Dairy NZ

The following tips will help you ensure the team, and the farm, is prepared for the busy spring period. Start your planning well before hand to reduce the rush and panic of getting everything done when the first cow calves.

1. Sign employment agreements for new employees for the new season
   
2. Have an orientation plan for new staff and plan training to ensure the whole team knows what they have to do during spring and the standards expected
   
3. Organise time off for the spring - book the relief milker
   
4. Make sure the calf shed is set up for the calf rearer:
   - New bedding material
   - New teats for calfeterias
   - Calfeterias and utensils cleaned
   - Iodine/electrolytes etc purchased
   - Meal, hay and fresh water.
   
5. Order everyday supplies for spring:
   - CausMag and limeflour
   - Milk fever treatments
   - Mastitis treatments
   - Filter socks
   - Detergents.
   
6. Make sure protective gear is available and has been replaced/repaired or updated if required
   
7. Service all motorbikes and machinery, get milking machines checked, order new/change rubberware - breakdowns take time
   
8. Remember human nutrition, particularly for young staff - everyone needs three nutritious meals to get through the day. If your staff are too tired during this time or aren't capable of cooking, then a plan needs to be sorted out to ensure your staff get fed well to sustain them through the day.
   
9. Organise a calving pack that stays in the paddock. Click here for more information.
   
10. Communicate, communicate, communicate!  Often and little to let people know what is going on.
    Remember to thank them for their hard work and praise their success.
    

Have a meeting with staff before calving to discuss how the spring will go. Discuss topics such as:

• Daily routine
• Calving spread
• Checking springer mobs
• Milking colostrum cows
• Spring Rotation Planner. Click here to view.