Mastitis generally falls into two categories: environmental and contagious. Good milking routine, teat spray and hygiene reduce contagious spread. Clean, well-managed sheds, dry bedding and managing cow traffic help minimise environmental exposure.

Planning and preparing for dry-off is essential. It is important to undergo careful planning, proper execution, and good follow-up to protect cow health, improve efficiency, and ensure the herd is well prepared for the next lactation.

Plan ahead for winter and stay in control when pressure hits. Learn practical grazing tips, early warning signs to watch for, and how a clear Plan A and B can help your protect cows, paddocks and the season’s productivity.

Healthy teats are the first line of defence against mastitis. If you get teat health right, somatic cell count, milk quality, and cow health get a lot easier. This page outlines what good teat health looks like, and how to fix poor teat health.

Get the quick breakdown of dairy’s record season. Campbell Parker unpacks the Pulse Report — from higher milk production with fewer cows to booming exports — and what it all means for you.

Hear about early insights in DairyNZ’s heat stress trial at Scott Farm from experts Dr Charlotte Reed and Jac McGowan, plus current info and solutions for keepings cows comfortable and productive in hot conditions.

Extreme weather puts pressure on daily farm operations, so you'll find guidance below on getting back to a normal milking schedule, managing feed, and keeping your cows healthy.

Wearable technologies (such as cow collars) are becoming a popular tool for assisting with reproductive management. In 2025, around 1 in 5 dairy farms are using wearables , mostly to help with heat detection, a factor in getting cows in calf.

Economic Values (EV's) are an estimate of the dollar value to a NZ dairy farmer of a unit change in each trait. Ten traits have been identified as having a measurable economic value to NZ farmers.

DairyNZ and Irish research partners are working together to quantify methane emissions from dairy cows in pasture-based systems in this four-year programme.

Positive welfare goes beyond preventing suffering. It's about enabling cows to thrive. By supporting natural behaviours and promoting positive experiences, we can help ensure cows live a good life.

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.

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.

Clinical ketosis is a metabolic disease in cows, occurring when they are in severe negative energy balance, particularly during early lactation and may occur as a secondary condition to other health challenges the cow may be experiencing.