For the best outcome at calving time, know the signs and stages of labour, how to calve a cow, and the immediate care needed after calving. Check springers regularly to help identify the signs of labour, ensuring timely interventions if needed.

Planning and preparing for calving with your farm team will reduce stress when calving is in full swing and will help keep everyone safe and healthy. Spend time with your team prior to calving to create a plan that works for everyone.

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.

In this episode, Jac McGowan and Mitch Cooper, veterinarian and DairyNZ’s Senior Technical and Policy Advisor, discuss how to prevent and manage down cows during calving season. Get practical tips on how to recognise early signs, treatment and care.

This tool estimates the latest date to dry cows off to ensure they meet BCS targets at calving.

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.

The page talks about the DairyNZ CalvingSmart workshops, where dairy farmers and their teams can learn the latest techniques for a successful calving season.

A series of DairyNZ-led experiments have confirmed that supplementing cows with synthetic zeolite for two to three weeks pre-calving reduces the risk of milk fever in pasture-based systems.

This study aims to measure production levels, understand the balance between feed supply and demand, and estimate the profitability of an extended lactation system with a 24-month calving interval.

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.

Spring management focuses on the critical period from calving through to your balance date when feed supply meets demand.

The transition period in a cow's life requires precise feed management to ensure health and optimal milk production. It’s important to set BCS targets, monitor those targets and adjust your feed budget as required, especially pre- and post-calving.