News & Advice

Mating is just around the corner for our beef cattle. It is a super quick turnaround for these girls to maintain a 12-month calving pattern, so they must be set up for success. Feeding is a huge factor, but with calves at foot and a cold, wet spring, we have few options. Just keep in […]

Tailing is underway already for some, and demand for pain relief at painful procedures keeps growing, not just for merino contracts. Best practice is for all lambs to get some form of pain relief. As an industry we are working through what methods are both effective and safe, and there is no one easy answer […]

Good rumen development is the key factor in determining whether your calves will cope with weaning off milk well without any growth setbacks. When calves are born, the rumen is small and inactive; the abomasum is the main stomach being used at this time. As calves begin consuming meal, roughage and water, the rumen begins […]

The phantom. The nightmare. Empty cows at your final scan that, when you look back through their records, were early mated, had a good heat and never returned to heat. These are phantom cows, the cows that have a good early heat, are put up for AI, do not return to heat, but are not […]

Guest author Frances Coles is a South Canterbury farmer and long-time supporter of Meet the Need, with first-hand experience of the difference food donations make to Kiwi families. Is there anything more satisfying than being able to help someone out without having to go out of your way or do something extra special? If you’re […]

Wearable technology provides dairy farmers with a constant stream of information on rumination, activity and health. However, having more data does not automatically make decision-making easier. Without meaningful interpretation, the volume of information can quickly become overwhelming. The real value lies in turning that information into practical management decisions. Identifying a transition challenge Last season, […]

A 2024 Manawatū trial across six farms found that lambs treated with SMARTShot B12 generally grew faster than untreated lambs, with measurable responses on five farms and growth differences of 0.4 kg to 1.4 kg by the second weigh event. The findings suggest SMARTShot B12 may help finish more lambs earlier, reduce parasite pressure and […]

Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) can quietly reduce herd fertility, productivity, and profitability long before obvious clinical signs appear. Regular monitoring, strategic vaccination, robust biosecurity, and early identification of persistently infected (PI) animals are key to preventing losses and protecting herd performance. BVD is a common but complicated disease. The production and reproductive costs of the […]

Calving is now upon us, and, while it is hard to think very far forward when you are in the mire of breaking in new heifers, you should already be thinking about mating and how you can maximise conception rates. Transition management sets the foundation Transition management is a key first step, and a well-considered […]

What is it costing your business? Johne’s disease remains one of the most significant and costly diseases affecting New Zealand dairy herds. While DairyNZ estimates the national cost at $44–80 million annually, the real question is: what is it costing your own business? The challenge is that many of the losses caused by Johne’s disease […]

The story behind Ashburton’s new clinic is bigger than a building. It is a modern chapter in one of rural New Zealand’s smartest community models.  Construction fencing has gone up at Vetlife Ashburton. Older parts of the site are being cleared, access is changing and the scale of the work is now obvious to anyone […]

BE IN TO WIN A GALLAGHER™ ENERGIZER MBS100 MULTIMAINS, BATTERY AND SOLAR UNIT* Purchase your seasonal pre-lamb clostridial vaccines and go in the draw* •Ultravac® 5 in 1 – 500 ml •Ultravac® 5 in 1 Sel – 500 ml •Ultravac® 5+1 B12 – 500 ml •Ultravac® 5+1 Se B12 – 500 ml. Protect your flock […]