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Stratford farmer, Kelsey Thompson, says the power of Minda Live and the app is all she needs on-farm in terms of information requirements to manage her herd.
Farmer-owned co-operative LIC says its herd management system Minda Live and its corresponding app has evolved over the past year with more than 60 improvements added based on farmer feedback.
As a result, use of Minda Live and the Minda app has increased significantly, says the co-op. More than 8,500 farmers are now using Minda Live, and 10,000 farmers and their staff are using the Minda app to record animal events and access their data to make informed decision on-farm.
Kelsey Thompson, a Stratford-based farmer and Minda user, says the power of the system is all she needs on-farm in terms of information requirements to manage her herd of 170 Holstein-Friesians and make recording simple this calving.
"It's so easy because you can do what you need to on-the-spot, on the farm, in the cow shed; it's all done in one go - and that includes your matings, your calvings, and any health treatments. Last spring I recorded all my matings, every day, straight into my phone, and then it was updated in Minda Live when I got home every day. It's very simple.
"During calving I still use the yellow notebook a bit, but I transfer the information straight to the app in my phone, then it automatically goes through to Minda Live."
Kelsey believed it was a matter of diving-in and getting used to the software, most of which was intuitive.
“It’s one of those things that as you get used to things it just gets easier and easier. This season I got my Mum into it – she was a huge user of Mindapro – and now she pretty much only uses Live.
“LIC keeps updating the software too, which helps – little things get refined to make the reports better and information more relevant.”
Jessica Bedford, LIC Minda product experience manager, said development work had been critical to ensure farmers were well-placed as the impending 2021 calving and mating periods approached.
For the upcoming calving period, there were several reports and groups that would be handy to create, Jessica said. “When it comes to groups, some of the key pieces of data farmers could use are the expected calving attributes; these will help identify animals that are expected to calve either early or late, or, for example, animals that are expected to calve to the short gestation matings.
“These groups will share with your Minda app to ensure you have the right information on hand to make drafting a breeze.
“For those that prefer paper-in-hand, the Expected Calving by Date or Expected Calving by Cow reports will show the animals’ expected calving information,’ says Jessica.
LIC chief executive David Chin says meeting the revised methane reduction targets will rely on practical science, smart technology, and genuine collaboration across the sector.
Opening a new $3 million methane research barn in Waikato this month, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay called on the dairy sector to “go as fast as you can and prove the concepts”.
The Government has announced it has invested $8 million in lower methane dairy genetics research.
The first calves of a new crossbred dairy-beef offering are now on the ground at a Pamu (Landcorp) farm near Taupo.
Academic and former Fonterra director Nicola Shadbolt has been elected as LIC director.
Acclaimed fruit grower Dean Astill never imagined he would have achieved so much in the years since being named the first Young Horticulturist of the Year, 20 years ago.
The Ashburton-based Carrfields Group continues to show commitment to future growth and in the agricultural sector with its latest investment, the recently acquired 'Spring Farm' adjacent to State Highway 1, Winslow, just south of Ashburton.
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has blasted Fonterra farmers shareholders for approving the sale of iconic brands to a French company.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.
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