How do we reduce methane emissions from cattle within our pasture-based farming system? And when will farmers have solutions ready to use on-farm?

The Contract Milker Premium Calculator compares the profitability of contract milking with managing a farm. 

A monthly cashflow budget takes your annual cash budget and spreads your income and expenses across the year giving you a month-by-month basis picture of expected income and what you can anticipate spending.

Use this tool to estimate/assess the effect of different flexible milking times on milking intervals, weekly schedules and production.

The research team works with farmers to find practical solutions to help them remain productive and profitable through delivering world-class science.

DairyNZ's research farms are an important industry resource that provide 'real farm' platforms with associated science resources, enabling pasture and animal trials to be carried out.

Co-developed with farmers and a range of partners, the solutions we develop are built to work on New Zealand pasture-based dairy farms and help increase profitability and sustainability.

Correctly setting up your milking plant will minimise the chance of teat and udder damage, and the risk of grades caused by poor plant performance.

Milking is the largest labour requirement on a dairy farm and the timing of milking defines the whole structure of the day. Changing milking intervals is one way to reduce work hours and/or increase flexibility to improve workplace attractiveness.

Create an attractive workplace for staff and maximise time out in the paddock for cows by milking efficiently. Milking can be a time-consuming task. On an average farm at peak lactation, twenty-nine hours per week are spent milking.

In this episode we wrap up our three-part series on contract milking. You’ll find out what a farm owner needs to know when it comes to employing a contract milker.

How do you figure out if a contract milking position is the right one for you? What things should you be asking the farm owner, what do you look for on the farm, and what are some common mistakes to avoid?

How do you prepare to go from being a farm worker to a contract milker? What are some things to be aware of, what are the foundations for success, and how do you avoid the common mistakes?

Fodder beet offers many benefits as an alternative crop to brassicas, but it also presents risks and challenges. So, what can we learn from recent research about how to deal with those risks and challenges?

Could reducing the number of milkings in a week help the dairy sector attract new staff and improve work-life balance?

What's the difference between contract milking and variable order sharemilking? Are they still a viable progression pathway? And how do you make it work in your first season?