There was a South African flavour to the 2015 Central Plateau Dairy Industry Awards last night, with all three major winners having South African roots.

Beef from Kiwi Cross cows offers dairy farmers a way to boost their profits, says Firstlight Foods, Hawkes Bay.

Farmers are being invited to Southern Dairy Hub information meetings to hear about the proposal and its possible benefits.

Many farmers are now facing hefty onfarm challenges. While the low milksolids payout is influencing cashflow and profitability, dry conditions are starting to limit pasture growth and milk flows in many key dairy regions. 

CRV Ambreed's highest ranked Jersey bull died this month. Pukeroa TGM Manzello produced 467 daughters in 173 herds in New Zealand alone. He died from a progressive illness.

LIC says its new partnership with a global cow health company is growing the business and providing New Zealand farmers more choice.

Canterbury sharemilkers Steven (‘Sars’) and Ange Hyde are raising their cows to a new level, comments Webbline, whose BvL feed mixer the Hydes bought last winter. 

Dairy farmers wanting to produce healthier and more efficient animals can now make this part of their breeding programme, says herd management firm CRV Ambreed.

Research intended to reduce ‘wastage’ in commercial ewe flocks has begun at Massey University. The trial involves two commercial ewe flocks – at least 12,000 animals.

Producing the same quantity of milksolids from half the number of cows would be a winning formula for any farmer.