Reproduction

Farmers should have a plan leading up to mating to minimise the hangover of yet another difficult season and what it will do to their reproductive results. Many cows were milked longer leading up to this season to take financial advantage of grass growth, but it could all catch up with them at mating, LIC’s Jair Mandriaza says. Sheryl Haitana reports.

First Paddy and Debbie Thornton were share milkers, then they bought the farm, and more. By Delwyn Dickey.

Is pasture enough when it comes to managing energy deficits of high-performing cows? Anne Lee reports.

Using the best-available science, but keeping it simple means Alderbrook farm stacks up well in benchmarking against the Lincoln University Dairy Farm. Anne Lee compares their systems.

New Zealand farmers will be able to buy frozen sexed semen straws from the majority of CRV Ambreed’s top bulls this season. By Sheryl Haitana.

Smart technology has its role in the quest for improved in-calf rates and so do staff, says Waikato clinical veterinarian Scott McDougall, of the animal health research organisation Cognosco. By Elaine Fisher.

Judging when a cow is on heat and whether she is at the optimum point for artificial insemination is a lot easier these days with the help of technology relaying information from an ear tag, collar or even a bolus in the rumen. By Anne Hardie.

Technology, including Tag collars has helped boost in-calf rates on a mid-Canterbury dairy farm. Anne Lee reports.