Body condition loss in early lactation can significantly reduce your herd's wellbeing and productivity. Cows often lose condition in the first 10 days after calving, so ensure your herds' energy requirements are met to stay on track.

DairyBase is a free tool that helps you make informed decisions by tracking your farm’s physical and financial performance over time.

How can your actions during calving impact success at mating? Find out about the herd fertility cake concept and the key ingredients to focus on between calving and mating to improve in-calf rates.

How do you benchmark your farm systems and performance within the sector? 20 percent of New Zealand farms contribute to DairyBase which offers two types of benchmarking and compares them to industry standards or targets.

Sharemilkers are responsible for operating the farm on behalf of the farm owner. They don’t own the land but split milk income and expenses with the owner. There are two types of sharemilking agreements, herd owning and variable order.

Leaders on dairy farms are the people most able to affect outcomes on the farm from team culture through to the farm’s productivity and performance.

A financial performance review will help you identify business issues, risks and opportunities for improvement. Benchmarking will clarify where you are positioned compared to others and help you to make timely operational and strategic decisions.

Dairy operating profit is a crucial indicator of profitability in the dairy sector. Expressed per hectare, per kgMS, or as a percentage of Gross Farm Revenue, it allows farmers to compare their performance with others through benchmarking.

Contract heifer growing involves the collaboration between a dairy farmer and a grazier. This page emphasises the significance of clear communication, mutual benefits, and solid health programmes with steps to develop a contract grazing arrangement.

Genomics is the use of DNA to predict the future potential and profitability of dairy animals.

Odour from farm dairy effluent is increasingly an issue as herd sizes grow and urban boundaries get closer to operating farms. If the regional council receives a complaint about an odour, they will come out to the farm and assess the situation.

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The Mastitis Focus report helps you manage mastitis in your herd. This two-page report identifies problem areas and risks to udder health, letting you and your veterinary advisers track changes.

Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) is a widespread disease impacting around 80% of New Zealand's dairy and beef herds, causing losses in reproduction, increased disease, and reduced growth and milk production.

Accurate drafting of cows into groups is a crucial part of managing a herd on dairy farms, and it becomes even more essential as herd sizes grow. This page discusses the importance of automated drafting systems in New Zealand dairy farming.

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.

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.

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.