Sharemilkers Sam and Jenna Hodsell are in it for the long haul, and that means building resilient and effective farm systems.

Dairy farmers have made great strides in winter management, though there’s still room for improvement – particularly when it comes to portable troughs and back fencing.

A successful farm system depends on having the right wintering system in place. It minimises animal, environmental and compliance risks while supporting your investment decisions.

Wearables such as collars and ear tags can provide valuable insights into your cows’ wellbeing, but they work best alongside visual monitoring and physical examinations.

In farmlet trials and on farms across the country, the grazing herb is demonstrating its value as an N loss reduction tool.

Scientists are delving into the complexities of methane emissions from grazing cows, aiming to develop more precise emission factors and mitigation strategies for our unique pasture-based systems.

Managing a herd of 620 Jersey cows, Mike Robinson and Sheree Irwin have focused on breeding for greater efficiencies, achieving impressive results in the process.

Comparing your operation with similar farms through DairyBase will help to identify necessary system tweaks before they show up on the bottom line. That was the experience of Horsham Downs sharemilkers Danielle and Bevan Cornelius.

With a breeding strategy that focuses on genetics and efficiency, Bill and Michelle Burgess of Te Poi are building a herd that’s raising the bar for performance.

Hamish and Rachel Hammond transitioned from university to contract milking right after graduation, quickly developing a passion for farming that led to their current role as 50:50 sharemilkers on Hamish’s family farm in Wairarapa.

On their Hauraki Plains farm, Brian and Julie Pirie are passing on their love of dairy farming to a whole new generation, calf by calf.

Adjusting milking frequency according to changing conditions and your team’s needs can make for greater workplace fulfilment and better staff retention.