LIVE YEAST, FIBRE DIGESTION, AND FEED CHANGES
March often brings a useful mix of opportunity and risk on New Zealand dairy farms. This year’s summer rains have kept pastures growing well in most regions, providing a better-than-average opportunity to hold milk solids at good levels into the autumn. At the same time, many herds are about to transition onto crops or increase […]
THE BIG 3 MACRO MINERALS IN LATE LACTATION: MAGNESIUM, CALCIUM & PHOSPHORUS
Late lactation is often viewed as a low-demand phase, when cows are winding down, and we dial down our supplements accordingly. However, this depends on the season, as many herds across the country are still producing strongly due to good weather and pasture growth. With this higher production, pregnancy advancement and changeable weather patterns, demand […]
ERGOT TOXINS: WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Summer can be a tricky period on farm. Cows approach the summer period milking well, but the summer heat causes rapid changes in pasture. These changes can negatively affect cow performance. Farmers often observe a subtle drop in dry-matter intake, along with a drop in milk production, with no obvious reason. Cows can become fidgety […]
THE LINK BETWEEN WINTER NUTRITION AND A SMOOTH TRANSITION
Wintering decisions shape the success of early lactation. Poor nutrition through winter can lead to costly problems, including slow calving recoveries, retained membranes, ketosis, and subclinical milk fever. Energy and protein: Getting the balance right A cow’s energy and protein needs change through winter. Too little energy, and she will calve in poor condition, struggle […]
THE LINK BETWEEN UDDER HEALTH AND DRY COW MANAGEMENT
Last month we talked about why dry cow management is critical, though often overlooked. This month I wanted to dive further into the dry period’s importance to udder health. During this time, the cow’s udder repairs itself, her immune system gets back on track, and her body builds up reserves for the next lactation. If […]
WHY DRY COW MANAGEMENT IS THE FIRST STEP TO A PRODUCTIVE SEASON
We need to stop treating the dry period as just a rest between lactations and understand that it’s a significant biological reset that impacts the health and productivity of the next lactation. While the transition period is often considered the most important time, what happens during the dry period sets the stage for success. Managing […]
WHY SUMMER MINERAL SUPPLEMENTATION SHOULD BE EVERY DAIRY FARMER’S PRIORITY
Summer challenges dairy farming in unique ways. Heat stress, paired with changes in pasture quality, can affect milk composition and overall productivity. However, an often-overlooked solution is targeted mineral supplementation, which offers a pathway to maintaining milk quality and profitability through the warmer months. Why milk quality suffers in summer As the temperature rises, cows […]
PREDICTING HEAT STRESS – HOW DO WE DO THIS AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Heat stress in dairy cows isn’t just about temperature – it’s a combination of temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and wind. Even mild heat stress can impact a cow’s milk production, feed intake, and overall health, leading to financial losses. New Zealand research shows heat stress costs around 6kg MS per cow in the Waikato, equating […]