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.

What’s next for you on farm? James Laughlin shares a preview of People Expo 2026 and how high-performance leadership can help you move forward with confidence.

If you're a rural professional discussing breeding decisions, herd management, or seasonal planning, this section of the website is for you. It will give you practical support to strengthen relationships and add value at every step.

As a fertiliser advisor, your expertise already drives nutrient planning and paddock performance. This hub supports your broader farm systems knowledge, offering resources to help you confidently advise on feed demand, pasture, and seasonal planning.

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is a serious disease that threatens herd health and New Zealand’s dairy and beef industries. TB control and eradication is a shared responsibility, led through the TBfree programme managed by OSPRI and supported by DairyNZ.

New Zealand’s dairy and beef industries are coming together to work more closely through the Dairy Beef Opportunities programme to address a key area — the management of non-replacement calves that are not required to replenish the dairy herd.

A Rotorua dairy farm demonstrates that profitability and environmental performance can go together. Since taking over in 2019/20, Richard and Amy have operated a low-input system designed to meet nitrogen limits while remaining financially strong.

Bulk milk urea concentration is a near real-time indicator of the dietary crude protein status of dairy herds and their nitrogen use efficiency, helping to support feed and nitrogen management decisions in pasture-based systems.

Proactive visitor biosecurity management helps protect your herd and your business. Visitors can unknowingly bring in diseases, weeds or pests that threaten animal health and farm productivity.

Facial eczema costs farmers $330M annually and risk is rising. Hear from experts on the latest research and practical steps to protect your herd.

Lameness in New Zealand's dairy herds is primarily caused by five types of hoof lesions. This page shows what each looks like, which claws are affected, and the main risk factors. Understanding how they occur helps ensure the health of your herd.

SMASH began as a local idea to celebrate and support smaller herd farmers and now it’s grown into a nationwide network offering practical learning open to everyone. Find out what’s coming up on their calendar, and what to expect at their events.

Heifer liveweight at first mating and calving influences reproductive performance and milk production potential. Achieving liveweight targets is crucial; otherwise, first calving may delay, and fertility may decrease.