Editorial: Happy days
OPINION: The year has started positively for New Zealand dairy farmers and things are likely to get better.
Your old mate wonders if the over-reaching do-gooder who set up a North Canterbury cow sanctuary “to save retired dairy cows and bobby calves from slaughter” will face any charges for animal cruelty.
‘Til the Cows Come Home’ was established in July 2017, to great media (mainstream fanfare), as a “safe haven for rescued farm animals”.
At one stage, some 200 cows were housed at the ‘sanctuary’.
However, an MPI investigation last year found that many of the ‘rescue cattle’ were sick, starving or in terrible condition – and a number had to be euthanised.
The person who ran the ‘sanctuary’ claimed: “I tried my hardest for so long, sleepless nights, stress beyond belief, full-time work, hours of feeding, cleaning...until it all came crashing down.”
All very sad, but any farmer who did the same thing would rightly be prosecuted by MPI – so let’s hope the animal welfare bureaucrats are consistent and file charges!
Could a breakthrough in fermentation create a new multi-million-dollar export market for shiitake mushroom extracts into China?
Meadow Fresh has created the world's first fantasy sports league powered by real cows.
This year, 'Foodie February' sees potatoes take the spotlight as one of New Zealand's most powerful and versatile food heroes.
A multi-cultural team is helping to establish one of New Zealand's largest plantings of premium eating grapes - while learning each other's languages and cultures along the way.
The World Wide Sires National All Day Breeds Best Youth Camp Best All Rounder plaudit has become family affair, with 2026 Paramount Cup winner Holly Williams following in her sister Zara's footsteps.
DairyNZ is giving New Zealand farmers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on governance and leadership experience within the dairy sector.

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