next for you on farm? James Laughlin shares a preview of People Expo 2026 and how high-performance leadership can help you move forward with confidence.

This Talking Dairy episode covers the new Dairy Beef Opportunities programme, a cross-sector initiative boosting dairy-beef value, improving outcomes for non‑replacement calves, and strengthening dairy-beef integration.

Rural Support Trust and DairyNZ share what they’re seeing on-farm, how they’re helping dairy communities, and practical ways to ease pressure and reset for the season ahead.

Global conflict may feel far away, until it hits fuel, freight and ripples into other farm costs. Hear how rising global tensions drive prices, what it means for inflation and interest rates, and the simple steps you can take now to protect cashflow.