Production and Feeding

Publication Date: February 2009

Abstract: The New Zealand dairy industry is highly regarded throughout the world for its sustainable pasture-based production systems and its commitment to animal welfare. A significant contributor to the New Zealand economy, in 2007 the dairy industry accounted for over 20% of all New Zealand exports and was valued at over $7.5 billion
NZD (source: Statistics New Zealand).

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Publication Date: June 2008

Description: Automating milking is considered one of the last challenges of modern dairy farming – and to automate this task would indeed change the New Zealand dairy industry.

This booklet is an introduction to automatic milking in New Zealand pastoral dairy systems.

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Publication Date: February 2008

Description: Condition score your dairy herd accurately and consistently by using this handy booklet for objective levels for animal measurement.

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Publication Date: February 2010

Description: The Animal Welfare Act 1999 imposes obligations on every person who owns or is in charge of dairy cattle. The Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare has been issued pursuant to section 75 of the Act and provides guidance on how to comply with legislation. A copy of the Act is accessible at: http://www.legislation.govt.nz.

For more information go to the Biosecurity New Zealand website.

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Publication Date: December 2008

Description: Preparing and responding to floods. The flood checklist is designed for farmers and rural professionals as a planning guide to assist business preparedness given the frequency of adverse weather.

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Description: FeedPlan Pro is designed for farmers and consultants wanting a simple, quick and visual way of feed budgeting and monitoring.

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Publication Date: May 2009

Description: Fit for Transport is a guide to help you decide if a potential cull animal is fit for transport. Transport is very stressful and can affect cull animals more than normal livestock, because they cannot cope as well. For this reason and to avoid problems on the truck and at the processing plant, it is important to make culling decisions early.

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Publication Date: March 2008 

Description: Reducing lameness one step at a time.
Lameness is caused by many factors which differ between individual cows and farms. Reducing the number of lame cows on your farm therefore requires a long-term, planned approach that is supported by the whole farm team.

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Publication Date: January 2010 updated

Description: This brochure provides a basic overview of the DairyNZ InCalf Programme, which is designed to help dairy farmers achieve measured improvement in herd reproductive performance.

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Publication Date: January 2009

Description: Helping turn great ideas into great on-farm practice.

Through the On-Farm Innovation Fund (OFIF) DairyNZ is seeking out these new ideas and approaches to dairy farming and supporting their development to ensure these improvements are available to all New Zealand dairy farmers.

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Publication Date: June 2008

Description: Pasture management is the cornerstone of profit for all New Zealand dairy farmers. There is potential on all farms to improve pasture management.

Join a DairyNZ Pasture Plus group if you are serious about increasing farm profitability.

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Publication Date: 2007

Description: This research will establish, in a range of farming situations:

1. What costs, both direct and indirect, farmers incur because cows are already infected with (or a risk from contracting) clinical and sub-clinical mastitis disease.
2. How much income is lost by farmers because mastitis infected cows (both clinical and subclinical) produce less milk with less useful and most-economically processable components.
   

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Description: A Code of Welfare is an official document, issued by the Minister of Agriculture, which sets out basic standards relating to the care and welfare of animals. Codes of Welfare are regulations under the Animal Welfare Act which means they have legal status. Failure to comply with certain parts of a Code of Welfare can lead to a fine and/or imprisonment.

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Publication Date: February 2008 

Description: Published by the National Mastitis Advisory Committee, this booklet explains the seasonal approach to managing mastitis.

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Publication Date: July 2009

Description: The Spring Survival Guide is designed to help you get through the physically and mentally challenging time of calving. This Guide will provide you with practical tools, tips and information on how to optimise spring and make life easier at this time of year.

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