Episode 56 – Overcoming Adversity in the Face of a Life Changing Injury

In this episode, Sheryl Haitana interviews Braden Coates and Hayley Ireland, dairy farmers from South Waikato, who share their inspirational journey overcoming Braden’s life-changing rugby injury and journey to farm ownership. They discuss their resilience, teamwork, and commitment to sustainable farming, as well as their success in the Te Ara Miraka Excellence Programme. Additionally, Ben Davidson, veterinarian and CEO of Dairy Smart, talks about antibiotic stewardship and how AI is revolutionising mastitis detection. He highlights how this technology helps farmers reduce antibiotic use, improve herd health, and make more targeted treatment decisions.

Guests include:

1. Braden Coates & Hayley Ireland, South Waikato dairy farmers
2. Ben Davidson, CEO, Dairy Smart

Hosts:

1. Sheryl Haitana, Editor, Dairy Exporter
2. Anne Lee, Deputy Editor, Dairy Exporter

Braden Coates and Hayley Ireland, farmers from South Waikato, share their journey of overcoming adversity after Braden’s life-changing rugby accident, which left him with tetraplegia. Despite the challenges, the couple was able to achieve their goal of farm ownership on the 320-cow, system five farm with resilience, dedication and hard work as well as support from friends and family. Their story highlights the importance of community support and teamwork. Through perseverance and sustainable farming practices, Braden and Hayley have also achieved success, winning accolades in the Te Ara Miraka Excellence Programme. Their achievement reflects their commitment to high standards in milk quality, environmental practices, and operational efficiency. This powerful story of resilience showcases their strength in navigating life’s challenges and the importance of people.

Ben Davidson, veterinarian and CEO of Dairy Smart, discusses the growing importance of antibiotic stewardship in dairy farming and how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming mastitis detection. With antibiotic resistance becoming a global concern, Ben highlights the need for farmers to be more cautious with their antibiotic use. Dairy Smart’s innovative AI-driven milk culturing system helps farmers identify specific bacteria in real-time, allowing for more targeted treatment and reducing the reliance on prophylactic antibiotics. Ben emphasizes that by accurately diagnosing bacterial infections, farmers can prevent unnecessary antibiotic use, manage herd health more effectively, and reduce the spread of resistant bacteria. This technology not only empowers farmers to make better treatment decisions but also improves overall herd health, reducing antibiotic use and improving farm sustainability. Ben stresses the importance of collaboration between farmers and vets to ensure the right treatment at the right time.