Can your farm be both highly profitable and low in emissions intensity? New research from nearly 8,000 farms reveals how top-performing NZ dairy farms are achieving both and offer practical insights on how to achieve this on your farm.

Fodder beet is a crop with high yield potential, offering many benefits for dairy farming, including adding body condition to cows and having less environmental impact than other feeds. It must be managed correctly to ensure the health of your cows.

Turnips are a brassica root crop used in dairy farming to bridge summer feed gaps and boost milk production. They can be planted from spring to winter, depending on the variety.

Swedes serve as winter feed for livestock. They thrive best in cooler, moist conditions and dislike waterlogged areas and dry spells. For best growth, avoid soils that are either too light and drain quickly or too dense and retain too much water.

Successful fodder beet growth depends on meticulous practices from the start. Fodder beet, commonly grazed by non-lactating cows in New Zealand's cooler regions, can be part of a cow's diet for up to six months.

Fodder beet is a feed option for cows that requires careful planning to avoid health issues such as acidosis. Before feeding it, you should measure your crop yield and test the leaf and bulb to determine its nutritional content.

Chicory is a leafy herb that provides high feed value, especially during its active growth months from spring to autumn. Popular in the Upper North Island during summer, chicory thrives due to its deep tap roots, which aid growth during dry spells.

The Plantain Evaluation System reviews how effective different plantain cultivars are at reducing nitrate leaching. This system helps you and regulators trust the performance of those cultivars deemed "effective" at this task.

Plantain in pastures can reduce nitrate leaching by affecting nitrogen in urine and soil retention. The page teaches you the importance of assessing the proportion of plantain in your pasture.

General Manager Policy and Government Relations

For the best outcome at calving time, know the signs and stages of labour, how to calve a cow, and the immediate care needed after calving. Check springers regularly to help identify the signs of labour, ensuring timely interventions if needed.

Planning and preparing for calving with your farm team will reduce stress when calving is in full swing and will help keep everyone safe and healthy. Spend time with your team prior to calving to create a plan that works for everyone.

Clean and comfortable calf sheds help create a nurturing environment for calves, reduces the risk of disease and encourages high growth rates.

DairyNZ’s Policy Team is working to ensure dairy sector voices are heard as major freshwater policy changes occur.

Successful calf rearing starts as soon as the calf is born, requiring careful attention to safety, identification, and health protocols during collection.

Give calves the best possible start to set them up for a long, productive life. Maintain routine hygiene and health practices from birth, such as regularly cleaning feeders, limiting movements between pens, and following a vaccination plan.