Regular service and maintenance of your milking machine will help ensure that the speed and completeness of milking is maintained, and the risk of mastitis due to milking machine faults is minimised.

Feeding and nutrition play a critical role in a young heifer's development. A well-fed heifer grows more, produces more milk, and competes better with mature cows. Your heifer's diet needs sufficient energy and protein for optimal growth.

Early lactation once-a-day (OAD) milking is a short-term strategy used during the calving period. Understanding the benefits and trade-offs helps you make informed decisions for your herd and business.

Maize silage is a high-quality forage supplement made by ensiling maize crops in stacks or bunkers, used to supplement pasture. This silage has notably low levels of sodium, calcium, and phosphorus, making it a useful carrier to supplement magnesium.

Automated mastitis detection (AMD) systems are technology tools used on dairy farms to identify signs of mastitis in cows by monitoring milk for specific indicators.

Dry matter is a crucial dietary requirement for dry cows. This page outlines the energy a cow needs, considering its weight gain or loss. The feed requirement considers the cow's maintenance, pregnancy, and weight gain.

It is recommended that all cows are protected from mastitis during the dry period.

Tail management is crucial in dairy farming to ensure animal welfare and a positive working environment. Tail injuries can cause pain and impact how cows communicate.

Comparative Stocking Rate (CSR) is a tool to measure the balance between feed demand and supply on a farm. It is determined by calculating the amount of livestock weight per hectare versus the annual feed available.

Successful heifer mating is essential for their productive future. Targets include reaching puberty at 12-13 months, conceiving by 13-15 months, and being of adequate weight at calving.

Managing high-quality pasture during feed surplus periods is a crucial skill in pasture management. This page explains that pasture surplus often develops in spring, which if unmanaged, can lead to low-quality pasture affecting milk production.

Soil fertility is vital for optimal plant growth, with 16 essential nutrients needed by pasture plants. Five of these nutrients, N, P, K, S, and Mg, are often added as fertilisers.

Autumn pasture management in dairy farming involves focusing on average pasture cover and cow condition to prepare for spring.

A business plan organises your ideas for your dairy farm, creating a roadmap for success. This page reveals that businesses with a plan perform better, as it aligns everyone, identifies opportunities, and avoids problems.

White clover is crucial for New Zealand dairy pastures, offering nutritional value and fixing nitrogen to boost other grasses' growth. Yet, shade hampers its growth, and overusing N fertiliser can outcompete it.

Farm dairy effluent systems manage waste from your dairy farm. Choosing the right system requires professional advice, considering future plans, and picking the right person for the job.

Heifer rearing is essential for your dairy farm's success. The page discusses three basic methods: rearing stock on your dairy farm, contract grazing, and purchasing grown replacements.

Once-a-day (OAD) milking is a practice adopted by dairy farmers to manage their herds during late lactation, particularly from Christmas onwards.

Growing heifers well, so that they meet their liveweight targets, can improve farm productivity and profitability. Use this tool to set a plan for the first two years of a heifer's life.

Doug and Emma McLeod are 50:50 sharemilkers on flat to rolling land next to the Pomahaka River in South Otago. They supply milk to Danone. Up to 160 kg N/ha has typically been applied to pasture each year and effluent application is via a pod system.