Giant buttercup, one of 14 weedy Ranunculus species in New Zealand, is harmful to dairy pastures because cows find it distasteful due to its toxin, protoanemonin. This weed spreads across dairy farms, damaging pasture quality.

Effluent storage on your farm is crucial and requires careful planning and design. With a well-designed storage system, you'll experience peace of mind, improved irrigation, efficient use of nutrients and water, and enhanced environmental protection.

Bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC) refers to the concentration of cells (expressed as cells/mL) present in the vat or bulk milk. It is used as an indirect way of estimating the level of subclinical mastitis in the herd.

Establishing a healthy pasture requires attention to several factors: sowing date, seedbed preparation, sowing depth, and perennial ryegrass sowing rate.

Environmental mastitis is caused by bacteria such as Strep. uberis and coliforms that survive in the cow’s environment.

This page informs you on how to make informed decisions about when to start and stop irrigation, with factors like soil temperature, moisture status, weather forecast, water restrictions, and evapotranspiration rates being essential considerations.

Looking after teats is crucial in dairy farming. Damaged or rough teat skin can lead to bacterial infections, discomfort for the cow, and increased risk of mastitis.

Managing your cows during the transition from pregnancy to lactation helps prevent diseases and optimises seasonal performance. This period sees the cow's nutrient requirements spike but intake doesn't match up, leading to negative energy balance.

Planning a proper dry-off on your farm can have significant impacts for the coming season, including how and when to start drying off cows. The page outlines essential steps for a smooth dry-off process.

The key to preventing lameness on farm is good record keeping, identifying risk factors and developing a lameness prevention plan.

Lameness treatment in cows is crucial for quick recovery. This page details how to effectively treat various hoof conditions, such as white line disease, sole bruising, hoof wall cracks, and digital dermatitis.

As a farm owner, you are responsible for a multimillion-dollar business. When looking to establish a successful relationship, an important approach is to view this as a business-to-business partnership.

Improving your herd's reproductive performance starts with understanding and adjusting the calving pattern. Late calving cows often have less recovery time and hence a lower chance of getting pregnant in the first six weeks.

Rotary milking systems have gained popularity due to their increased milking efficiency in larger herds. Learn how to improve milking efficiency in rotary systems with practical tips to save time and boost productivity.

Maize is an essential crop for New Zealand dairy farmers, helping enhance feed supply, manage climatic risks, and support pasture renewal. Growing maize on a dairy farm can also extract soil nutrients and reduce costs in high-fertility effluent areas

Getting the pulsation and vacuum systems right is key to efficient and comfortable milkings. This page will cover the benefits of proper pulsation, how it works, and the essential components of a pulsation system.

Kikuyu-based pasture can offer similar profits to ryegrass-based farms when managed well. Common in Northland and coastal areas of the Upper North Island, kikuyu thrives in summer and autumn.

Late summer strategies in dairy farming involve continuous monitoring of feed demand and body condition score (BCS). This page discusses how managing pasture effectively, considering factors like over-grazing and dry periods, is crucial.

Yellow bristle grass (YBG) is a pest plant harmful to pastures. This fast-spreading weed lowers pasture quality as cows avoid eating it. YBG spreads mainly through its seeds, which can move via dung, water, animals, or contamination in hay and maize.

Heifers, or young female cows, require careful planning and patience when introducing them to the milking herd. The page you're reading details steps to minimise stress and enhance milk production during this transition.