IT’S WEANING time for the first of the calves from the trial at Massey University looking at possible benefits of differing milk diets and machine feeding compared with hand feeding on calf growth rate and subsequent performance of dairy cattle.

DairyNZ faced pointed questions about the sector’s staff shortages at its annual meeting earlier this month, but the day after, on a field trip, the board and senior management heard one farm’s solution. 

FARMERS could safeguard next year’s calves against Theileria by treating cows for ticks in summer according to senior Vets North vet Mark Anderson.

THERE ARE two key ways to achieve high per-cow performance: getting a good peak production level and having good persistence throughout the lactation. This is achieved by minimising the rate of post-peak decline and achieving a long lactation length. 

THE OWNERS of the world’s largest robotic farm under one roof, Aad and Wilma van Leeuwen, say they were particularly attracted to the DeLaval robotic milkers due to the Herd Navigator technology.

Dairy farmers are being told that there are opportunities to increase profitability even when times are tough.

VOTING FOR Fonterra’s board elections has begun. Fonterra’s 10,500 shareholders were last week mailed their voting packs for board elections and, in four wards, shareholder council positions. Voting opened online, by fax or post on the same day at 10.30am.

FEEDING American dried distillers grains is unlikely to cause problems with China, say agribusiness specialists.

NESTLED ALONG the coast of northern Hawke’s Bay lies a historic pioneering farm that next month will open its grounds to support a local charity.

HIGH COMMODITY prices doubled the annual profit of corporate farmer Rural Equities Ltd in the last financial year.