Getting ahead on animal care

Farming livestock comes with the responsibility of ensuring the animals’ needs are met. As science advances, we’re gaining a better understanding of animal sentience – their ability to experience stress, comfort and social connection. This shift moves beyond simply preventing harm, to creating environments where animals can live comfortably. A well-cared-for animal is a productive animal, ultimately, that’s what everyone wants.

Regarding animal care, competitiveness is measured by how we stack up against customer expectations, other dairy-producing countries, and national and global standards. How well our farming systems perform in these areas will determine whether we’re ahead of the game or falling behind.

At DairyNZ, we’re working to identify which aspects of New Zealand’s dairy system are already well-equipped to meet these needs, as this could give us a competitive advantage and show us where we can improve.

DairyNZ’s Enhanced Animal Care programme focuses on identifying those areas of opportunity. Two key risks to our competitiveness include keeping cows comfortable in climate extremes, and managing non-replacement calves.

While keeping cows outdoors provides a competitive advantage, as customers and cows prefer outdoor environments, we must ensure their comfort during weather extremes, especially managing heat load. In some regions, at certain times, the weather conditions can become stressful for cows.

We use technology and animal sensors in our research to better understand the cow experience through data.

At the same time we work closely with farmers to learn from their observations and identify higher-risk regions. Our goal is to understand the conditions that can lead to stress and develop predictive tools to support farmers.

The work is also exploring practical mitigation options for farmers. Since trees take time to grow and provide effective shade, we’re identifying alternative solutions that can offer more immediate relief for cows at risk of heat stress.

A study is underway to explore how cows value the option to manage heat load by accessing shade outside their paddock. The goal is to develop practical, on-farm strategies that support positive welfare experiences and help farmers enhance cow wellbeing.

Another area of focus is non-replacement dairy calves, which remain an underutilised resource with significant potential for the dairy and beef sectors.

We’re collaborating closely with partners across the entire supply chain to explore opportunities in this space.

Other aspects of the programme involve mapping sector progress and understanding current practices to help inform policy development.

We also ensure that the technical information supporting industry programmes, like SmartSAMM and HealthyHoof, remains up to date by collaborating with industry experts and reviewing the latest science.

Much of our work is forward-thinking. We are preparing to address challenges that will become more pressing in the future, potentially sooner than we expect.

Find out more about heat stress at dairynz.co.nz/heat-stress

Average number of days a year that dairy cows are at risk of heat stress across New Zealand

Aligning on animal sentience

The conversation around animal wellbeing and sentience is gaining momentum, and these expectations are reinforced across the sector. As Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre explains, the fact that an animal is producing well doesn’t necessarily mean it’s having a positive experience. The focus is on finding practical ways to enhance its wellbeing – ways that support farming systems and our global reputation.

Our understanding of animal welfare continues to evolve, driven by evidence-based science and increasing consumer expectations. Major customers are setting higher welfare standards, aligning with frameworks like the Five Domains and Five Freedoms. International trade agreements further reinforce the importance of strong welfare standards and ensuring welfare protections remain in place.

New Zealand law also underpins this responsibility, requiring that animals’ physical, health and behavioural needs are met in accordance with good practice and scientific knowledge. By proactively addressing these expectations, we can maintain our competitive edge while ensuring practical, outcome-based solutions that work for farmers.